Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-14
Generally Believed the Movement is Due to the
Discovery Of the Spanish Fleet at Mart-
nique---Has Probably Gone South to Assist
the Cuban Blockading Fleet, Depleted by
SIMPSONS Withdrawal.

under the protection of a stronger
fleet than is now available for the
purposes of mere protection. The
fact that the army movement has
been postponed is in direct evidence
that a decisive naval battle is eX-
pected to occur within a few days.
1t is not doubted that the squad
ron under the command of Admiral
Sampson VIII seek an engagement
with the Spanish fleet at once and
it is with the idea of awaiting the
result of that conflict that the or
ders for the movement of the land
forces are held in allegiance tenn
porarily.
Assistant Secretary Of War
Meikeljohn announced to-day that
the department acquired yesterday
two additional vessels for trans
port purposes. They are the Still
water and Breakwater, both of New
Orleans. In common with the 9TH
er twenty-seven vessels of the At
lantic transport fleet they are fine
sea-going ships. No chances have
been taken by the department in
securing transport vessels. Secre-
tary Meikeljohu says that every one
of them is capable of crossing the
Atlantic safely in any kind OF
weather, carrying cargoes to the
utmost capacity of the vessel
The tWenty-nine transport ships
now at the disposal of the War De-
partment on the Atlantic coast are
capable of carrying $4,000 troops
and 10000 animals AS soon as the
department is prepared to start the
army expeditions to Cuba the YES
sells will be concentrated at points
on the southern coast and the en-
. tire fleet will move to Cuba as a
body under suitable escort of war
vessels.
1t was announced yesterday that
the transports at New York would
proceed Immediately with regi-
ments of the New York and Mass
achusetts volunteers. To-day, how
ever, the vessels were ordered not
to move until further advices
had been given them. These or
ders were issued in view of the re-
ports from several sources that two
or more Spanish vessels had been
sighted off the upper Atlantic coast.
In view Of the suspicion Of the
land movement upon Cuba, it was
not deemed advisable to send the
transports loaded with troops south
at this time.
The Navy Department was all
excitement again this morning,
upon the receipt of the news that
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron had
begun the bombardment of San
Juan de Porto Rico, and fuel was
added to the flames when the news
came later that the Spanish flying
squadron had been sighted off
Martinique, giving promise of
heavy fighting to come.
The fact that the Admiral gave
notice of his intention to lombard
San Juan, as is reported from st.
Thomas, is an indication that the
movement upon San Juan was not
a suddenly conceived project but
part of a well-matured plan. Whe-
Their or not the orders to the adj
miral included a bombardment is
not disclosed at the Navy Depart
ment. Indeed. there is nothing in
Simpsons report to indicate that
he really did lombard the place.
He merely attacked the forts at the
entrance OF the harbOr. ana III any
shells struck within the town it
self, they were stray shot. 1t is
surmised that Admiral Simpsons
object in making the attack in this
fashion, without attending force OF
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