New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
HEADING OFF THE ENEMY.
WORD COMES FROM SAMPSON.
HE WILL CLOSE SOUTHERN PORTS or
CUBA AGAINST SPANS FLEET.
sCHLEY EXPECTED TO GUARD THE AP.
PROACHES TO HAVANA-NO BATTLE
LIKELY For SEVERAL DAYS.

fBY THE rRIBUNEl
Washington, May 16.-The plans and move
ments of the hostile fleets now In West Indian
waters continue to be veiled in mystery ana
uncertainty. The belief is strengthening among
naval experts here that an actual collision be-
tween the Spanish squadron and the American
forces is yet several days distant, always sup
posing that it is Admiral Cerveras purpose to
accept battle either on his own or on his oppo-
nent's terms. SO far as Is known here the four
Spanish cruisers and their two torpedo boat-de-
stroyer consorts are still at Curacao, and their
prolonged stay near the Venezuelan coast, ap
parenty for the purpose Of taking on new coal
supplies, has given Acting Admiral Sampson
ample time to enter the Caribbean and prepare
to close the southern ports Of Cuba TO the Cape
Verd fleet.
PLANS OF SAMPSON AND SCHLEY.
Word came from the American commandeY
to-day that he had determined to run south
through the Windward Passage. and station his
warships so as TO cover the approaches TO San
tiago de Cuba and Cenfuegos, preventing the
landing OF supplies and ammunition for tho
Havana garrison in these harbors and at tho
same time relieving the feeble southern block
aiding squadron from any fear OF attack Com
modore Schley's ships from Hampton Roads,
which were reported to-day of Charleston, are
now supposed to be making their way to Key
West and the Tortugas, to go thence to take sta
ton off the Yucatan Passage, thus blocking the
approach Of the enemy to Havana from the
south and west.
The naval authorities are exercising unusual
vigilance in the transmission OF orders, and
every precaution Is being taken to keep news
of the movements Of the men-of-war In Cuban
waters from reaching the public. The need OK
such stringency is apparent and until the pres
ent struggle for position in the Caribbean 10
over. and the Spanish squadron is either de-
feated I'm battle or forced to retreat across the
Atlantic. no light will be thrown officially on
the strategy pursued by Acting Admiral Samp-
son and the other leaders Of the American fleet.
GAIN BY DELAYING THE INVASION.
Preparat tons for the invasion Of Cuba are still
being pushed with vlgor. but nc one In author
ity here now thinks that the start from Tampa
can be made within two weeks. Needed sup
plies for the invading army have been gradu-
ally collected and there seems to be little doubt
that from military point OF view the chances
Of n successful campaign against the Cuban
capital have been greatly improved through me
DELAYS enforced by the Spanish naval demon
stration for Iavana's relief. Seventy thousand
volunteers have now been mustered into SER
vice and will be almost Immediately available
as a reserve 10 support the first attack on
Havana By the Regular troops; and the security
of communications between the Gulf coast and
Cuba once assured beyond question, the In
vaslon can be begun and maintained with
overwhelming force
WAR REVENUE BILL IN THE SENATE.
The War Revenue bill. after many delays ana
some startling transformations in committee,
reached the stage of actual discussion In the
Senate to-day. Mr. Allison, the leading expert
on internal revenue schedules on the Republican
side of the Finance Committee, opened the
debate with Il general statement of the scope
and purposes of the new tax measure. lively
parliamentary contest Is 10 follow over the de-
tails Of the bill. Many paragraphs OF the
measure as It now stands involve questions or
party politics ard. having been drawn and
folsted on the House bill by the pro-sllver coall-
ton which controls the Finance Committee. are
absolutely repugnant 10 the Administration and
Republican membership OF the Senate. There
is little likelihood that the final vote will Be
taken before the end OF May.