The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-06
Again, Sampson May Have Gone to
Succor the Oregon or to Give Bat
tie to the Spanish Armada.
FAST CRUISERS rs SCOUTS
SEARCHING THE ATLANTIC FOR
SIGNS OF CAPE VERDE FLEET.
Work of War Department-PropOs
Change I'm Bill Providing for Inn
munes-Troops Sent to Tortugas.

| WASHINGTON, May 5-No news could be
| cleaned at the Navy Department relative
| to the movements of Admiral SIMPSONS
| ironclads, but from the confident tone of the
| few officials who are acquainted with the
| policy Of the department they are expect
| ing TO hear very soon of news from his
| squadron almost as interesting and impor-
| tant as that received from the Philippines
| last Monday. A high officer Of the admins
| tration to-day almost demolished the theory
| that Admiral Sampson was going to succor
| the Oregon now on her way from Brazil
| to join the North Atlantic squadron. He
| declared that the Navy Department was
| under no apprehension about the Oregon,
! for the reason that it did not consider that
| the Spanish admiral of the Cape Verde
| squadron would be willing to risk combat
with the Oregon even at the great odds in
his favor, as even if overwhelmed in the end,
the Oregon certainly would destroy one of
! the Spanish ships and possibly two, and the
| Spanish government could not afford to ex-
change pawns at this stage of the war That
| left open possible points of operation for
| Sampson either Porto Rico or some port on
| the Cuban coast, but just which theory is
| to be accepted is not even hinted at by the
| departmental officials.
| One of the stories current to-day was that
Sampson had gone to seize Matahzas, to
| be used as base of operations The Off
| Gals refuse absolutely to make public the
| plan of the strategy board, and thus give aid
| to the enemy. Therefore these conflicting
| theories as to the plans of the feet can only
| be judged in the light of their probability
| when viewed in connection with the usual
| methods of warfare. Thus to lombard
| Matanzas without at the same time being
| able to land a sufficient force to seize and
| hold the place would seem to be very bad
strategy, and the fact that Simpsons fleet
was accompanied by no troop transports
would seem to negative the idea that he
| had gone either to attack Matanzas or seize
| Porto Rico. To attempt the latter would
require a strong landing force, in view of
| the number of Spanish troops on the island,
and in addition it may be suggested that
Admiral Sampson would be very loath to run
the risk of having one more of his best
ships completely disabled by attacking forts
needlessly and thus leave his fleet inferior to
the Spanish force,
Persons who were with the President to-
day, however, assert that there is strong
likelihood that Porto Rico will be in the
hands of the United States within forty
eight hours. The immediate seizure of the
island, they assert, has been ordered
though direct confirmation is lacking. SEN
ator Burrows, OF Michigan when he left the
President to-day, said: Everything is
moving along smoothly and well. What we
want now is Porto Rico. We ought to have
that tomorrow"
''Will it be as soon as that, senator?'
"Yes," was the reply. Probably in day
or two.r
While refraining from saying what trans
pired during his brief interview with the
President, his statement that the seizure of
Porto Rico is expected to be effected in a
day or two was thought by his hearers to
be significant, having been made immedi-
ately after the senator LETT the President,
though he would not say the President had
given him any information.
Notice came to the State Department
from Brazil to-day that that government
had declared neutrality. There is now no
cause to regret such action on the part of
Brazil, for, however beneficial the delay has
been to the United States in getting its
war ships safely along the Brazilian coast,
the issue Of the proclamation just now is
likely to be still more beneficial in closing
Brazilian ports to the Spanish flying squad
ron, If it should be headed in that direction.
1t may be noted, however, that while the
first reports were received with little credit
the advices coming to the Navy Depart
ment to-day though not conclusive, in
clined the officers to the belief that the
Spanish flying squadron really has turned
back from Cape Verde to consolidate with
the home squadron at Cadiz.
A significant movement is the addition of
the war ship New Orleans to Commodore
Schley's squadron at Hampton Roads in
place of the Columbia. This seems to indi-
cate a complete change in the character of
the squadron. which. instead of being a
flying squadron in the ordinary sense, has
now assumed the character of a battle
fleet without being speedy as at first
organized. Commodore Schley's squadron is
now probably able 10 meet on even terms,
at least the formidable Spanish armored
cruisers which sailed from Cape Verde for
an unknown destination. In view of this
action of the department, and particularly
IL Schley should be reinforced by some tor
pedo vessels it may be assumed that he is
about to start in quest of the Spanish
squadron.
The Navy Department will ship 100000
pounds of powder to Commodore Dewey to
add to the stock he now has left This will
be made up of about 60000 pounds of the
grade used for the big eight-snch guns. co.
coo pounds for the six-inch guns, $1,000
pounds for the five-inch guns and lesser
amounts for other classes of guns This
with the large number of eight-inch armor-
y6iercing projectiles, shells and six-inch and
- v.fA Ae hall It'll ofra A.