The San Francisco call., 1898-05-06
Porto Rico Is to Be the Next Point of At
 tack.
Sampson Will Destroy the Spanish Fleet if He
 Meets It.
Secretary Alger Is Planning Now to Lay a Cable to the Far
 allOnes.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Call Office, R1ggS House,
 Washington, May 3. It can be positively stated that the Navy Department is in complete ignor- ance of the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet. Various reports have located these vessels at Cadiz, the Canarles, off the Newfoundland coast and in mid ocean, and 1t was determined to start Captain Sampson out to look for them As nearly as can be ascertained the argument made by the naval strategic board was as follows: If it is true that the vessels are heading for this side they must be intercepted before reaching their base of supplies at Porto Rico. and therefore a naval engage ment on the high seas would follow; ! but if by the time Sampson reaches Porto Rico it appears that the Spanish | fleet is yet anchored off the coast of | Spain the batteries of Porto Rico will l be bombarded, and the enemy's only naval base on this side of the Atlantic l destroyed or occupied by our vessels The work of reducing the batteries will not require all of Captain Simpsons s l vessels, and it is believed that he has orders to dispatch two or more of them to the south to capture the cruiser and | war transport, Alfonso XIII, now at Barbadoes
 If Spain's fleet is now in midocean, as currently reported to-day, and head ing for Porto Rico, battle royal on the high seas will be the result; but i if the vessels are yet on the other side of the Atlantic news will be received in a few days that Captain Sampson is bombarding Porto Rican batteries. so that, in any event, before the week Is out, or at latest, by Sunday or Mon day, thrilling news may be expected from that part of the Atlantic.
 Senator Burrows called at the White House to-day to present some friends to the President. As he left he said: Everything is moving along smoothly and well. What we want now is Porto Rico. We ought to have that to-mor- row"
 twill it be as soon as that?"
 Yes" was the reply. Probably in a day or two"
 While refraining from saying what took place during his brief interview with the President his statement that the seizure of Porto Rico is expected to be effected in day or two was thought by his hearers to be signifi- cant, having been made immediately after the Senator left the President
 In addition to the war signal balloon recently shipped to Staten Island from Fort Logan. the department will pur- chase two other balloons to send with Shafter's men to Cuba These will be used at the seized Cuban port. They will be attached to windlass and may be readily elevated or lowered By means of strong field glasses a view of the surrounding country for a dis tance of fifteen or twenty miles may be taken, so that our soldiers will be given early notice of the enemys ap- proach. General Greedy chief signal officer of the War Department, has just completed fine system of tele- graphic and telephonic communication for the Atlantic seaboard as far south as Fort Caswell, in addition to a tele- phone system for the field, so that the various corps and divisions may com municate easily with each other He will now turn his attention to the Pa cific, and if, as reported in the dis patches from San Francisco, a cable l can be laid from that city to the Far allon Islands. twenty-eight miles from the Golden Gate, for 5000 this work | may be undertaken without awaiting a special appropriation of Congress. as l there is a balance available out of the amount set aside by Secretary Alger for the signal service.