The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20
TRYING TO KEEP IMPORTANT Sc
CRETS

TRYING TO KEEP IMPORTANT Sc
CRETS,
The navy department continues to
maintain its strict censorship over all
news made public relating either to the
receipt of information from Sampson
or the American cOnsuls in the West
Indies, or what additional Instructions
If any, have been ut to the fl set COM
manders. In SO doing it intensifies the
mystery which surrounds the probable
direction that Simpsons fleet has TAX
en-.
Naval officers express the opinion
that SIMPSONS fleet is not proceeding
to Cienfuegos, and will not go that far
to the west unless the scout boats re-
port that the Spanish are heading pre-
sumably in that direction, The proper
strategy, they say, demands that the
Windward passage be guarded to pre-
vent th~ fleet slipping through and
con- N suddenly on the patrol ships
on the north coast of Cuba, whereas
If the enemy proceeds to CienfuegOs
there will be time for Sampson to go
around one end Of the island and
Schley the other, and thus effectually
prevent escape to- any port in the
West Indies for coal and SUPPLIES.
This plan is the one generally agreed
to by officers as the one being ad-
hered to, and is the one laid down by
the war college in consideration of pos
sible war between Spain and the Uni
ted States around Cuba.
SCHLEY NOW NEAR THE SCENE.
Whatever may be the tactics of the
Spanish, the officials have no appre-
hensiOn now Of calamity Detailing any
of the smaller ships on blockade work
as result of surprise by the over
whelming force of the Spanish armor-
clads. The flying squadron, last re-
ported off Charleston, is due in gulf
waters, and the presence of these
strong fighters will materially relieve
the anxiety that the Spanish vessels
might escape Sampson and get into
Havana with large quantities of am
munition and supplies understood to be
urgently required by Blanco to enable
him to fight his MorrO batteries fierce
ly and rapidly.
While not so formidable as the fleet
under Sampson, Schley, with two
battleships and one magnificent armor-
ed cruiser, with the addition of the
monitors Puritan and Miantonomoh
and a large number of auxiliary YES
sis, would present an array of fighters
competent to deal with the Spanish
successfully, it is contended by ex-
perts, regardless of assistance from
Sampson7s fleet. Numerically the
fleet now in the gulf outnumbers two
to one that under Admiral Sampson,
and is little short in real fighting
strength except for lack of torpedo
boats and first-class battleships, Of
which Sampson has more.
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK.
The game that will be played from
now on will be one of hide-and-seek,
the hiding being done probably by the
Spanish and the seeking by the Amer
leans. Unless the Spanish admiral has
0f f1,o arf, of <pax
flying squadron he is probably reckon
ing on having to deal with Admiral
Sampson's fleet alone. which he knew
when he sailed from Martinique was
off the Haytian coast.
General Greefey's strict exercise of
censurship~on all cable messages going
out of the United States may lead to
the Spanish admiral being cut off from
information about the steps being TAX
en- already to augment the fighting
strength of the gulf squadron. The
two sQuadronS united are admitted to
be capable of dealing a crushing blow
to the Spanish fleet, and if it's presence
can be definitely learned in time to
secure the operation Of the combined
fighting strength of the two fleets the
StrategiSt board has no doubt that the
battle will be quickly decided and with
but little damage to the United States
ships. Such an overpowering array
of fighters opposing the Spanish fleet
of four large vessels and three torpedo
boats would, they say, as completely
cripple Spain's naval forces in the At
lantic as Admiral Dewey's squadron
silenced the guns Of the vessels at
Manila.
The distances between the opposing
fleets render the time exceedingly prob
lematlcal when they win meet, and it
also depends in a still larger measure
on the plans of the Spanish and their
destination. If bound for any port Of
Cuba the journey should be accom-
plisf1ed by the last of this week, and
if once within sight Of the Cuban coast
escape then withsut first eneountering
one of the two squadrons would be re-
mote, If not impossible. A battle is
looked for in the next seven days, prob
ably sooner. and II is regarded as a
foregOne conclusion that it will come
off not far from the coast of Cuba
SPANS MENANCING FLEET,
Especial to The Baltimore SUM-
Porto Plata. San Domingto, May II
1t is reported here that the Spanish ,
squadron OF four cruisers and two tor
pedO boat destroyers, commanded by
Admiral Cervera. is at Porto Rico I
have not been able to confirm this re-
port, but whatever it's origin it appears
to be generally accepted here as true. !
Especial to The Baltimore SUM-
Barranquilla, United States of CO. |
1ombia, May 17.-Admiral Cervera's
squadron has not come to this port. It :
is reported here that the Spanish ships |
which left Curacao Sundey evening |
have been sfgnaled by incoming yes.