Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-16
With the Fleets.

fleets that have sailed away to meet
the enemy. Sampson with his power
full North Atlantic squadron and
Schley with the flying squadron are on
the seas looking for the Spanish arma-
da. The mystery of its disappearance
was solved. late last week, when it sud
Martinique, one of the WindWard is
lands 400 miles southeast of Porto
Rico. We must credit Spain with mas
terly strategy in keeping the move
mcnts of its fleet so long a secret from
been completely deceived in the matter,
especally by the late reports that it
fore the unexpected appearance of the
fleet in western waters caused COM
plete change of our own plans, and IN
troduced a new element into the situa-
ton to be reckoned with. Sampson
WAS dl san Judll W iltlC ilS lleiet lNuoNN'
the Notifications and inflicted much
injury with small loss and no injury IN
return. Schley was It Hampton roads.
impatient as usual for action. The
smaller vessels of SIMPSONS feet were
maintaining the Cuban blockade.
The mysterious appearance of the
Spanish fleet at Martinique, followed
at once by its equally mysterious dis
appearance to the westward gave rise
to numerous conjectures. Would the
Spanish fleet go to the rescue of Porto
Rico and run the risk of a conflict with
Sampson there? Would it try to in
tercept the oregon, Buffalo and Mari
eta. now steaming northward into
gulf waters? Would it go at full speed
fer Cuba to break the weak blockade
line of the small American vessels and
get into Havana or possibly Cienfugos
on the south shore, before the heavy
squadron of Sampson or Schley could
arrive? 1t might of course return to
Spain, having heard of the defeat at
Manila and the reduction of san Juan,
but this was not probable. 1t might
steam for our own coast and try to in
flict some damage on the gulf or South
Atlantic cities, but this was regarded
as less likely.
At once the flying squadron FASTENED
southwark, and it is presumed that it
goes to Havana hoping to reach there
before the Spanish fleet. Every effort
was made to get word to Sampson at
San Juan, that he might know of the
change in the situation and try to in
tercept the Spaniards. Either Samp-
sens or Schleys fleet is more than a
match Tor the Spanish flotilla of cruis-
ers and torpedo boats, if it can only
bring it to battle. Under the circum-
stances no doubt the Spanish admiral
will follow Fabian policy, and not
take the desperate chances of defeat
and destruction in open battle except
as a last resort. If he can reach Cuba
before Schley or Sampson. and if he in
tends to he has a good start, he will
have little trouble in breaking the
present blockade which would be con-
sdered decided Spanish triumph. He
would be able to overcome the light
American vessels maintaining the
blockade, no doubt causing a much
greater loss of ships and men than we
are willing to bear; and to break the
blockade would be to relieve starving
Havana and give renewed hope and
courage to the Spanish cause. He
would be captured or crushed in the
end, but all he hopes for is a tenn
porary advantage.
Therefore our plans for rushing
troops into Cuba are suspended until
this troublesome fleet in disposed Of,
and the hearts and hopes Of the nation
are with Sampson and Schley as they
| try to corner the slippery Spanish fleet
and bring it to battle. That battle is
what the nation is waiting and hoping
| for 1t will be a great conflict, the
greatest sea struggle of modern times,
| but no thought is entertained Of other
than complete and decisive American
victory Such a battle will clear the sit
uation, and make possible the invasion
that is to make short work of Spanish
power in this hemisphere. A few days
at the most will tell the whole story
now. May the just God of Battles aid
the cause of the right, and give to our
naval commanders the opportunity
they seek.
A writer in Gunt0n's magazine thus
sums up the Populistic fallacy OF
| Bryan and his cohorts: "Proba bly,
there has been on movement in modern