Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-14
ALL PLANS CHANGED.
The Arrival Of the Spanish Flying Squadron
in West Indian Waters Causes New
Strategic Movements Invasion Of
Cuba Postponed Till Sampson Finishes
the Spanish Fleet.

received up to this moment the i'm
portant advices as to the move
ments OF the Spanish fleet that
have been dispatched to him.
Doubt on this score is founded
on the experience the department
has had already with the cables
received to-day from the West In
dies. 1t was stated positively at
the close of Office hours that no
word had come during the day
from Admiral Sampson save the
one telegram sent out this morn
ing regards the attack on the forts
at San Juan.
1t can be stated that there is
coed ground for the belief that the
admiral has achieved all that was
expected of him or that was neces-
sary to carry out the plans of the
strategic beard. The purpose was
to destroy San Juan as a fortified
base that might form a harbor OF
refuge for the Spanish fleet, and
according to the admiral's report
this has been practically accom-
plished. 1t was neither necessary
nor material that San Juan itself
be occupied, all that was essential
being that the Spanish fleet should
find no more protection there than
it would in any harbor without
substantial defences, and if the fly
ing squadron should have the ter
mity now to enter San Juan har-
Dor they will fall easy victims to
SIMPSONS battleships and monl-
tors.
It is a little singular that to-day
lust after the vessel had been near
ly destroyed battling for the United
States. the government should fin
ally accept the torpedo boat Wins
low. but that is what took place.
The boat has never had her final
trial and it is not to be supposed
that the department will insist upon
it under existing conditions.
Word came to the department
during the afternoon that injuries
sustained by the Winslow were Of
such a nature that they could be
repaired at the Key West naval sta
ton. and from this, although no
details were given, the department
officials inferred that the damage
was not extensive.
Captain O'Neil, chief Of the
bureau of ordnance, was with Sec
rotary Long several times during
the day. giving him information as
to the amount Of ammunition Adj
miral Sampson has on board II is
the opinion Of the bureau officials
that the bombardment of San Juan
did not materially deplete Samp-
sons stock Of powder. shot and
shell. There is no doubt. however,
that ID made considerable inroad
upon it. as it is said that a continu-
Gus fire for three hours that the
ships were in action would have
completely exhausted the entire
stock. There is no possibility,
however, of such a continuous fire
and the officials feel satisfied that
Sampson has at least half of his
ammunition, and perhaps more,
still on board Every ship in his
feet was stocked to its fullest ca
pacity with powder, shot and shell.
The division which sbelled San
Juan had sixty rounds of the large
size projectiles for the twelve and
thirteen inch guns, and about $50
rounds for the five and six inch
guns. In case the feet should re-
quire additional ammunition it
would have to be sent from Key
West, where the Navy Department
has large stock in reserve. Thus
far. however, there has been no
thought Of drawing On the reserve
stock.