The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-06
LATE MORNING NEWS
SECOND EDITION, 6 A. NJ.

the charts ard unfavorabIe conditions,
that il would be Inadvssab!e 10 take battle
ships through a channel where theirs was
rot one chance in ten that they could pass
safeiy The difficulties that such an un-
dertaking would involve are shown by the
charts. which indicate but twenty-four
feet Of water In one point OF the channel
or about two feet less than would be
necessary for the Iowa and MAssachu-
sets.
Cervera's vessels draw less by two or
three feet than the heaviest Of the Amer
lean ships, but even his vessels must have
had little water beneath their bottoms
as they passed IN. With all chances
OF escape against him. either by removing
the wreck and successfully securing q
channel 10 the sea. a general feeling ex-
lists among naval officers that some bold
and almost daring exploit a. that OF Con-
structor Hohson. VIII be attempted by the
admiral rather than 10 submit or resort to
blowing up his vessels without having an
opportunity 70 fire a single projectie at an
Anne rfran vessel
While admitting that the destruction OF
the collier IN the harbor Of Santiago
places. an entirely new phase upon the
naval ssituation IN Cuban waters. officials
Of the navy department are not prepared
to issue instructions to Admiral Simpson
for the detachment of a main section OF
his feet until ne has been heard from IN
detail. Now that the Spanish ADMIRAL is
no longer TO be regarded as dangerous
factor in the transportation OF large
bodies OF troops by sea 10 Porto Rico and
Santiago the war department is prepar-
ing to- take immediate steps for forward
ing several transports to both places. and
a safe escort is TO be afforded them by the
ships now a. part of the blockadlng fleets
of Havana, with other vessels that are
TO be relieved from any further duty at
Santiago
The army il relieved of the necessity
now of waiting further on the navy TO
provide necessary vessels 10 convoy the
merchant ships, and large movement -
now expected to begin.
Constructor Hobson's action in obstruct-
ing the channel so that possibility of es-
cape by the Spanish fleet Is now remote,
removed possibilities. the most conserva-
tive officers agree. Of another great sea
fight between the American and Spanish
forces.
Until last Thursday both Admiral Samp-
son and Commodore Schley are under
stood 10 have been of the opinion that the
heavy battleshirs and armored cruisers.
by exercise OF caution and under the
guidance of skilled pilots familiar with
the waters, could be taken between the
fortified tons and up into the harbor. bus
were convinced on representations made
later that no battleship could possibly get
around the turn at the narrowest point OF
the channel where there was barely
enough water for the lighter vessels OF
the Spanish fleet.
Reluctantly, therefore. they abandoned
Their original programme. and 1t was not
until Admiral SIMPSONS message was re-
ce.ved that the department knew what
steps had been taken to hold tight the
Spanish fleet.
Admiral SIMPSONS programme having
been developed, the next course OF pro-
cedure executed by him is yet to be pre-
sented Notwithstanding the fact that the
Merrimacs wreck prevents the passage OF
ships in or out Of Santiago, the policy Of
the navy department VII not be to with
draw All the heavy lighting vessels now
blockad.ng and leave a loop through which
Cer*era nigh. escape and make his way
70 Martinique, where possibly he could
secure sufficient coal TO enable him to
reach some home port Several OF the
heavily afmored vessels, including two of
the battleships ard the New York are ex-
pectei 20 be withdrawn for service in COM
plotting the destruction of what remains
of tins. defenses Of Poroto Rico or to the
landing of American troops for seizure
and occupation Of that port. A suitable
squadron VIII be left In front of Santiago.
where 1t will remain unquest.onably until
the United States is in actual possession
of the city.
The most substantial evidence has been
given to naval officials since the arrival
OF cervera in the West Indies of the
value OF such a fleet OF heavily armored
cruisers, and the urgent necessity tina, The
American navy be increased by several ad-
ditons of this formidable type OF ship.
Secretary Long is understood to have rec
ognized that had the navy half a dozen
ships OF the Brooklyn and New York type
Cervera's squadron could have been caught
and defeated, and that il would never have
reached Santiago with a feet OF these
ships moving around south of Cuba for IT.
Every one OF Admiral Ceryera's vessels Is
OF the highest type Of armored cruisers.
and more formidable than either Of the
American vessels on account OF the heavs'
protection afforded rs sides The New
York and the Brooklyn have the speed os
Cervera's ships, but no other vessels of
the American fleet are 80 fast and at the
same time so we'll irmored Because of
the protection OF the Spanish vessels IL
becomes necessary 10 send battleships or
monitors in whatever feet was ordered to
look after them; but with six ships of the
armored cruiser type the experts agree
that the enemy shoulud have been hunted
down and captured or destroyed without
the assistance Of hattieships The next
armored cruisers built for the navy, the
constructors say. should be heavily arm
ored and have double the thickness OF the
Plates Of those around the sides OF the New
York and the Brooklyn. Constructor
H:chhorn is one OF the strong advocates OF
this type Of warship and believes that the
next programme should include several OF
them.