The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-26
CHASE
AFTER
CERVERA.

Copyright, 1893, the Associated Press.
On board the Associated Press despatch
boat Wanda, off Havana, May 23.-(Filed
at Key West, May s5. 6ls p. m. )-At day
break on Monday morning, the entire
squadron under Rear Admiral Sampson
was lying directly opposite the entrance
to Havana harbor, about 10 miles off
shore, formidable mouse -colored tiotilla
of battleships, monitors. cruisers, yachts,
Lighthouse tenders and torpedo boats.
The peaceful inactivity noticed the day
before on board the vessels of the feet
bad given way to scenes of great life and
hustle. The decks Of every ship swarmed
with crowds of blue Jackets and white
jackets, marines and officers. Around
the flagship, from whose nnainmast dut-
tered the crimson pennant Of precedence,
rocked on the ohoppy waves score Of
launches and gigs from surrounding war
ships, each manned by sailors in spotless
white. They had brought the commanding
officers of their respective vessels aboard
the fiagships, where they had apparently
been summoned for orders.
Overhead the sky was a field Of blue,
unbroken by a single cloud and the rest
less sea reflected its color in a deeper and
more intense tone. Against this back.
ground the Stars and Stripes stood out
in bold relief from the masthead, and
sternpole of every vessel there. In the
di stance bit Of red and yellow bunting
hung Imply from the flag pole on Nor
ro castle. Beyond was the hiily blush
outline Of the Cuban coast. A half hour
later the gigs and launches left the flag
ship and returned with their officers
aboard to their own vessels. Almost i'm
mediately columns of black smoke began
to pour from the smokestaok Of the as
sembled fleet and slowly. almost imper-
ceptibly the flagship began to move to the
eastward.
A number of vessels were left behind
on blockade duty, the acting flagship fly
ing q blue pennant. About two hours
later q large double -fnasted and double
funnelIed cruiser came steaming under
full headway from the westward. When
within hailing distance and without
sIackeninz her speed, she exchanged sig
nails with the acting flagship off Havana.
A string Of colored bunting was hoisted
aIoft on the f1agship'a halyards and the
cruiser pushed on to the east at full
speed. AttorWarQS b0o 81 uaufou was IN
the Nicholas channel, of Cardenas, head.
ing for the old Bahama channel.
The squadron Was proceeding with
care for Admiral Cervera had not yet
actually been bottled up. and care must
be taken lest the fox turn and dash ont Of
IN through the Windward passage and
north to attack the cities Of the Atlantic
coast of the United States In allslikeli-
hood Commodore Schley will be able to
spring the trap and then Rear Admiral
sampson may hasten to Santiago,
A great game is being played and the sit
nation is one Of extreme suspense. After
Admiral cervere Is sealed up in ssn1sisgo s.
harbor the problem will nan,be bs. IL as IN nth the
whether to shoot or starve him, In any
event..Admiral Cervera. it is conceded,
cannot reach Havana. Two powerful
fleets, each having fast vessels. as well as
heavy ones, ana each cha able b; to dsSssroy SsEy
officers here believe that the battleship
Oregon will be ordered to join Rear Adl
miral SIMPSONS heet.