The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-17
4 CHANGE OF PLANS.
IT IS CAUSED BY PRESENCE or
SPANISH FLEET.
Battle TO- End the War;. -
The FLYERS, AND FIGHTERS To
CRUSH THR EMMY.

Il $3.50 ms @2ENS ASG94& m4N8
/ ottat CRUSH THR ENEMY. zion
Plan is for Quick and Decisive Move-s0
Troops Will Not te5 Landed Untilthe
Spanish feet is CrIshedor Driven from
the West Indies-TO Repair the WinsO
loW.E - 81 In r51zg 1GE rs fId aaa-icJ
8WAsHEEGToN, D. O., May 13.-A
complete change has taken place in the
Offensive plans of our government.
The receipt of the news from Sampson
of his attack IN the forts at San Juan
and the news Of the actual presence
OF the Spanish Flying Squadron eff
Martinique, only 500 miles away from
Sampson aud less than 1000 miles
from Havana caused the dispatch Of
the Flying Squadron under Commoy
dore Schley0and the delay Of the army
Of invasion Of Cuba It is to the
Navy the government again looks
for a battle that may end the conflict
The news of the Spanish feet revealed
at once the pOssibilityof a quick move
On the part Of the feet that would
cut the line OF communication by
water between Cuba end KeyaWest,l
exposing to great peril any American
landing force that mig be caught be-
tween a superior army in Cuba and
the 9 patrolled by Spanish Crusiers.
It became necessary therefore, to de-
fer the departure of the military exc
petition from Florida until the Span
ishl feet is met and crushed or driven
from West Indian waters. The Navy
Department wired Sampson informa.1
tion! Of the approach of the Spanish
feet and directions, what to do and
another order flashed to Schley, who
has been eating out his heart at Hamp-
ton Roads in his eagerness to get into
the fray, to start with his vessels at
the earliest possible moment The com.
modore took no chance of a cancellR.1
tion. of these highly desirable orders,
but at 345 O'Clock had put himself be-
Yond the reach Of t~elegraphic recall. }
What is expected of him cannot be
disclosed at the Navy Department. and
naturally u.s. purely a matter of con. 2
iectures 4 Bampson's fleet . lis strong
enough unaided to overcome the Span {
isho Flying Squadron if he can ever
catch it out of the reach Of forti6Ca-7
tions! His feet, however is lacking in
speed &c compared totthe Spanish ves~i
cells and cooperation on the part Of our {
Flying Squadron would add much
to the chance Of cornering the Span. D
iards,l and forcing the fight which is {
believed TO be necessary to thesuccessl
Of the Cuban campaign as now
planned. .a,u-s4 sH3 I'D
Much regret is expressed among
naval Ulcers at the delays experienced
in communicating, with Sampson and
it could not be learned at the Navy
Department whether the Admiral has
actually received the important ad. &
vices as to the movements of the
Spanish feetthath have been dispatched
TO him. Doubt on this score is foun.
ded on the experience the department
has already had with the cables re.
eeived to day from the West Indies.
It 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
morning regarding the attack on the
forts at San Juan. 1t can be stated
that there is good ground for the be-
lief that the Admiral has achieved all
that that was expected of him or that
was necessary to carry out the plans
Of the Strategy Board.
Word came to the department DUR
ing this afternoon that the injuries sus. ;
tanned by tbs Winslow were of such a
nature that they could be repaired at
the Key West naval station, and from
this, although no details wers given,
the department. officials Inferred that
the damage was not extensive. The
vessel, which has never had q final
trial was accepted by the government
to day. It is the opinion of the naval
official that the Commandment Of sar
Juan did lot materially deplete Samp.
sons stock Of ammunition. In case
the feet should require additional
ammunition, it would have to be sent
from Key West, where the Navy De-
partment has a large stock in reserve.