The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-21

the quick departure was that they were
to form a second line of scouts TO the
Southwest where the Cincinnati and the
yesuvius are supposed to be watching
the narrows of the Yucatan channel
These two vessels moved quietly out
Thursday morning and disappeared at a
leisurely pace to the southwestward. 1t
may be canddly admitted that all discus
sion of the Spanish fleet from here is
speculation. Key West is lamentably is
olated from the current news save such
as is furnished by daily bulletins. The
understanding of the intention here. how
ever, is that Sampson counted confident
" on finding the Spanish squadron bot
tied up in San Juan, as did Dewey the
Spaniards at Manila.
1t was not till daylight on the morning
of the bombardsment that he learned the
harbor was empty. Meantime, according
to the best information here, the fleet Of
seven Spanish ships probably including
the viscaya, Oquondo, Christobal Colon.
Maria Theresa and three destroyers have
been moving west along the southern
shore of the caribbean sea.
Later reports from Mole St. Nicholas
Cape Haytien and other points make It
seem probable that a second section OF
the squadron, probably including the Car
dinal Cisneros, the Pelayo and the Chris
tina Regenta. are following in the wake
of the first BY keeping to the south
shore of the caribbean, the Spaniards
avoided any chance encounter with Samp-
nished news at cable points of the weak
ened state of the Cuban BLOCKADE, es-
pecially at Cienfuegos, it showed tempt
ing chance to make a dash across at the
South Cuban coast and wipe out the light
vessels there.
This done they could coal and proceed
around the west end of the island about
500 miles to Havana if that as IS general
ly supposed here, is their destination.
From the fact that no such attack has
yet been reported, it is inferred that the
fleet is still holding its course west. Old
pilots here say that a big squadron OF
warships might be easily worked west
and not outside the fringe of keys on the
Mosquito coast without danger of discov-
cry before they emerged from the north
end of the Yucatan channel between the
rorth end of Yucatan and the west of
Cuba
From this point they would be already
equidistant from Key West and Havana.
not 300 miles either way If their OBJ
ject was to break the Havana blockade,
they could do it easily if they arrived
before Schley or Sampson. The feeling
the war might be fought in forty-eight
hours, and probably between Key West
and the North Cuban coast. Everything
is at high tension and both officers and
correspondents are looking for a despatch
tearing up the channel at any hour with
the news that the hostile fleet has been
sighted within striking distance of Key
West or Havana.
1t is impossible to forecast the move
ments of either Sampson or Schley, but
the supposition among naval men is that
orders from Washington will direct re-
distribution of the vessels forming a new
flying squadron to make quick roundup
of the West Cuban Coast, perhaps as far
around as Cienfuegos and the South,
leaving a sufficient guard of heavy YES
sells at Key West, and throwing a strong
fighting force in front of Havana where
after all the great battle may be fought
This afternoon the heavy squadrons off
Sand Key were joined by three big trans
ports, the Leona Iroquois and Cherokee.
workmen were busily engaged putting in
temporary hunks but no one was allowed
to board them and no information as to
their sailing point or destination would
be given. 1t is understood, however. they
are from New York, having started for
Tampa to transfer troops.