The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-15
The Globes Mo News

by the fact that the Spanish admiral
knew the whereabouts Of our ships,
while we were in a state of doubt as to
the locality Of his ships. The officials
here regard it as essential during the
next few days to reverse this condi-
ton. so that the Spanish admiral will
be moving In the dark, while our Of
ficers will be posted as to his move
ments through the Caribbean.
The department doubtless Is inform
ed as to the whereabouts of Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron, but it does not see
fit to give any information on the sub
ject, and the same rigid silence pre-
walls as to the whereabouts and desti-
nation of Commodore Schley's flying
squadron.
The game has reached such critical
stage that premature publication as to
the whereabouts Of our ships might
cause inestimable loss and failure of
present plans.
OREGON OUT OF DANGER.
In one respect the maneuver Of the
Spanish fleet is relief to naval off,
Gals here, as it seems to assure the
safety Of the battleship Oregon. She
is proceeding from the north coast of
South America to join Admiral Samp-
sons fleet and is somewhere in the
neighborhood of Martinique. Had the
Spanish squadron remained at that
point there would have been serious
danger that the Oregon would be in
tercepted. Now, however, she is well
out of the way of the Spaniards so
long as she follows the usual routes.
1t is not to be supposed that the navy
department, with knowledge of the
whereabouts of the Spanish fleet is
going to allow any of it's hard worked
little cruisers and gunboats engaged in
blockade duty on the Cuban coast to
fall victims to the huge Spanish IRON
clads.
LITTLE ONES MAY RUN.
Their commanders will be promptly
advised Of the approach Of the Span
iards and it may be set down as sure
that unless the department is satis-
fed that Sampson or Schley can head
off and crush the Spaniards, the Amer
lean blockade vessels will be given per-
mission to take care Of themselves and
get out Of harms way
CABLE CUTTING.
The determined attack made by the
Marblehead and other vessels on the
ocean cable running seaward from
Cienfuegos shows that the government
finds it necessary to curt off all COM
munication between Capt. Gen. Blanco
at Havana and Spain by cable That
the effort was not wholly successful
was owing to the appearance of a su-
perior force of infantry fortified by
machine guns, which appear to have
taken the sailors in the boats engaged
in cable cutting by surprise.
They were prepared to risk a few
rifle shells, but not the murderous fire
of maXims.
However, Capt. McGalla, who Is not
ed for determination and courage if for
any quality, 1T can be taken for grant
ed, will not abandon the task until he
succeeds. Considering the great strate-
gic value Of such move the loss sus-
tained by the American vessels was
Insignificant and the venture was GER
tainly warranted by the results.
Once Blanco is prevented from COM
munication with Spain as well as Por-
to Rico it is said their discourag cement
will set In and the campaign conse-
quently will have an earlier conclusion
NEW NAMES.
Two Of the big tugs brought from
private parties were christened today,
the Hortense becoming the Takoma
and the William H. Brown becoming
the Pisca.taqua.
The naval register promises to include
some odd names. for only recently the
pretty yacht Felicia was re-baptised
by the uncouth name Of Uncanoomuck.