Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-05-21

Washington, May 19.-The agrees i've
tactics of the war board are taking
definite shape. Three squadronS are to
lie formed. any one of which will prove
the equal of the Spanish fleet. Two of
those SQuadrunS, under Sampson ana
Schley, will he used to convoy the
troops to Cuba, guarding the channel
between Key West and the island. The
other will be composed of the battleship
Oregon and the monitors Puritan Am
phitrite, Terror and MiantonOmoh, and
will be stationed at Havana barbor to
prevent the Spanish fleet from gaining
entrance there.
The Oregon and the Marietta are safe.
They have reached the Barbadoes one
of the Winward islands, not far from
Martinique. where the Spanish fleet was
first reported.
The lines are tigh htening about Cap
tain General Blanco in cuba. No longer
is the blockade Of the island to be pa
cific i'm character The formal eVacua-
ton of the Spanish troops is near at
hand. Emboldened by partial success
in driving off insignificant. ill-advised
expeditions, the fighting spirit of Blan-
cos forces is, perhaps, thoroughly
aroused, but now instead of meeting
frail craft with small guns and few men.
the Spaniards are to be confronted with
gigantic ironcladS that will blaze the
way for our army and signal the APP
proach of Cuban independence. MORO
and all the fortitications will be razed.
il necessary, to insure the carrying out
of this program.
Action no less decisive than Admiral
Dewey's brilliant attack at Manila is the
order of the hour.
There is every reason to believe that
the invasion will be carried out in accord
ance with the original plan which has
been urged upon the administration by
General Miles. whose idea is to conduct
operations in Cuba without expectations
Of any assistance from the insurgents
to speak Of. lie has held that the in
sursents We're neither numerous nor
ell-organized enough to render effective
military operations carried on in a large
way according to the accepted prin-
ciples of war: and the information which
ment from its elnissares in Cuba has
tended to confirm this belief.
Meanwhile, Blanco is to be completely
ISoidltu w lIle ueStIutllOl Vi every
method of commun ication between the
island and the outside world OF Ad-
miral Cervera's erratic fleet the only
certainty is that destruction awaits it,
There are no misgivings as to the result
of the great naval engagement now i'm
pending. The Americans are eager fol
battle. They are amply prepared for it
and there is no hope for the Spaniards
unless they hide or run away.
Commodore Schley has arrived at Key
West, where he will be Joined by Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron.
The board of strategy may have in.
formation concerning the elusive enemy
but it is doubtful All the news of the
movements of the fleet which it obtained
previously came from newspaper sources
and this avenue of informa ion has been
cut off by the rigid censorship which has
been established. II the fleet ha.
reached San Juan it Is because Admiral
Cervera has learned of the departure OF
Admiral Sampsons fleet from that point
fact of comparative ease three days
ago. before present stringent cable regll.
latiOns had gone into effect.
Washington, May 19.-The Oregon, tht
second largest craft in the United State.
navy. has successfully completed hel
long trip from San Francisco. making
the entire circuit Of South America
Whether or not she has Joined Admra
SIMPSONS fleet Secretary Long woul,
not say The rigid secrecy of the nav,
department was relaxed only enough t,
make known the best news the navy de
u
of Manila. as it meant that not only wa.
the Oregon out of harms way from
concerted attack by the whole Spanish