The age-herald., 1898-05-16
NEW NAVAL
 QUESTIONS ARISING
From the Washington Times.

From the Washington Times.
 The powerful Spanish fleet that has been l so mysterious in it's operations for the last two weeks and the subject of so much con- l lecture to the naval war board and to tho country in general, is now on this side of the Atlantic ocean. The navy department yesterday announced officially that the feet had arrived at Martinique. of the French islands southeast of Porto Rico. Fuller press dispatches absolutely confirm this information.
 The advent of the fleet at Martinique overturned all the official information of the administration. There is much com- ment in official and lay circles over this fact. It is more and more apparent every day that in that branch of the art of war that keeps its secrets and decisions the ene- my America is no match for Spain. Spain knows every move of the United States, apparently, and the United States, so far from learning the moves of Spain, can only obtain transformation.
 Another question that the navy Is ask ing itself is, why the swift scouts so much talked of recently, have not been able to give any help with advance information. The Harvard and Yale, and perhaps anoth-
 
 in the waters through which the spaniards must have come, and yet they knew noth- ing until the arrival of the fleet and may not even now.
 The advent of the Cope Verde squadron completely disarranged all the war plans of the administration founded on the wrong premise that the Spaniards were safe three thousand miles away on the other side of Atlantic dt,,fra ordered to leave Porto Rico with a small protection and Commodore Schley has been ordered to Cuban waters, and there is to be great naval battle.
 The administration is disposed now to think better of spain's courage, but to tenn | per its admiration with pity for her indis- erection. The general opinion is that spain has no chance whatever with her four ar- mored cruisers and her three torpedo boat destroyers against the host of battleships and cruisers and monitors and gunboats and tugs and revenue cutters at the com mand of the United States.
 It is realized also that the southern ro,,ta 10 Cuba may be considered by Spain to be far the safer and most feasible at this time Either way the fleets under Sampson will be able to catch the Spaniards without difl- culty.
 The distance between Porto Rico and Martinique is about 400 miles,
 The plan likely to be recommended bv the war board and acted on Immediately is as follows: Orders were issued yester- day to the flying squadron and it is already on it's way south.
 San Juan is now so helpless that a very small force can hold it. Two monitors are bv Gatn Cuba can wait a little and Commodore Watson will probably be instructed to re- main on guard there for few days, keep ing up the blockade.
 If the opposing fleets sail toward each other they may meet today or tomorrow. Otherwise two or three days may be con- sumed in bottling the Spaniards up in the gulf and Caribbean sea
 One immensely important factor in tho great problem now being solved between Spain and the United States is the question where Spain shall obtain her coal supply. The excitement over the positive knowledge that the Spanish fleet Is in western waters almost entirely eclpsed the general interest in the great bombardment of San Juan. The naval experts who were working out their weighty problem yesterday, however, gave the fact that San Juan is now the property of the United States a large im- portance in their calculations.
 San Juan was supposed to be the only place where Spanish ships could obtain coal except by breaking the blockade of Cuba. With this port in the hands of America, the experts believed the problem greatly simpified. The fleet had sailed on a two weeks cruise without coaling. It must strike and strike hard immediately or be helpless.
 In all these calculations 1t was never suspected that France might furnish the coal in violation of the neutrality laws France has done this and the Spanish fleet is at this moment well provided with coal Even more than this. it is very certain that unless the United States makes a violent protest, there Is more coal for the Spanish ships in French ports at any time that they find themselves in need of a supply.