New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-11
SIMPSONS FLEET RECALLED
ORDERED BACK TO KEY WEST
THE SHIPS TO COOPERATE WITH THE
ARMY IN THE INVASION OF CUBA.
PORTO RICO NOT TO BE ATTACKED FOR
THE PRESENT-s SHORT AND DE-
CISIvE CUBAN CAMPAIGN ii
LOOKED FOR

fBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBrNE1
Washington. May 10.-The Naval War Boar1
Is convinced that the Spanish armored flying
squadron popularity known the Cape Verd
fleet. 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 az least has therefore been
reduced to simple matter. and its duration Is
expected to be exceedingly limited. Arrange
ments have been promptly made to bring back
Admiral Sampson's feet TO Key West TO unite
It with the Army in quickly terminating Spanish
rule in Cuba.
1t is positively announced that San Juan Dc
Porto Rico will not be bombarded. and that tho
island will be let severely alone for the present.
at least; or until Cuba Is freed and American
military government firmly established there
1t is believed hat this will be a matter Of not
more than two weeks, and then the heavier
ships will be relieved for duty against Porto
Rico or for drydocking on the Atlantic Coast
preparatory for cruise in force, augmented by
the armored ships In Commodore Schleys squad
ron. against Cadiz itself unless Spain in the
mean time sues for permanent peace.
The idea that the Spanish vessels would run
home instead Of confronting certain defeat near
Porto Rico has been held by the vast majority
OF naval officers since the first Spanish squad
ron. composed largely OF torpedo-b boat destroy
ers returned TO St Vincent after several weeks
at sea shortly before war was declared On that
occasion grave concern was manifested In
Washington for some time. and It 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 on any offensive mission,
had the batte-ship Oregon as their objective.
and when. after ten days. they failed to report
at Pernambuco for coal, the War Board reluc-
tantly decided that they might be attempting
to enter the Caribbean by the Barbados Pas
sage 20 come upon Porto Rico or Cuba from the
south. II was considered the better part Of
valor to send Sampson eastward. where he could
more readily secure an engagement at any rate
before Cuba could be reached. trusting that
definite information would be secured the mo-
ment the spanards approached Barbados or
st. Thomas.
This precautionary cruise OF Admiral Sampson,
while probably disappointing in the extreme to
all the officers with him. Is believed to have been
not without advantage It permitted the re-
tention OF Commodore Schley's ships at Hamp-
ton Roads. and thereby secured the Atlantic
seaboard against alarm for the safety Of the
chief coast cities and navy yards.
- The return Of the Spaniards to Cadiz is graft
flying in the highest degree to the President and
his advisers. who desire to achieve a speedy
termination OF the war. much for curtang
the enormous expense It involves as 10 relieve
the decentralization OF business throughout the
country which would be inseparabe from q
long continuance OF the conditions OF the last
months.