Evening star., 1898-05-14


some other direction. This, OF course. is
the merost specula ton. but iliusilsies 1ae
condition Of uncertainty which Is
here.
The department officials. men Wfos1had
visited the department. said. insist that
there is absolutely 10 DOUBT that the vessels
reported at Martinique comprise what Is
known as the Cape Verde fleet, but they 90
not know whether tnfs feet has been aug
mented-
The press dispatches contained in several
OF the morning papers. stating that the
fleet is composed of eight war vessels and
seven torpedo destroyers and torpedo boats,
was said to be puzzling TO the department
Strategic Board Criticised.
The universal opinion was that the Span
ish have been much more adroit in strategy
than has been the strategy board of the
department here. 1t was said that some
of the hest authorities on naval matters
have been insisting for the past ten days,
as has been stated from time to time in
The Star. that the Cape Verde fleet had
taken western course with d sOutherly
dip and would first show up in the vicin-
ity of Martinique with destination off the
south coast of Cuba.
The strategy board. however, it was said,
did not appear to take to this theory. and
readily credited the report some days ago
that the fleet had returned to Cadiz- The
board now accepts without reserve the re-
port that the Spanish fleet is bound west
from Martinique. II is believed now to be
quite possible for Admiral Sampson, leav-
ing the monitors behind. to intercept the
Spanish fleet If it proceeds on a direct
course either through the Mona Passage
or to Cienfuegos- The probability of their
coming together. it was said, is regarded
as sufficient to lead the department to ex-
Pect hourly news of an engagement.
The belief was generally expressed that
the Sohley fleet had sailed directly for the
Windward Passage in hopes of intercepting
the Spanish feet should 1t succeed in pass
ing Sampson. and that il would be more a
matter of good luck than of absolute cal
culatiCn if it gets in ahead of the Spanish
fleet. No doubt whatever was expressed
of the ability of either the Sampson fleet
or the Schley fleet to successfully deal with
the Spaniards If it could come up with
them
Might PrOIOnE the War.
It was generally conceded that if the
Spanish fleet succeeded in reaching the
south coast of Cuba without being inter
oiy beyond present calculations and it is
believed TO be the Spanish policy to pro-
long the war. with well-defined hope that
IN uIne other nations may become involved
The supposition that the Spanish fleet
Were PERMITTED to coal at Martiniuue. II
was suggested, threatens friction between
TINS government and France, and ii was
SiiiG that Spain may reasonably indulge in
the nope that if the war lasts long enough
SuIlclent irritation will be excited between
france ana the United States to secure to
SPAN iht secret assistance of that DOVER
not an actual alliance. This hope on the
part Oh spain may not be warranted but
no doubt is felt that she INDUCES it and is
intent upon avoiding a decisive engagement
as long as possible.
IL the Spanish feet reaches Cienfueeos
no doubt was. expressed that il could he
nemned in there and destroyed but this
cannot he done as speedily as this govern
ment would desire nor can il be accom-
plish ID without the danger of Il great loss
OF life on our side and serious damage to
our vessels.
international Complications
If either the Sampson fleet or the SchIev
fleet can engage the Spaniards a decisive
battle will be fought which it is believed
here. will practically end the war, but if
the Spanish fleet succeeds in escaping an
engagement either by beating the race to
the Cuban coast or by a retrograde move
ment. Ii will probably be necessary for a
dinerent distribution of our war vessels to
be made and much that We have already
accomplished may have to be done over
again IT II should turn out so, there will
De constantly increasing apprehension of
fnternatiOna complications
somehow, the most experienced states
men here. as we'll as those in England ap-
pear TO be unable to disassociate this war
with the possible future developments of
the great eastern question, in which the
whole world is interested and in congress
sional circles today the speech of Joseph
Chamberlain the British secretary of state
for the colonies. delivered at birmingham
last evening is being discussed with consid-
cradle interest. 1t is felt by many that
speedy termination of this war by the COM
piete vanquishing of Spain is the only GER
tain thing to prevent other complications
arising Immediately from it.
Apparently the naval officials are very
confident that a naval battle will occur.
possibly today, but certainly within two or
three days. and the expected battle to
prac tically terminate the war
Guessing at the White House.
Speculation held sway at the White House
today to where the Spanish fleet will
turn up Eext, whether it will be met by
Sampson. and the thousand possibilities of
the next few days.
Up TO nHoa the President had 10 official
news as 80 SIMPSONS feet or the position
of the enemy. but he had interesting theo-
res
What if the Spanish fleet should get to
the southern coast of Cuba without meet
ing Slmpson-wOulJln't our small vessels b.
in danger" the President was asked
Il think Schley will be there" was the re-
assuring answer the President gave This
answer was taken by the Presidents ques-
toner TO mean that Schley has been or
derei To put on all steam and make for
Cuba Ii Is even thought possible that he
Will head al once for the southern side of
the island
This idea is ridiculed by those who hold
that the Spanish fleet is swift enough TO
beat Schley 10 Cuban ports but the Presi-