The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-30
Navy Department Receives Dispatches Direct From
the Commodore at Santiago.
SPANISH ADMIRAL'S SQUADRON
SEEN AND RECOGNIZED BY SCHLEY
Cerveras Warshps In Santiago Harbor and Their Es
cape Is Regarded as Impossible

Washington, May 30-At 1890 o'clock
this (Monday) morning the navy de-
partment received a dispatch from
Commodore Schley. announcing def
nitely that he had located Admiral
Cervera's Cape Verde squadron in the
bay of Santiago de Cuba The COM
modore states that he has seen and
recognized the vessels of the Spanish
fleet
While the naval officials have been
moderately certain for several days
that Cervera's squadron was in the
harbor of Santiago, the official an
nouncement from Commodore Schley
was received by the officers on duty
at the department with intense salts
faction. Assurance is now doubly
sure that the Spanish fleet is bottled
up and that the cork is in the bottle
1t is not believed that Admiral Ger
vera will attempt to escape from the
predicament in which he now finds
himself, as such course would surely
result in the destruction of his vessels
and the loss of many lives precious to
Spain. The suggestion is made, how
ever, that the Spaniards may blow up
the ships, rather than have them fall
into the hands of Schley, as they
certainly will if they remain in the
harbor.
The definiteness of Commodore
Schley's dispatch would seem t. indi-
cate that he has effected a landing
near Santiago and made personal in
veStigation of the harbor. 1t would
! be impossible from the entrance to
the bay definitely TO see and recognize
| the Spanish vessels, but by effecting
a landing at some point on either side
| of the entrance, a vantage point could
| be gained very likely, from which the
/ entire harbor could be examined. In
+. all probability Commodore Schley OF
/ one of his officers has succeeded in
performing this hazardous undertake
ing in order to obtain the valuable in
formation contained in his dispatch.
1t is impossible, owing to the late
ness of the hour, to obtain any officia
expression upon the news from Com
modore Schley. The effect that the
certainty that Cervera is practically
helpless will have on the plans of the
I naval station with reference to the
/ invasion of Cuba can only be con
jectured. The transportation of lanC
forces to the island, it is understood
was delayed because of the uncertainty
concerning the location of the Spanish
| squadron. If that understanding i:
COlICCl, lAC PlODdOllllS VI Gil CciA ~ III
vasion of Cuba is strong. 1t is not I'M
likely that the movement of troops
which has been delayed from time t.
time. will begin this week, and tina
before the end of the week the United
States forces will have obtained {
substantial foothold upon Cuban soil.
No information is obtainable as t
the intentions of Commodore Schley
! Whether he will endeavor to force al
entrance tha haU and sock a haiti
with the Spanish squadron, is no
known. but such a course at present i
not regarded as likely. 1t would be bet
ter, in the opinion of some naval Off
Gals, to keep Cervera and his vessel
safely in the harbor. where they are a
absolutely useless as they would be a
the bottom of the sea.