The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-14
No Certainty That He Knows Of the
Enemy'S Arrival.
SPANISH FLOTILLA SEEN.
Story AflOat Of Torpedo Boats Off
the Coast.

Washington, May 1S.-A complete change
has taken place in the offensive plans of
the government.
The receipt of the news from Admiral
Sampson of his attack on the forts at San
Juan and the news OF the presence Of the
Spanish flying squadron off Martinique,
only 500 miles away from Admiral Samp-
son and less than 1000 males from Havana,
caused the dispatch of the flying squadron
under Commodore Schley. and the delay
of the army of invasion of Cuba.
It is to the navy the government again
looks to do the battle which may end the
conflict
The news of the Spanish fleet revealed
at once the possibility of a quick move on
the present feet that would cut the lire
of communication by water between Cuba
and Key West, exposing to great peril
any American landing force that might be
caught between a superior army in Cuba
and the sea patrolled by Spanish cruisers.
1t became necessary, therefore, TO defer
the departure of the Miles expedition from
Florida until the Spanish fleet is met and
crushed, or driven from West Indian wa
ters. The navy department wired Admi-
raj Sampson information of the approach
of the Spanish fleet, and directions what
to do, and another order flashed to Com
modore Schley, who has been eating out
his heart at Hampton Roads in his eager.
ness to get into the fray, to start with
his vessels at the earliest possible mo-
ment
The commodore took no chance of The
cancellation of these highly desirable or
ders, but at S:45 o'clock had put himself
beyond the reach of telegraphic recall.
What is expected of him cannot be dis
closed at the navy department. and nat
urally is purely a matter Of conjecture.
Admiral sampson's feet is strong enough
alone to overcome the Spanish flying
squadron if he can ever catch it out of
the reach of fortihcations. His feet, how
ever, is lacking in speed, as compared to
the Spanish vessels, and cooperation on
the part of our flying squadron would add
very much to the chance of cornering the
spaniards and forcing the fight, which Is
believed to be necessary to the success of
the Cuban campaign as now planned.
Much regret is expressed among naval
officers at the delays experienced in COM
municating with Admiral Sampson. and
it could not be learned at the navy de-
partment whether the admiral has ac-
tually received the important advices as
to the movements of the Spanish feet
that have been dispatched to him. Doubt
on this score is founded on the expert
ence the department has already had with
the cables received to-day from the West
Indies. 1t was stated positively at the
close of Office hours that no word had
come during the day from Admiral Samp-
son save the one telegram sent out this
morning regarding the attacks on the
forts at San Juan. 1t can be stated that
there is ground for the belif that the
admiral has achieved all that was expect
ed of him, or that was necessary to carry
out the plans Of the strategy board
Word came to the department during the
afternoon that the injuries sustained by
the Winslow were of such a nature that
they could be repaired at the Key West
naval station and from this, although no
details were given. the department Of
ficias inferred the damage was not extern
sive. The vessel, which has never had a
final trial, was accepted by the govern
ment to-day.
II is the opinion Of the naval officials that
the bombardment of San Juan did not ma
terially deplete Admiral Sampson's stock
of ammunition In case the fleet should re-
quire additional ammunition, It would have
to be sent from Key West, where the navy
department has a large stock in reserve.