The herald., 1898-05-20
IS BOUND TOCATCn him
BUT CANNOT SAY WHEN IT WILL
BE DoN1
THE FLEET SPANISH ADMIRAL
Will Run Out Of Coal Some Day and
Be Forced Either to Hide
or Fight
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, May ia dispatch to the
Times from Washington says:
Admiral Sampson is now. 1t is said, In
position to be regularly and frequently In
formed of the approach of the enemy. and
the Spanish admiral is now or will be cut
of and unable to turn In any direction with
safety.
1--WE are bound to come up with him. -
said a prominent naval officer. "unless he
decides to run for our coast. But that will
| only defer the inevitable matter for few
days. The longer he runs and lodges the
shorter becomes his supply of fuel. Once
that is exhausted he has no place to which
he can resort for supplies except San Juan
or Havana.
HE may select either port he prefers.
If it be Porto Rico Sampson would return
and resume the bombardment. do not,
however. believe Admiral Cervera will
permit his fleet to be bottled up in a har-
Dor and shelled where it cannot maneuver
That would condemn him for unseaman-
like conduct and for criminal waste of the
powder Of his fleet"
Few officers consider the suggestion Of
a dash for the coast Of the United States
as one Of the probabilities. If that were
SSSoSAc
In the squadron now or In the Caribbean.
The danger from that source Is regarded
as very slight If the squadron Is pro-
ceeding by a northern route 1t cannot avoid
being seen by vessels bound east along the
usual routes. If 1t Is travelling by a
southern route out Of the usual lane, the
scouts Of the United States navy are al
most certain to sight it. Charleston,
Chesapeake Bay. Philadelphia. New York.
Boston and Portland are considered by the
Navy Department officials and by ordi-
nary officers Of the War Department quite
safe against Spanish exploit.
The Navy Department people have
ceased to pay any attention to inquiries
concerning the many Spanish fleets daily
reported as having been seen at widely
separated points Of the compass and will
no longer venture to extend comforting as
surances to those who cannot avoid con-
cern at every fresh report Of Spanish
fleet. But q little amusement and some
indignation is expressed at the altogether
uncalled for nervousness manifested by
citizens of Boston and other Eastern
cities who called for protection from the
navy and who succeeded in detachings on
useless scouting service the Columbia and
the Minneapolis.
The officers of those vessels have been
heard from here and they consider that
they were unnecessarily deprived by use
less scouting service from going south
ward and exposed to the jeers Of their
comrades merely to quiet the anxieties of
persons quite needlessly alarmed.
The war will, 1t is believed by those who
are acquainted with the program Of the
naval authorities and the condition of the
Spaniards in Cuba, be short II the fleet OF
Admiral Sampson and that of Spain can
be brought together soon. The Navy De-
partment does not look for any excess of
energy in the Spanish navy. 1t is consid
cred that the demoralized condition of
Spain precludes renewed war activity.
Cables to Be Cut
CHICAGO, May ia special to the
Daily News from Washington says:
Although nothing official Is given out at
the Navy Department, the opinion is eau
tiously expressed that the reported bonn
bardment of Santiago de Cuba is prob
ably true. A large number Of American
vessels are there and one of the special
missions to which they have been as
signed is the cutting of the cables from
that port.
There are three cables at Santiago de
Cuba, two running to Jamaica and one
to Hayti. They are British property, but
they either have been or will be cut to
prevent General Blanco from communicat-
ing with Madrid or any other outside
point.
The outlook for q naval battle within
twenty-four hours Is not considered prom
ising.
All News Censored
TAMPA, Fla, May 19.-The strictest
kind Of censorship has been established
here and absolutely nothing pertaining to
military or naval movements from this
port will be permitted to be sent out from
this time on. An official bulletin Of such
news as the army officials consider ad-
visable will be provided for at once. 1t Is
intimated that this censorship will con-
tinue until after the final movement of
troops to Cuba has taken place. 1t being
the purpose of the government to keep the
Spanish government in ignorance. 80 far
as possible, of our plans for the invasion
of Cuba.
Blanco's Report
MADRID, May 10, 8 a. NIT Is announc-
ed in a dispatch received here from Ha-
vana that the German warship Geier has
arrived there. The dispatch adds:
''She did not salute the American squad
ron either with her guns or flag. but she
passed the usual salutes to the forts here
and her commander landed and visited
Captain General Blanco, Admiral Manter-
ole and the President of the Colonial gov-
ernment The visits of the commander
were lengthy and were marked by extr Sine
cordiality. The Spanish authorities re-
turned the visits.''
The dispatch from Havana also refers to
the reported bombardment Of the forts al
Santiago de Cuba yesterday. adding: mo
damage was done as the ships were SO far
distant that the shells did not reach TIE
land" red book has been published con-
tanning the diplomatic documents relating
to the events beginning with the arrival
Of General Stewart L. Woodford, the Unit
ed States Minister, at San Sebastian. and
ending with the rupture of peace.
Keeping Close Watch
NEW YORK. May ia dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
So far as known to those not in the clos
est confidence of the naval authorities, the
three American squadrons now concen-
trated of Cuba are still maintaining The
blockade of the north coast and guarding
the southern approaches to the Yucatan
Passage and at the western end Of the
Windward Passage at the eastern end o.