The record-union., 1898-06-03
Without Waiting for Reinforcements
Of Land Forces.
SPANS Protest Against the Purchase Of
Coal in Canada and British CoIum-
bia Proves TO Be Without
Avail.

WASHINGTON, June 2-It was
plainly noticeable at the Navy Depart
ment to-day that the officials We're ex-
pecting news of the first Importance,
but that they did not look for it imme-
diatey. The firmness with which they
have insisted that Schley could have
had no general engagement with the
Spanish forces, ships and forts at San
tiago, as was reported, appeared to be
based on full knowledge of the plans
on which the Commodore is acting, and
the greatest concession that they would
make toward admitting that a fight
had token place there Tuesday was to
say that possibly Schley detected some
earthworks going up, and had razed
them with his Shells They were con-
fident he made no attempt to enter the
harbor
1t is believed now, however with
Sampson in the field and in command
off Santiago with an augmented force,
that interesting events may be looked
for They are expected, too, notwith-
standing the fact that no troops have
Yet started for Tampa, as was estab-
lished ay inquiry at the War Depart
ment this afternoon The insurgents
are known to be in force in the neigh
borhood of Santiago, and through Cap
tain Dorst the War Department not
only has been in communication with
them, but has supplied them fully with
good weapons and an abundance CT
ammunition. The headquarters OF the
best OF the Cuban Generals, Garcia. are
distant from Santiago only fifteen miles,
SO that it is possible Sampson feels
strong enough with their support to be-
gin the assault by sea upon the doomed
Spanish fleet and forts without await
ing the arrival of the United States
troops from Tampa.
The trend of the news that came to
Washington from unofficial sources
during the afternoon all went to sup
port this belief, so there is some ground
for the expectations of the officials that
something may be expected shortly.
The Spanish Government has made
a protest to the British authorities
against the shipping of Canadian coal
from British North America to San
Francisco for the relief of the ships Of
Admiral Dewey's fleet at Manila, and
also against the shipping of coal from
Nova Scotia to Atlantic ports for use
by United States warships operating in
the West Indies. In view of the ruling
by the British Government that coal
was contraband of war this protest of
Spain might have caused considera bic
embarrassment, as the Canadian coal
is considered by the naval authorities
to be of a superior article for the use
OF our ships. 1t is only short distance
from the British North American coal
f~lds 10 San Francisco. and the Nova
Scotian coal fields are easily accessible
to Atlantic ports. 1t is understood,
however. that Spain's protest has net
proved of any avail. The subject was
referred to the Canadian authorities
who. on investigation. learned that the
coal shipments, both from British
North America and from Nova Scotia,
We're in the ordinary course of CONNER
by private parties in. Canada to pri-
vate parties in the United States.
Whether the coaf subsequently passed
into the hands of the United States for
use by the American navy was held 10
be outside of the province of the Brit
ish and Canadian authorities. 1t is
probable that any direct sales to the
Navy Department would have been
stopped. as these would have been man.
ifestly a breach of the neutral attitude
maintained by the British Government
and its colonial possessions, including
Canada.
If the Queen Regent of Spain has
instructed Senior Castillo to ask the
Powers to intervene for peace. that
movement has not yet taken any form
in Washington, either at the State De-
partment or any of the foreign en-
bassies Among diplomatic officials II
is thought to be possible that Spain is
2 feeling her way toward securing peace,
but il is not believed this will meet any
active assistance from the great Pow
ers. AS one leading diplomatic official
said to-day, Spain finds herself in the
same condition of isolation that France
was in 1S1O-71. At that time NJ.
Theirs. afterward President. went from