The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-21
COMING NAVAL BATTLE
Washington Does Not Expect It to
Take Place Immediately.
0ERVERA IN A VBRITABLB TRAP

a Single Monitor Could Bottle Up the
Whole Spanish Fleet in Snntiago's
Narrow Harbor-Nvnr BoardC Changcs.
Mythical Spanish Coaling station.
Washington May 21.--All of the news
that was given out yesterday at the
navy department was comprised in the
one short bulletin, posted at the close
of the day. stating that the department
had information, believed to be au-
thentic, that Admiral Cervera, with his
Spanish flying squadron, was at Santi-
ago de Cuba. Accepting this statement
as correct, It indicated that there is
little probability Of a hostile meeting
between Sampson or Schley and Ger
vera Immediately. Looking over the
charts Of Santiago harbor the experts
soon discovered that the place would be
a veritable rat trap for the Spaniards,
with its narrow entrance, in which a
single American monitor could bottle
up the whole Spanish fleet
The naval strategy board, rechristen-
ed of late the war board has lost one
Of its most active and valuable mem
bers in the person of Captain Barker.
He left Washington today for Hamp-
ton Roads to take command of the
-Gne protected cruiser Newark. 1t is
rapected that the Newark viii join
SIMPSONS squadron In the West Indies
as soon as she can get there. 1t has
not been determined who will succeed
Captain Barker as a member of the
war board. 1t may be that the vacancy
will not be filled at present, though
there has been favorable mention Of the
name of Admiral Ramsay retired, in
that connection.
Another loss to the department oc-
Cured today when Lieutenant Gibbon
left to serve as one of Captain Barker's
officers on the Newark. This young
officer has displayed the greatest energy
in securing for the services of the navy
the various naval militia organizations
of the states.
Preparations go on steadily for the
Philippines military expedition. Cen
eral Merritt, who will command stop
ped in Washington yesterday on his
way westward from New York, and
spent most of the day in consultation
with the officials of the department
arranging the details of the expedi-
tion. The department is showing a
disposition to treat General Merritt
with the utmost liberality in the equip
ment of his force. 1t is expected that
the advance guard, under the command
of General Otis, will sail out Of the
Golden Gate today bound for the Phil
ippines.
The complaints of the shoeless among
the volunteers just brought into the
army will soon be silenced, as the de-
partment has just placed orders for
100000 pairs of soldiers shoes.
A beginning was made yesterday to-
wards the organization Of the indie
pendent volunteer forces under au-
thority conferred upon the president
by special resolution. The National
Guard viii have no part in these or
ganiZations, which will be made up of
engineers, immunes and electricians.
The state department announced that
the Polaria, the Hamburg-American
line steamer at Key West which was
authorized to land certain passengers
in Havana, has declined to avail her
self of the privilege, SO the department
is relieved of what promised to be an
embarrassing incident, and of the ne
cessity of establishing what might
prove to be a dangerous precedent.
Officials here dismiss as pure inven-
tion the story coming from Montreal
that former Minister Polo has sue
Ceeded in securing for Spain coaling
station at one Of the French islands
of st. Pierre and Miquelon off the New
| Foundland coast. At the French en-
bassy the report is treated with in
| dignant contempt.
The navy department is about to call
for bids for a steel floating dock capa-
BILE of floating a ship of 1900 tons, to
cost $SOO,OOO, to be located at New Or
leans. This dock when completed will
be one of the finest structures in the
country, and can be towed to any point
desired. The department is also look
ing forward to securing docks at other
points. Two floating docks at New