Evening journal., 1898-05-09
SIMPSONS POSITION.
The Admiral and His Squadron or Haitien
Coast Waiting For Spanish Fleet.


Coast Waiting For Spanish Fleet.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-Cable ad-
vices received from Rear Admiral
Sampson announce his arrival of the
coast Of Haiti Saturday with division
Of his fleet. He viii remain at the point
where he is now located until the de-
partment or one of the scouts informs
him of the appearance Of the Spanish
men-of-war which sailed from ST. Vim
cent nine days ago.
Although press reports have been pub
lished announcing that the Spanish fleet
has arrived at San Juan and off Mar
tinque, the department has heard moth
ing from the American liners acting as
scouts confirming such reports, and the
consular officers Of this government in
the West Indies are silent The officers
are under Instructions to report to the
department Of state any reliable infor-
nation Of the presence Of any Spanish
men -of-war.
The naval board has calculated the
Spanish squadron to be at or near Puer-
to Rico by this time, and it is in the
hope Of bottling up the fleet in the har-
Dor of San Juan that the men-of-war Of
the north Atlantic squadron are hover
ing within a short distance Of Puerto
Rico. Some apprehension exists in ma
val circles Of the possibility that the
Spanish vessels have passed the Ameri-
can scouts at night or in misty weather,
in which event, of course, it viii be
more difficult to find them.
The American consul at st. Thomas.
however, is under instructions to be
diligent IN learning of the arrival of the
Spanish men-Of-war, and he will cable
at once TO the state department what
ever information he has This viii at
once be transmitted 20 Rear Admiral
Sampson. who will then carry out the
plan drawn up by the war board
Should the Spanish fleet not make its
appearance in West Indian waters nv
tonight or tomorrow the authorities will
turn their attention to the battleship
Oregon and her consorts. the gunboat
Marietta and cruiser Nlctheroy. whose
safety will then become a matter of
anxiety. Believing that these ships can
take care Of themselves. il is not pro-
posed by the naval war board to send
them any re-enforcements on account
of the blockade Of the Cuban coast and
Of the exposure OF the gulf ports Of the
United States that would consequently
follow.
If the oregon should engage the enc
my in battle. IL is expected that prompt
information will at once be sent to
Washington, and then Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet can safely be sent to
| destroy it, So far as the protection Of
northern ports is concerned the author
tiles are confident that the junction OF
the flying squadron and the northern
patrol squadron viii form a fleet which
will defeat the Spanish squadron should
It make its appearance along the coast.
Commodore w. S. Schley. commanding
the flying squadron. has orders to be
prepared to sail at a moments notice,
but he will go only i'm the event that the
whereabouts Of the Spanish fleet is as
certained.
It is learned that the destination OF
! the cruiser st. Paul is Haltien waters
where Rear Admiral Simpsons fleet is
| in waiting. The ST. Paul will carry to
| the squadron a large supply of coal
ammunition and other stores, and when
these have been delivered win become
a scout. The st. Louis, Harvard and
Yale are now off st. Thomas. carefully
| patrolling the sea, with instructions tC
/ sail at once for a cable station or fol
| Rear Admiral SIMPSONS rendezvous tC
impart to the government or to the
! commander in chief what has beer
| learned.