New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-20
RUMORS OF THE FLEETS.


The somewhat notorious City Of Saint James
IN Cuba is to-day the centre Of news, or mys-
terry There are reports galore, any Of which
may be, but all of which cannot be, true. One
is that portion of the American fleet has gone
thther to cut the telegraphic cables and has
bombarded the place. Another is that the Span
ish feet has arrived there without mishap.
Either Of these, standing alone, might we'll COM
mand credence. But both coming together, one
discredits the other. And which is the one and
which the other mono can tell So both are
placed under suspicion.
In regard to the former report 1t is to be OBJ
served that the American feet is in all proba-
bility not far from Santiago. and has strong
motive for going thither and cutting the cables.
That effected. all communication between Cuba
and Spain would be blocked. a most desirable
end TO gain. An attempt of that kind would
probably be successful. for Santiago is not
strongly fortified. and. in the absence Of the
Cape Verd feet, there are no Spanish ships there
that could interfere with the work. Moreover,
1t is q place which our seamen would attack
with peculiar readiness, remembering that 1t
was the scene of the Virginius massacres, and
has long been especially identified with Spanish
tyranny and hatred of Americans. In an attack
upon II Remember the Virginiusv' might we'll
mingle with cries Of Remember the Maine"
But then comes the latter rumor. Let us note
that It comes from Madrid, by way Of Paris
not the most unquestionable source Of eternal
verties. One might. without writing himself
down an irredeemable sceptic, suspect that 1t
was sent out as strategic Dispatch intended
to mslead the American fleet and send It to
Santiago while the Spanish feet hurries else
whittier. Yet the Spanish feet must in time turn
up somewhere. 1t cannot play hide-and-seek for
ever. To keep other folks guessing can never be
the most important function Of navy. One fast
and desperate boat like the old Alabama
could do that very we'll. If the Spanards are
not quite foolish they have not sent four ar
mored vessels and three torpedo-boats over 10
this side Of the ocean merely to elude discovery.
An armada invincbe only because undiscov-
cradle would indeed be the latest manifestation
of a dying nation. 1t must be presumed that
the Spanish feet wants to get somewhere and to
do something. for Spain has not unlimited
ducats to spend in sending fleets nowhere for
no purpose. The conceivable objects of such q
feet are about three: To deliver needed ammu-
milton and supplies to Blanco to break the
blockade at one or more ports. or to strike with
effect some American port or fleet.
Well. in putting in at Santiago none of these
ends would be attained. No United States port
or feet would be so much as touched. No
blockade would be broken, for none has been
established there. And while supplies for Blanco
might be landed there. we have q notion he
would have pretty hard time In getting them
transported to Havana, three-quarters the
length Of the island, and through many miles Of
country where the insurgents hold undisputed
sway. SO II the feet has really put In there it
must b because It had to do 20. 1t had to get
Supplies. or It found its way to other ports