The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-22

was ashore looking after stores when
word was sent him to cancel a. provision
contract and come aboard.
The small fleet was already under way
when he reached her and the Bancroft's
gig was snatched up to her davits while
she was steaming out of the harbor.
Where the small fleet went is still mys-
terry. all being too slow TO act os scouts
in the hunt for the Spanish fleet and not
strong enough to do more than help at
Havana. where there are already more
boats than are actually needed.
The most plausible theory advanced to
account for the quick departure was that
they were to form a second line of scouts
to the southwest where the Cincinnati
and the Vesuvius are supposed to be
watching the narrows of the Yucatan
channel These two vessels moved out
quickly Thursday morning and disappear
ed at leisurely pace to the southwest.
1t may be candidly admitted that all
discussion of the Spanish fleet from here
is speculative. Key West is lamentabiy
isolated from the current news save such
as is furnished by daily bulletins. The
understanding of the intention here. how
ever. is that ampson counted confidently
on finding the Spanish squadron bottled
up in San Juan as did Dewey the Span
iards at Manila. 1t was not till daylight
on the morning Of the bombardment that
he learned the harbor was empty.
Meantime. according TO the best infor-
nation here, the fleet of seven Spanish
ships. probably including the Vizcaya,
Oquendo. Cristobal Colon, Maria Teresa
and three destroyers, has been moving
west along the southern shore of the Car
ibbean sea. Later reports from Mole St.
Nicholas, Cape Haytien and other points
make it seem probable that a second sec
ton of the squadron. probably including
the Cardinal Cisneros. the Pelayo and the
Christina Regent. are following in the
wake OF the first. BY keeping TO the
south shore of the Caribbean the Span
iards avoided any chance encounter with
Sampson off Porto Rico and if they were
furnished news at cable points of the
weakened state of the Cuban blockade.
especially at Cienfuegos. it showed q
tempting chance TO make a dash across
at the south Cuban coas; and wipe out
the light vessels there. This done, they
could coal and proceed around the west
end of the island about 500 miles to Ha
vana. If that. as is generally supposed
here. Is their ultimat edestination. From
the fact that no such attack has yet been
reported. ii is inferred that the beet is
still holding its course west. Old pilots |
here say that big squadron OF war ships /.
Just outside the fringe of keys on the /
Mosquito coast without danger of discov- |
cry before they emerged from the north /
end Of the Yucatan channel
From this point they would be almost 4
equally distant :rom Key West and Ha-
vana. not so miles either way. II their I
object was 10 break the Havana block /
ade. they could do it easily il they ar I
rived before Schley or Sampson.
The feeling here tonight Is that the na- /
val battle Of the war may be Tough. in /
forty-eight hours and probably between !
Key West and the north Cuban coast. /
Everything is at high tension. and both /
officers and correspondents are looking I
for dispatch boat tearing Up the chan +
rel ST any hour with the news thar the I
hostile feet has been sighted within 4
striking distance OF Key West or Ha- /!
vana. 1t IS impossible 20 forecast the /,
Of either Sampson or Schley. /
but the superstition among naval men i
that orders from Washington viii direct 4
a redistribution OF the vessels. forming
a new flying SQUADRON to make quick
OF the west Cuban coast. per
aaps as far around as CienfuegoS on as
south. leaving q sufficient guard % heavy