The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-11
CUBA WILL Be THE FIRST.
Sampson Has Been Ordered Back to
Aid the Army.
PORTO RICO NOT TO BE B0MBARDEl)
until Military Rule Has BecD Estnb
:ished In Cnbr--End Of the
Wnr in Sight.
lSecnnd Edition.l

tSec0nd Edition1
New York, May 11.--A special to the
Tribune from Washington says; The naval
board is convinced that the Spanish
armored flying squadron, popularity known
as the Cane Verde feet, has returned to
Cadiz, and that Spain has abandoned all
hope Of effective resistance to the loss OF
her American colonies.
The war in American waters at least,
has therefore been reduced to a simple
matter and It's duration Is expected to DO
exceedingly limited. Arrangements have
been promptly made to bring Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet to Key West to unite it
with the army In quickly terminating
Spanish rule in Cuba.
1t is positively announced that San
Juan de Porto Rico will not be hombarded.
and that the island will be let severely
alone. for the present at least, or until
Cuba is freed and American military gov
eminent firmly established there.
1t is believed this will be a matter Of
not more than two weeks, and then the
heavier ships viii be relieved for duty
against Porto Rico or dry docking in the
Atlantic coast preparatory for a cruise in
Commodore Schley's squadron, against
Cadz itself, unless Spain in the meantime
sues for permanent peace.
The idea that the Spanish vessels would
be run home instead of confronting certain
defeat near Porto Rico has been held by
first Spanish squadron, composed largely OF
torpedo boat desroyers, returned to ST.
Vincent, after several weeks at sea, short
ly before war was declared
On that occasion grave concern was man
Tested in Washington for some time. and
1t was with decided relief that the news
was received Of their turning homeward.
For the last week the best experts in
Washington have agreed that the Spanish
ships, II oil any Offensive mission. had the
battleship Oregon at their objective. and
when after ten days they failed to report
ut Perambuco for coal, the war board re-
luctantly decided that they might he al
tempting to enter the caribbean sea by the
Barbados passage to come upon Porto Rico
or Cuba from the south.
Il was considered the better ,,.,rt of
Valor to send Sampson eastward where he
cotld more readily secure an engagement.
at any rate before Cuba was reached.
trusting that definite information would be
secured the moment the S1aniards an
proached Barbados or St Thomas
This precautionary cruise of Admiral
Sampson, while probably disappointing in
the extreme to all the officers with him
Il believed 10 have been not without adj
vantage, as it permitted the retention of
Commodore Schley's ships at Hampton
Roads, thereby securing the Atlantic sea-
board against alarm for the safety of the
chief coast cities and navy yards.
The return of the Spaniarda to Cadiz is
gratifying in the highest degree to the
president and his advisors. who desire ia
achieve speedy termination of the war
as much for curtailing the enormous ex
pense involved as to relieve the democrat
ization of business throughout the conn
try, which would be inseparable from a
long continuance of the conditions of the
last month