The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-04-28
Will Not Take Place Until All Danger from
Spanish Fleet Is Eliminated.
GREAT CARE IS NECESSARY
We Have Long Coast Line TO Defend Spain Making Great
Efforts in Porto Rico Critical Condition Of
Affairs in Manila.

Chicago. April IA Times Herald
special from Washington says:
Secretary Long declares Havana will
not be bOmbarded until serious danger
from the Spanish fleet Is eliminated. He
says the United States cannot AFFORD 20
risk the loss OF a warshlp until the Ar
madas are destroyed Or are no longer a
menace 20 be greatly feared. It might
be an easy matter 10 silence the guns OF
Moro castle and the neighboring shore
batteries, but In the conflict Americans
might be crippled JeyOnd repair The
navy Of Tile United States has a long
coast line 10 defend which compels a
scattering OF It's vessels and Il labors
under the additional disadvantage 0f not
knowing the objective point Of the enc
mys feet. The American navy Is not 50
strong but the loss Of a single ship might
prove fatal In naval engagement. There
Is the additional question tnat when the
troops have been landed In Cuba there
must be a feet able 20 keep the line OF
supplies open and cooperate IN the r.
duction OF Spanish strongholds Il Is
common habit 10 desnise the power of
Spain. but naval officers say II is a mis-
take IN the case Of the Armadas a
chance shot or two might weaken the
American squadron just enough to give
the enemy a victory In the expected sea
fight and the navy department will not
take that chance.
The secret service Of the department
has sent word that Spanish ships were
TO sail for this country and il is thought
possible that they left Cadiz several days
ago and are on the way across. The fleet
az Cape Verde Islands will also move in
order to obey the neutrality laws OF Por-
tugal. and that may also cross to this
side Nava. officers and government
officials generally are anxious for
chance to test the merits Of the two
navies. They are confident Of a victory
for the American ships and the sooner
the sea fight comes the better II will
please them. With the danger from the
Spanish armada removed or minimized.
the taking Of Cuba would be a compar-
atiyely easy matter. and the eyes OF
Americans are turned across the sea for
movements of the enemys fleet. 1t is
intimaied in naval circles that plans
have been made for the union OF the
squadrons OF Admiral Sampson and Com
modore Schley II the Spanish should at
tempt to mass their offensive power In
the hope OF catching either one OF the
sQuadrons unawares 10 be destroyed be-
fore the arrival OF reinforcements
II is thought that fleet cruisers will !
be sent out as scouts as soon as news
is received Of a movement Of the ar /
madas to cross the Atlantic and it is 1
surmised that that is what the Columbia /
and Minneapolis are doing now. The /
tactics of the Spaniards are a mystery. /
but II is suspected they may make an 1
attempt to lombard some OF the big
cities on the north Atlantic coast II is
possible that is the mission OF the Pc
lavo and her consorts and II is believed
the American cruisers are scouting the /
ocean TO intercept them. II they should
be discovered approaching the United |!
States the scout would scud back to the /
nearest port and send message to the
flying squadron. The American navy is
thus tied up to some extent until the \
enemy shows his hand.
Preparations are going on for the prep
uration of force of regulars for ser
vice in Cuba as soon as possible. 1t is
rumored that the force may be 1890
instead of 5.OO0 The object is to establish
a base of operations open communication I,
with Gomez and feed as many Of the
reconcentradOs as can be reached. The
daring act of Lieutenant ]. c. Fremont
and a party from the torpedo boat Porter
in landing under the guns OF Matanzas 4
Sunday was hailed with much satiSfac-
ton. \ report is current that Lieutenant
Fremont landed a pilot who has conduct
ed a number of tilbustering expeditions
and that tnis pilot was dispatched with
messages to Gomez
II is not probable the American force
will engage in an aggressive campaign
against the Snanards for some time. Ii
Will be equipped however, to withstand
siege in case the blockade squadron
should be called away to meet the enc
mys fleet and to that end doubtless throw
up oreastworks or construct fortihcations
Of some sort
An Official high in the war department.
S authority for the statement that the
volunteers called for will be held in their
state 'encampments indefinitely, to be
organized and hardened. =
plan has been proposed to gather
hem in great camps at Washington.
Richmond, Atlanta or Chickamauga. but
S was declared today that these troops
would not be moved to such camps for
weeks The volunteers can be trained
n their own states as well as anywhere
Else, 1t was explained. and thousands of
mothers and wives win be relieved of
much anxiety 1t is argued there is no
leed of making the service more trying
han the situation demands, The United
states is on the defensive and must await
he action of the enemy's ueets because
he American navy has not a sufficient
'reponderance Of strength to warrant the
aking of chances, 1t was lnumated in
he same quarter that the volunteers
night not get a chance at Cuba until al
er the rainy season.
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