The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-14
A CHANGE OF PLANS
1t is Caused by Presence of
Spanish Fleet.
oAITIE 10 END IAE MAP
BATTLE TO END THE WAR
THE FLYERS AND FIGHTERS TO
CRUSH THE ENEMY.
PLAN IS FOR QUICK AND DECISINE MOVE
Troops will net be Landed until the Spanish
Eeetis Crushed or Driven from the
West Indies TO Repair the
WnsIow,

Washington, d. c., May 13.-A com
plete change has taken place in the often
sive plans of our government. The re-
ceipt of the news from Sampson of his
attack on the forts at San Juan and the
news of the actual presence of the Span
sh Flying Squadron off Martinique, only
500 miles away from Sampson and less
than 1000 miles from Havana caused
the dispatch of the Flying Squadron
under Commodore Schely and the delay
of the army of invasion of Cuba. 1t is
to the Navy the government again looks
for battle that may end the conflict.
The news of the Spanish fleet revealed
ut once the possibility of a quick move
on the part of the feet that would cut
the line of communication by water be-
tween Cuba and Key West, exposing to
great peril any American landing force
tlat might be caught between a superior
army in Cuba and the sea patrOlled by
Spanish cruisers. 1t became necessary
therefore, to defer the departure of the
military expedition from Florida until
the Spanish fleet is met and crushed or
Navy Department wired Sampson infor-
nation Of the approach. Of the Spanish
Hcet and directions what to do and am
other order flashed to Schley, who has
been eating out his heart at Hampton
Roads in his eagerness to get into the
fray to start with his vessels at the
earliest possible moment. The commo-
dore took no chance Of cancellation of
Al. n
3:4J o'clock had put himself beyond the
reach of telegraphic recall. What is ex-
pected of him cannot be disclosed at the
| Navy Department and naturally is purely
matter of conjecture. SIMPSONS fleet
is strong enough unaided to overcome
| the Spanish Flying Squadron if he can
ever catch it out of the reach of FORTH
cations. His fleet, however. is lacking
in speed as compared to the Spanish YES
sells and cooperation on the part of our
! Flying Squadron would add very much
to the chance of cornering the Spaniards
and forcing the fight which is believed to
be necessary to the success of the Cuban
campaign as now planned.
Much regret is expressed among naval
| officers at the delays experienced in
communicating with Sampson and it
could not be learned at the Navy De-
partment whether the Admiral abs ac-
mally received the important adyices as
to the movements of the Spanish fleet
| that have been dispatched to him. Doubt
| on this score is founded on the eXpe-
rience the department has already had
with the cables received to-day from
| the West Indies. It was stated posi-
| lively at the close of office hours that
no word had come during the day from
Admiral Sampson save the one telegram
sent ont this morning regarding the at
tack on the forts at San Juan. 1t can
be stated that there is good ground for
the belief that the Admiral has achieved
all that was expected of him or that was
necessary to carry out the plans of the
Strategy Board.
Word came to the department during
the afternoon that the injuries sustained
by the Winslow were of such a nature
that they could be repaired at the Key
West naval station and from this, al
though no details were given, the depart
ment officials inferred that the damage
was not extensive. The vessel, which
has never had a final trial wa0 accepted
by the government to-day. 1t is the.
opinion of the naval officials that the
bombardment of San Juan did not mate
rally deplete SIMPSONS stock of ammu-
milton. In case the fleet should require
additional ammunition, it would have to
be sent from Key West, where the Navy
Department has a large stock in re-
l