Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-09
MINES AT SANTIAGO.
Problem Of Taking the Place Would
Be Easy Were There No Mines.
IS ADMIRAL CERVERA At SANTIAGO?
A French Correspondent says That the
Spanish Admiral Has iever Been In
Destroy Dewey's Fiset

the Harbor. hut Ia on His Way to
Destroy Dewey's Fleet
WASHINGTON, June A brief hui
letin telling of Commodore Schley'l
reconnaissance at Santiago on Tues
day was all the information the navy
department had to contribute to the
press Yesterday. This bulletin went
to confirm the press dispatches which
told of the firing on the Notifications
at Santiago, but which have been SC
steadily discredited ever since the first
report. 1t appears from the bulletin
given out that Commodore Schley con-
centrated pretty good fire upon the
Spanish defenses, and it seems more
probable that. had he found condi-
tons more propitious than they were,
he would have resolved the reconnois.
sance into an assault in force. The
great natural strength Of the Span
ish position and the formid-
able character of their batter
les, as indicated by Commodore
Schley, have confirmed the naval
officials in the belief that they have
been wise not to direct any such reck-
less assault upon the place, in the alb
sence Of proper forces, as has been ad-
vocated Ia some quarters. The prob
lem would be sinplified were it known
that there were no mines in the chan
mel. As it is, the problem presented
has enlisted the active interests OF the
army engineers as we'll as OF the naval
officers here 1t is the duty OF the
army engineers in this country to lay
just such mines as are supposed to be
in place in Santiago harbor and they
are curious to see how their brothers
in the navy propose to 60 about the
work Of destroying them.
A great deal has been written In the
textbooks about countermining, and
many theories have been brought for
ward to show how this can be done;
but on the authority Of one Of our
engineer officers these theories have
never been satisfactorily tested and
there Is no case on record Of successful
countermining against modern i'm
proved electrical mines 1t remains
to be seen how Sampson is going to
solve this problem, whether by the
use Of the Vesuvius with her dynamite
projectiles; by divers or by recourse to
the old method Of dragging for the
mines in small boats as in cable cut
ting operations.
The owners Of the Holland sub
marine boat, who had proposed to 20
into Santiago harbor and destroy the
Spanish warships at so much vessel,
have come forward with request for
practical test by the naval officers Of
their craft. The navy department
was obliged to decline to entertain
the first proposition, as it smacked Of
privateering, and was in violation OF
international law. The principal OBJ
lection was that the boat would not be
in regular commission and in command
of a naval officer Besides, they con.
tended that she had been thoroughly
tested. Now the boats owners pro.
pose that a naval officer or officers be
designated to 20 down in the Holland,
and then that she be commissioned.
Notwithstanding the rather positive
statement coming from Jamaica to the
effect that the second Spanish fleet
from Cadiz has crossed the Atlantic
and is about to join Cervera at Santi-
ago, the officers of the navy depart
ment refuse to be frightened at what
they declare to be bugaboo. 1t ap.
pears that the basis of their confidence
is Geographic report of as late date
as yesterday, declaring that the Cadiz
fleet is still at Cadiz. Moreover, they
know that there are not so many as l6
warships in that fleet
Is ADMIRAL CERvERA AT SANTIAGO
PARIS, June 4.-There is a persistent
belief here and at Madrid that Admiral
Cervera Is not at Santiago de Cuba.
The correspondent of the Gaulois at
Madrid telegraphs from there saying
he has learned from the highest au-
thority that Admiral Cervera has never
been in the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba and that the Spanish ships there
belong to Capt Villamil's torpedo
squadron. 1t appears from the infor-
nation gathered by the Gaulois' cor
RESPONDENT that Admiral Cervera,
after leaving the Cape Verde islands,
Unanswered so as to deceive the
Americans and then started at
full speed for the Philippine islands,
where the fleet is expected to arrive
on Saturday or Sunday. His orders
are to destroy Admiral Dewey's fleet
and then intercept, capture or destroy
the American transports on their way
to the Philippine islands from Sar
Francisco" In conclusion the corre-
spondent of the Gaulois says; "Ad-
miral Camara's squadron may be ex-
pected to join Admiral Cervera's in the
Philippine islands in a few weeks"