The age-herald., 1898-05-27
CERVERA CANNOT
 POSSIBLY ESCAPE This View is Held by Naval Au- thoritieS at Washington,
NO FEAR OF TORPEDO BOATS
searchlights of American Squadron Will Play Constantly on the Narrow Channel-Ad- miral Hornby' Position Totally yUn-
 like the Spanish AdmiraPs.

Washington, May 26.-The naval officers are now turning their attention to inquiries whether it is possible for Admiral Cervera to get out of Santiago harbor. They hold that this maneuver is impossible, and that being so the career of the Spanish admiral is at an end so far as it consti- tutes a menace against our ships.
 The British comment that Admiral Horn- by in 1885 escaped with his entire fleet from a harbor under similar conditions, and that Admiral Cervera should be able to make his escape when he gets ready to do so, is not accepted.
 The naval authorities view here is just the contrary. It is pointed out that Ad- miral Hornby escaped from an open bay, while Admiral Cervera must come through a narrow channel about 300 yards wide, on which the American searchlights will play constantly.
 This, 1t is said, is not mere opinion, but that naval maneuvres were carried on at Key West and Tortugas a few months ago which furnish a positive demonstration that Admiral Cervera cannot make an exit without being discovered. An officer, who was on board one of the American ships during the Tortugas movements, says a sham night attack of torpedo boats was made upon the big battleships and cruisers. The latter were given no notice of the projected attack and there was no extra guards such as the American ships now maintain But every torpedo boat engaged in the attack was discovered long before it was within striking distance of the cruisers and battleships
 Torpedo Boat BewiIdered
 One of the attacking torpedo boats was so bewildered by the searchlights that it nearly ran into cruiser.
 The lesson drawn from this attack was that night sally by an enemy was Im- possible owing to the modern methods of discovering the approach. It had shown also that the attacking fleet could not get within range, although they had come with in the range of the guns of the ships at- tackled.
 It Is said these maneuvres at Tortugas and Key West practically represent the sit uation before Santiago. If Cervera sent out his torpedo boats as scouts they would be detected before they could do damage and be destroyed by the guns of such small cruisers as the Montgomery. The Ameri- can ships would have the advantage of con- centrating their entire fleet upon one small passage 300 yards wide.
 A night battle is quite unusual in navals, but it has occurred The Constellation fought the Revenge at night, the engage ment continuing six hours in the darkness, during which time the main mast of the Constellation was carried away and the ship crippled. It is believed that if Ad- miral Cervera attempts to escape he will choose the night for this movement.
 American Commanders Position
 On the other hand, the naval officers are discussing the means the American com- manders may adopt to make exit impossi- ble. In the blockade of Charleston barges full of stone were sunk at the channel en- trance, cutting off ingress and egress. A few old hulks would serve the same purpose in the present case.
 There is great difficulty In getting such old crafts and the sinking of the derelicts in the proper point in the channel would be attended with great danger. It must be lowed to position, subjecting those in charge to mines and torpedoes. There are also the guns of Morro castle to be guarded against.
 It is understood, however, that Moro castle has no search lights, so that night operation of this character could be exe- cuted without the Spaniards being made aware of it.
 Taking everything into account, naval officers feel that Admiral Cervera commit ted fatal blunder In being trapped at Santiago, and there is no fear the trap will prove inadequate to hold him.