The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26
THE BLoCKADE.
No Exchange of Shots I'm q WeeL-E1
MORO Dark Again.


Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press)
OFF HAVANA. May "a, via Key West,
Fla, May 25 Con board the Associated Press
Dispatch Boat Wanda 1.-The situation of
the blockade at Cardenas. east OF Matanzas,
to Mariel, west of the city OF Havana, re-
mains unchanged The American squadron
continues to maintain strict blockade. For
the last five days there has been no fighting
at any point and no incident worth noting,
except that one of the large cruisers fired
three shots at schooner off Havana on
Sunday morning and brought her to. She
proved to be an American vessel, and after
she had displayed her colors she was per-
mitted to proceed without there being any
body sent on board to examine her papers.
The light Of Moro Castle, which, it is sup
posed, has recently been burning at night
for the benefit of the Cape Verde squadron
under Admiral Cervera, was extinguished on
MONDAY night and has not since been
lighted. There are no signs of military ac-
tivity along the coast of the blockaded part
of Cuba The lights OF Cardenas are also ex-
off the entrance of that harbor near Diana
Key, and some of the cruisers are patrcling
outside Matanzas harbor.
AT daybreak on Monday morning the en-
tire squadron under Rear Admiral Samp-
son was lying directly opposite the entrance
to Havana harbor about ten miles off shore
a formidable mouse-colored fiotiIIa of bat.
tie ships, monitors, cruisers. yachts, light
house tenders and torpedo boats. The peace
ful inactivity noticed the day before on
board the vessels of the fleet had given way
to scenes of great life and hustle. The decks
OF every ship swarmed with crowds of blue
Jackets, marines and officers. Around the
flagship, from whose mainmast huttered
the crimson pennant of precedence rocked
on the choppy waves a score of launches
ana gigs from surrounding war ships, each
manned by sailors in spotless white. They
had brought aboard the flagship the COM
nanolng ollceTS OF their respective vessels
Where they had apparently been summoned
for orders Overhead the sky was a field
of blue unbroken by a single cloud and the
restless sea reflected it's 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 stern
pole of every vessel there. In the distance
bit of red and yellow bunting hung Imply
from the flag pole on Moro Castle. Beyond
was the hily blush outline of the Cuban
coast.
A half hour later the gigs and launches
LETT the flagship. and returned with their
ot1cers aboard their own vessels. Almost
Immediately thick columns of black smoke
began to pour from the smokestacks of the
assembled fleet, and slowly, almost imper-
eastward. A number of vessels were left
behind on blockade duty the acting flag
ship flying a blue pennant. About two
hours later a large double masted and
double funneled cruiser came steaming un-
der full Roadway from the westward. When
within hailing distance and without slack
the acting flagship off Havana. A string of
colored bunting was hoisted aloft on the
flagship halyards and the cruiser pushed
on to the east at full speed.
Afterwards the squadron was in the Men
olas channel. off Cardenas, heading 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 out of Santiago, around the east end
of Cuba, up through the Windward passage.
and north to attack the. cities of the At
lantic coast. In all likelihood 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
uation is one of extreme suspense. After
Admiral Cervera is sealed up in Santiago
harbor, the problem will be- as in the case
of 'varmint'' caught in a trap, whether
to shoot or starve him. In any event, ADJ
miral Cervera, it is believed, cannot reach
Havana. Two powerful fleets, each having
fast vessels, as we'll as heavy ones, and
each able to destroy him, are closing. in
upon him. Naval officers here believe that
the battle ship Oregon will be ordered to
join Rear Admiral Simpsons fleet.