The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-29
is BAGGED
SchIey Says he is Certain on
This Point.
NO OFFICIAL REPORT
THE HARBOR OF SANTIAGO
POORLY FORTIFIED.
NOTIFIED THAT ARMY IS READY 70 MOVE
Blockade Of Northern Cuba Continues Unevent
fuI. Rumor Of Sailing of Second Span
ish Fleet Caused no Uneasiness.
New York ChaSeS Steamer.

Copyright 1893 by Associated Press)
Key West, Fla, May 2S.-It is al
most certain that Commodore Schley has
the Spanish fleet bottled up in the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba There is so
little doubt about this that the naval
is proceeding upon The assump
ton that Admiral Cervera is incapable
Of doing any HARM Within a few days
the exact conditions at Santiago de Cuba
will be known without shadow Of
doubt.
In spite Of assertions to the contrary,
Commodore Schley was not absolutely
sure of his game when he last COM
municated with Rear Admiral Sampson,
and the commodore will not take active
steps to block up the entrance of San
tiago harbor until he is perfectly GER
tain that Admiral Ceryera's ships are
inside.
However. lie may have done this al
ready, as Commodore Schleys last COM
munication forwarded on Thursday on
ly reached Rear Admiral Sampson yes
terday.
The commodore stayed three days ut
Cienfuegos. He signalled to his ships.
Il believe the Spanish fleet is in the
harbor" On this belief, message was
sent TO the American admiral. The de-
tails Of how Commodore Schley fOun0
ont that he was mistaken are rs yet
unknown. At any rate, acting on the
admirals instructions, the commodore
moved east, arriving al Santiago de
Cuba OH Wednesday morning, May 10Th.
The typography of Cienfuegos ana
Santiago is almost Identical Both har-
bors are about six miles long, with mar
row entrances about 300 yards wide,
aud protected by the high lani. A whole
fleet could lie in the harbOr of either
place and be invisible from the outside
After his experience at Cienfuegos, it is
probable that Commodore Schley was
very conservative in deciding whether
he had or not cornered Ceryera From
the tone of his despatch it is evident
that the commodore soon gained much
second hand and external evidence which
pointed to Admiral Cervera's presence
in the harbor This evidence was APP
parently strong enough to make the
commodore feel certain the object of his
trip had been accomplished, but in view
Of his previous experience, he would not
risk a decisive statement until after as
certaining the fact for himself
Before this dispatch is published il is
likely that Commodore Schley has sent
some vessel into the entrance of, the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba or has obtained
from a reliable source ashore informa
tion as to the exact number and names
of Spanish warships sheltered by the
hills about that place.
Contrary to the generally expressed
opinion, the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
is poorly protected. Like Havana and
San Juan de Porto Rico, it has its Morro /!
Castle. which is even better target |
than those of Havana and San Juan. |
The only danger to be feared is from the |
mines which have been laid in the chan |
mel of Santiago since the war was de- !
clared.
But countermining would probably rem |
der these mines harmless, should it prove |
desirable for Commodore Schley's ships |
to enter the harbor. Such a step, how |
ever is unlikely.
II may be noted that since the com
mencement Of the naval operations, the |
moral effect Of the mines has been great. |
TINS condition promises to continue and |
will probably mark the naval operation
to n greater extent than was imagined |
in the past. The blockade of northern |
Cuba continues uneventful, and it is ap-
parently successful.
Now that the element of uncertainty
regarding the Spanish ships whereabouts
is almost entirely removed, the ships
which were solely occupied in watch
inc for the Spaniards have become an
additional force for the blockade, and |
without any incOnvenient change of DO
sition. Commodore Schley has been re-
inforced. but his position was clearly so
strong that the reinforcement which he
received made no difference to the
strong fleet in northern Cuban waters.
The rumor of the sailing of a second
Spanish squadron did not worry Rear
Admiral Sampson in the least degree.
His feelings on the subject were appar-
emily expressed recently when he said:
II am perfectly satisfied that we have
bagged these fellows referring to Ger
veras' ships) For the second time since
war was declared the admiral has been
notified that the army is ready to move.
This is good news to all the naval Of
fcers.
BY great good fortune no accident has
occurred Of sufficient Importance to rem
der any Of our ships utterly helnless be-
yond the aid Of towing, during the fleets
cruising Of the past month. Such acci-
dents. however. are quite within the
bounds of possibilities.
During the weeks cruise Of the flag !
shin New York from Matanzas toward
the eastern end of Cuba and back there
were few incidents Of interest. Every