The leader., 1898-05-18
THE HOSTILE FLEETS.
Spa nIards Put Out From Csrseso-ssmp-
son and schley Moving to Inter
cent Them.


WASHINGTON. May f5.-How to cap
ture or destroy" the Spanish fleet now
in the Caribbean Sea is the great war
question of the hour.
Official information was received by
the state department this morning
from Consul smith. at Caracao, that the
Spanish squadron intended To leave
there today, and il is the belief of the
naval war board that it is now or soon
will be on its way to the point where
its colliers are lying.
Our fighting and flying squadrons are
in quest of the enemy.
Improving every moment of the time
given il, as a result of the present loca-
ton of the Spanish men-of-war. the
naval war board was in session today,
and when it adjourned at late hour
the members were confident that they
had taken every precautiou that their
naval experience and best Judgment
dictated to defend their country and
bring early defeat to the enemy's force.
1t developed today that, instead OF
two GOLFERS. as has been believed, there
were four of these vessels, carrying
about 5000 tons of coal, sufficient to re-
coal every ship of the Spanish squadron.
1t is believed by members OF the
board that the arrival of the Spanish
squadron at Caracoa was due to the ne
cessity of communicating with the col
liers, in order to appoint a rendezvous
along the Venezuelan coast, where coal
can be taken aboard without interrupt
ton from American ships or heavy sea.
Official adyices are to the effect that
seven Spanish men-of-war are off Car
acoa. This number is somewhat sur
prising. in view of the fact that the
fleet. when it left Cape Verde. consisted
of seven ships, and one of this number,
the Terror, is at Fort de France, Mar
tiniaue. Ii is believed in naval circles
that the place of the Terror has been
taken by one of the small gun-vessels
which fed from Cuba or Porto Rican
waters upon the approach of the Amer
lean squadron.
There is no reason to believe that
the plan determined upon by the war
board to place Rear Admiral Sampson S
squadron to the south of the Haytien
coast. in the immediate vicinity of the
Windward Passage, has been changed.
The department has been advised that
Rear Admiral Sampson, acting IN ac-
cordance with instructions sent him
last night by the war board, is making
all speed to the western end of Haytl,
where he will proceed, it is understood,
down the Windward Passage to take
station at it's southern end. Here he
will be in close cable communication
with the department.
e Commodore Schleys command is well
on its way to Cuba. The naval depart
ment sent communication to Commo-
dore Schley off Charleston, that the
Spanish fleet was at Caracoa, and he
was ordered to hasten with all dispatch
to Cuban waters, from which his future
movements will be directed by the
board.
Secretary Longs belief is this: The
enemy, depending upon superior speed,
will make every effort to cut out isolated
American ships and destroy them, run
ming into Spanish harbors to take on
board supplies. AS soon as these sup
plies are received the Spanish admiral
will leave the harbors without delay
and continue his policy of attacking an
force. 1t can be stated that
the naval war board is acting in line
with this idea.
When the Spanish squadron has
coaled it is thought it will proceed to
some port on the southern coast of
Cuba.