The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-19
SPANISH ELUSIVE.
EVIDENTLY WAITING FOR AN OPEN
ING TO CUBA.

The Spanish Squadron Has Long Eiuded
Our warships, but 1t Is Generally Con-
ceded the Time of Battle is Rapidly
Approaching.
Washington, May $3.50 far as open
speech is an indication the war admin
istration believes the enemy is about to
cross the Caribbean sea to some Cuban
port, presumably southern port, Glen
fuesos or Santiago, and they declare
that Admiral Sampson, passing south
by the windward passage, between Gu
ba and Hayti, will head off the Spanish
heet and give them battle before they
can reach port. But it is a matter Of
common knowledge that If Admiral
Sampson should intercept the Spanish
cruisers OFF Santiago, they could turn
tail ard in chase to Cienfuegos beat
Sampson's slower vessels easily.
For that matter, having located the
American pursuers and got them in the
rear, Admiral Cervera might make a
cash, for one of the Gulf cities, and by
reason of the superior fieetness of his
cruisers reach that city and do incalcu-
liable damage before his pursuers could
catch up.
This is the situation which is puzzling
the naval strategists at Washington to-
day.
Commodore Schley is within easy ac-
cess of Havana or the Yucatan channel
between Florida and Cuba, while Samp-
son guards the approach from the cast,
leaving Commodore Watson and his
heet of gunboats. monitors, torpedo
boats and lesser cruisers to maintain
the blockade of Havana, Matanzas and
other North Cuban towns, and If the
enemy starts to walk into the net
spread by Washington there will be
tight with little doubt us to the result
But the possibility of catching the Cape
Verde T1eet is not considered very prom
ising by experienced naval strategists.
spain fleet can sail Jne-third faster
than ours so once give it start we
can never catch it.
the Second Fleet Myth.
After a deal of hard hustling in
when cable dispatches were exchanged
between the war administration at
washington and its agents in a score
OF remote places all over the world 1t
mas been found that the stories about
the appearance of Admiral Villamil off
Martinique with ffeeet comprising the
Spanish cruisers Cksneros Catalina,
Princes5a de Asturias and several
smaller boats, were false.
The three fighting ships named are
all at Cadiz, and each is receiving
some needed repairs. Admiral villamil
is subordinate to Admiral Cervera of
the Cape Verd feet. lie is in charge
If work similar to that of Commodore
toWelfs mosquito fleet and when the
Feet left Spain was in command of that
tpf:l"n ot 1t comprising the destroyers,
'IA!i!2t!cs, scouts and the like All of
command except the three Destroy
rrs returned to the Canaries the ,day
lie fighting ships sailed for America.
Anxious for n Meeting.
TIC ships of the American blockading
'ett ere keeping vigilant watch for
t"s e! pcarance of the Spanish fleet and
%lli not be taken by surprise should the
tran.sh men-of-war round Cape San
Antonio, the western point of Cubal and
t"ocp down upon Havana. AN our
'niNS have been warned by Commodore
''atson of the possibility of such a
move, and sailors are kept constantly
in the tops, where they can sweep the
horizon for thirty miles, looking out for
he frs. sign of a hostile ship.
Al the naval officers on the blockade
.ration are anxious for a meeting WIFI
iAe Spaniards, and when informed that
lie latest reports placed them off the
east of Venezuela they iubllantly de-
Jared that the enemy would be
1emmed in between the Windwacd is
lands and the Yucatan channel TO he
destroyed. The only fear expressed
vas Tor the safety of our ships Ylock-
adins Cienfuegos. 1t is not dtttbted,
Iowever' that precautions have Il been
axe into safeguard our ships 4 9w on
!he southern coast of Cuba. THE tor
pedo boats and fast yachts of thie aux
liary fleet keep the blockadinS ships
n constant communication witfH Kew
west whence the movements of v,ssels
are being directed.