The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-28
SCHlEY'S MISSION.
He Was sent to Nab the spaniards and
He Is Doing IL.

Copyright lS,s by Associated Press.
OF the Northern Coast of Cuba.
May 25. a. m. via Key west-At 10
o'clock last night the Dolphin ran
alongside the flagship New York. Her
light showed that she bore dispatches
for Rear Admiral Sampson. The
commander of the Dolphin shouted
through the megaphone: II have dis
patches from Commodore Schley to the
commander chief" A cheer went up
from the crowded decks. Commodore
Schley's dispatches were dated Off
Cienfuegos. Absolutely nothing def
mite can be said" was the reply which
Captain Chadwick OF the New York
made TO a question as to what had
transpired
Since he heard of Admiral Cervera's
arrival at Curacao. Rear Admiral
Sampson has repeatedly said he be-
lied the spaniards would go to Glen
fuegos or Santiago. To prove the
American admiral was almost sure the
Spanish would be caught. the follow
ing can be divulged without a breach
of confidence: When the ships of
Commodore Schleys division were
sailing out of Key West under Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS orders. the admiral
set this signal to Captain Philips of
the Texas: You are going to nab the
Spaniards. and good luck TO you"
Since then Rear Admiral Sampson
has been cruising around as a purely
precautionary measure. He thorough
ly believed Commodore Schley would
bottle up the Spaniards either in
Cienfuegos or at Santiago. but he took
all measures To guard against a possi-
BILE evasion of Commodore Schiey by
the enemy and any attempt TO make
Havana through the eastern or west
ern passage. though there is little
doubt that the commodore. had he met
the Spanish ships. could have defeated
them. There is good reason to believe
from a strategic point of view that
more can be gained by the Spaniards
being bottled up In Santiago than in
an engagement. which. though IL
would result in victory for the Ameri-
cans. might have resulted in some
damage TO our ships.
In the harbor of Santiago the Span
ish fleet will be helpless. The chan
mel leading into the harbor is narrow.
and the enemy can either be kept a
prisoner there by sinking a few huIks
in the channel or he can be destroyed
by a superior force.
fully accomplished his object. there
now seems nothing to prevent active
operations on the part OF the army.
That is the idea of the best naval au-
thorities. The climate of cuba is not
what IL was a month ago, but IL is
much better than II will be a month
hence. and before another Spanish
fleet can reach these waters the naval
authorities hope to have troops In
possession of a base of operations in
Cuba. The navy would be able to cover
the landing of the troops and enable
the military forces TO get ashore with
out hindrance. Intense enthusiasm
reigns tonight among the officers and
the men over the news. although it Is
not absolutely certain
Since Rear Admiral SIMPSONS squad
ron left Key West an intensely close
watch has been kept for the Spanish
feet. in spite of the belief that II was
AT the south OF Cuba. Several false
alarms have been given. the men on
the lookout in the tops being so anxious
TO catch sight Of the Spaniards that
they would see five columns OF smoke
where only one was really discernible.
and that the smoke of one of Rear Ad-
miral SIMPSONS own boats
The fleet as at present constituted
with Commodore Schley's command.
and without the ships actually en-