The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-06-02
GAVE THEA BAIT.
Adm. Cervera Swallowed II and as a Result
Commodore Schley Now Has Him In
Trap at Santiago.

ceived here from a newspaper cores
pondent with the American fleet of
Santiago de Cuba:
"OFF SANTIAGO De CUBA. May 81
Commodore Schley and the flying squad
ron has the Spanish feet bottled up in
the har0or of Santiago de Cuba. By
the most clever mancuvering, the com
modore allowed the Spaniards to think
he had left in disgust. They took the
bait and ran into the harbor. Com
modore Schley moved down Monday
morning, and at o'clock. going close
to the harbOr, he saw the Christobal
Colon, the Maria Teresa and two tor
pedo boats. He believes the entire
feet is there.
Commodore Schley has acted upon
his own information and Judgment for
the past six days and believes the
whole Spanish fleet is there
He sat on the after triangle of the
Brooklyn Monday morning until after
the discovery Of the feet, and he then
went to breakfast. saying:
" 4 have got them, and they will
never get home.
The United States auxiliary cruiser
ST Paul arrived here Monday morning
and was sent to Mole 1t. Nichols with
dispatches. She captured a coal ship
which was sent to Key West by Capt.
Sigsbee in charge Of prize crew. The
coal was undoubtedly intended for the
Spanish fleet 1t is believed there is
not much coal at Santiago De Cuba.
The officers and men Of the flying
squadron are jubilant over the fact
that the location of the Spanish fleet
has finally been definitely established.
The temperature here is 10 degrees
in the shade, and in the steel turretS
the heat is actually beyond the power
Of Imagination.
The American ships here arc the
Brookly Texas. Massachusetts, Iowa.
Marblchcad and Vixen, an auxiliary
torpedo gunb0at.
WAsHINGToN. May 80 1t is definite
ly known where Adm. Cervera's feet
is The Spanish squadron is anchored
i'm the harbor 90 Santiago. and the
problem remains for the commanders
OF the American fleet to dispose of the
enemy, either by corking the bottle or
by forcing the long narrow passage
and smashing the strong Spanish
squadron at the anchorage its COM
mander has chosen. 1t has been the
opinion of Rr Adm. Sampson that
Adm. Ccrvera would seek either Santi-
ago or Cicniucgos aS Il naval refuge
and baSr, and the movement Of the
two American squadrons ha, proceed
ed upon this basis.
Strong and effective as are the Span
ish ships, representing as they do the
flower of the Spanish navy, every ar
gument la naval strategy compelled
Adm. Cervera either to seek the shell
ter of the close harbor of Santiago or
return TO Spain, and nc chose to make |
his stand at Santiago. That he would |
court a fight in the open sea is an idea |
which has never been entertained in |
American naval circles, although his |
ships without exception, have high |
qualities, owing TO their great speed, |
for such a contest. On the other hand |
il was believed the Spanish admiral
would attempt to run into San Juan
de Porto Rico, but the fact Of the
recent bombardment of the forts
OF the .harbor. coupled with the
great possibility that RI Adm. Samp-
sons fleet would be met if he attempt
cd to enter that harbor left the Span
ish admiral only one alternative. and
he adopted it By going 10 Santiago,
where, it is presumed, he has been
a able 10 coal, clean and repair, and Is in
a position to accept either the condi-
tions imposed by the blockade or the
issue OF fight in the inner harbor,
after the American fleet mas forced the
passage.
II has zen thought that the cam
raign against Adm Ccrycra might
now be- endci by demolishing the forts
lt the entrance of the harbor Of San
tiago blockading the channel and iso-
.ating the Spanish feet until the other
problem, OF the war are worked out.
This. however, is not in the line
with American policy and IS simply
accepting the view Of the situa-
lion taken bv the naval
Experts here Adm. Cervera will have
10 accept battle at once. 1t is conf
iently expected that hard blow will
be struck within three or four days,
md that the result will be known to
he world at large ut the expiration Of
hat tim,. 1t ha, not been disclosed
Commodore SchIcy is to be re-
nforced. but ii would not be surpris-
ng If some additional ships were sent
% him.
Truf.er CoIumbia la Dry Dock