Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-14
FLEETS TWO DAYS APART.
Prospect Good for q Lively Sea Figh
I'm West Indian Waters
Very Soon.

Prospect Good for . Lively Sea Fight
in West Indian Waters
Very Soon.
WASHINGTON, May 1a-Secretary of
the Navy Long this morning received Of
fetal advices from Martinique, windward
islands. that the Spanish squadron had
been sighted to the westward Of that ISL
land. Martinique is about 600 miles in a
southerly direction from San Juan, Porto
Rico. where the American squadron un-
der Admiral Sampson was in action yes
terday. The vessels on Martinique COM
pose the formidable squadron recently coll
lected at the Cape Verde islands. and
which sailed from there in a westwardly
direction two weeks ago to-day.
Cpon receipt Of this information. secre-
tary Long ordered Commodore schley, at
Hampton Roads, to put to sea at once
with flying squadron. While Its destina-
tion is not known, It Is believed that the
squadron has been sent in pursuit Of the
Spanish squadron.
The navy department was all excitement
upon the receipt Of the news that Ad-
miral Simpsons squadron had begun the
boMbardment OF San Juan de Porto Rico,
and fuel was added to the flames when the
news came later that the Spanish flying
squadron had been sighted OF Martinique
giving promise Of heavy fighting to come
The fact that the admiral gave notice Of
his intention to lombard San Juan, as is
reported from st. Thomas. is an indica-
tion that the movement upon San Juan
was not q suddenly conceived project, but
part OF q well matured plan. Whether or
not the orders to the admiral included
a bombardment Is not disclosed at the
navy department.
Sampson already knows of the move
ments Of the Cape Verde fleet, for the
United States scout Harvard, which put
into Martinique yesterday. is said to have
found there one of the torpedo destroy
ers composing the Spanish fleet, and GER
tainly would report the fact to Sampson,
'via st. Thomas. II possible to do SO.
There is a suspicion. however, that the
United States has not been treated with
perfect fairness In the matter of the use
of the cable from Martinique, and that
messages Of utmost Importance, for In
stance those reporting the movements of
the Spanish ships. have been delayed a
considerable length Of time, to the great
embarrassment of our forces. The subject
is one that will be investigated in the fu-
ture, as well as other facts connected with
the treatment Of the Spanish ships in West
Indian ports which are nominally operat-
ing strictly under the neutrality laws. 1t
is said that the Spanish squadron has been
lying in wait for the Oregon, which, with
the Marietta and Nictheroy, sailed on the
ilth from Bahia to join Sampson. and the
reported activity of the Spanish torpedo
boat destroyers in running in and out of
Martinique seems to show that they are
being used as scouts to give the rest of
the squadron notice of the approach of the
American battieship.
II so. the mission will be fruitless, for
having discovered the whereabouts of the
Spanish force. Admiral Sampson will carry
out his orders to destroy their ships II he
can reach them. The fact that Spanish
were headed yesterday toward the west.
ward on the surface would indicate tina,
they were bound for the south coast OF
Cuba, but warships in these circumstances
try to mislead observers ashore.
The information that the Spanish squad
ron has been sighted on Martinique csuse<