Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-06-09
TUESDAYS BATTLE.
The Firing In Santiago Bay Not
Considered of Importance.
PROPOSES TO REMOVE TORPEDOES.
The Report of the Arrival of the Second
Spanish Fleet from Cadix Not Fright
ening Anybody-sigsbee Reports
An ExplauAfion.

reconnaissance db ShHtIHkO Oh Iucsudys
was all the information the navy de-
partment had to contribute to the
press yesterday afternoon. This bull
letin went to confirm the press dis
patches which told of the firing on the
Notifications of Santiago, but which
have been so steadily discredited since
the first report. 1t appears from the
bulletin given out that Commodore
Schley concentrated pretty good fire
upon the Spanish defenses, and 1t
seems probable that had he found con-
ditions more propitious than they were,
he would have resolved the reconnais-
ance into an assault In force.
The great natural strength of the
Spanish position and the formidable
character of their batteries, as indi-
Gated by Commodore Schley, have con-
firmed the naval officials in the belief
that they have been wise not to direct
any such reckless assault upon the
place in the absence of proper forces
as has been advocated In some
quarters. The problem would
be simplied were 1t known
that there were no mines in the chan
mel. As it is, the problem presented
has enlisted the active interest of the
army engineers as well as the naval
officers here. 1t Is the duty of the
army engineers in this country to lay
just such mines as are supposed to be
In place in Santiago harbor, and they
are curious to see how their brothers
In the navy propose to go about the
work of destroying them. A good deal
has been written in the text books
about countermining, and many
theories have been brought forward to
show how this can be done. But on
the authority of one of our engineer
officers these theories have never been
satisfactorily tested and there Is no
case on record of successful counter
mining against modern improved cleo
trical mines. 1t remains to be seen
how Sampson is going to solve this
problem, whether by the use of the
Vesuvius with her dynamite projec-
tiles; by the aid of divers, or by re-
course to the old method of dragging
for the mines with small boats, as In
cable cutting operations.
The owners of the Holland subma.
rine boat, who had proposed to go into
Santiago harbor and destroy the Span
ish war ships at SO much a vessel, have
come forward with request for q
practical test by the naval officers o.
their craft. The navy department was
obliged to decline to entertain the first
proposition, as it smaeked of privateer
ing and was in violation Of interna
tional law. The principal objection
| was that the expedition could not b,
in general commission and in command
of naval officer. Beside, they con
tended that she had never been thor
aughly tested. Now the boats own
ers propose that a naval officer or Off
GERS be designated to go down on the
Holland and then that she be commits
| stoned.
Notwithstanding the rather positiv,
statement coming from Jamaica to ths
effect that the second Spanish fee
from Cadiz had crossed the Atlantic
and was about to join Cervera yester
day at Santiago, the officers Of the navy
department refuse to be frightened a
what they declare to be a bugaboo.
1t appears that the basis of their con
fidence is q telegraphic report Of al
late date as Thursday, declaring
that the Cadiz fleet is still at Cadiz
Moreover, they know that there are
not SO many as 10 war ships In thai
feet.
Capt. Sigsbee, of the auxiliary
cruiser st. Paul, reported at the navy
department yesterday and had con
ference with Acting Secretary Allen
Messrs. Thrall and Jones, the tw,
newspaper correspondents imprisoned
at Havana, and recently exchanged fol
Spanish officers, were also at the nav,
department during the day.
Acting Secretary Allen late yester
day afternoon appointed a court of in
quiry to examine into the collision OF
May 90 between the United State
cruiser Columbia and the British
steamer Foscalia, off Fire Island, whicl
resulted In the loss of the latter vessel
The court will consist of Commodor
w. p. McCann, retired; Capt. deorg'
w. Summer, Commander G. II. Sperry
and Lieut.. Douglas Robin, retired, a
| York next Monday.
The navy department found 1t neces
sary yesterday to make an explanation
of the method 1t had employed of nd
vancing on the list the captains of th'
| vessels engaged in the battle of Ma
nila. There appears to be great In
consistency in the recommendation
Capt. Frank Wiles Of the Boston, 70
instance, going up only five numbers
while Commander Wood of the httl
Petrol jumped ten. Admiral Dewe
himself went up only two numbers.
The reason for this, according TO tn
department officials, Is that numbe
in the high degree is worth more tina
q number In the lower grades, SO tina
what appears to be an inequality is Il
fact exact equality, as near as calcula
lation could make It. The advance O
these offers on the naval list ha
caused some very curious "skips" such
for instance, as in the case of Cap
sigsbee, Capt. Crowninshield and Capt
O'Niel. Of the ordinance bureau, VIII
were all passed over.
| --@-~
Failures for the Week.