The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20

Nopt%ctdi 10 Inc sum-
Washington, May 17.-The naval sit
uation has resolved itself into one Of
expectancy as TO the probable time OF
the conflict, now regarded as inevi-
table, between the American and Span
ish naval forces cruising around in
southern waters, while each day brings
them nearer to the contest on which de-
pendS the supremacy Of one on. the
other nd Cuba.
The orders to Admiral Sampson are
to seek and destroy the enemy just
as We're those sent to Dewey before he
sailed for Manila. The most practicable
means of discovering and hunting
down the Spanish ships and engaging
them in action is a question to be de-
teTmined almost entirely by the flag
officers with the American fleet south
No restraint has been placed on the
senior officer, and he is clothed with
full power to go where he deems best
ito seek and give battle to Spain's for
.midable hotilla. which has a way of
-eluding watch that has become annoy
ing and completing to the strategic
tDoard.
The board has outlined the plan of
action that it advises to be followed and
when changes are necessary, as addf-
tional facts are received relating to the
whereabouts of the enemy Admiral
Sampson is informed and given Sug-
-gestOns as to the better course to pur-
sue. The admiral has been depending
on messages from Washington exclus-
lively in the last three days for lnfor-
nation as to the movements of the
a
HeVed that he has not taken his de
parture from the north coast of Hayti
and will not proceed beyond the Wind
ward passage until he has reasonable
grounds for assuming that the Spanish
ships have taken a decided course to-
ward some place on the Cuban shore.
THE SPANuARDS ELUSIVE.
Where tine Spanish squadron will pro-
coed is a question of uncertainty to the
strategic board. and unless some of the
swift scouts now supposed to be oper-
ating in waters ibetween Cuba and the
Caribbean sea 'tpick up and report
the fleet it does not seem to be prob
able that the naval officials here can be
reliably informed as to the future
movements of the vessels after they
once get beyond cable communication
with the United StateS.
Four fast cruisers are now securing
fthese waters, or soon will be. The st.
Paul, under Captain SigSbee. is said
this evening to have been detached
from Commodore Schley's squadron and
to have been sent Scurrying around the
west end of Cuba to recOnnOtre along
the south coast and watch the ap-
proach of the enemy from that direc-
tion. Meanwhile, the Yale and the st.
Louis and probably the Harvard in
s day or so will ibe travelling over that
section of the sea that touches the
shores of Santiago de Cuba and the
Windward passage, where the poSsi-
tbilities are equally strong that the
>HSpanish fleet may appear.
Admiral Sampson may NOW be on his
eWay to Havana, or taking a SOutherly
course and making off and ON between
the east end OF Cuba and Hayti TO in
7dercept the fleet should it attempt to
pass through sny of those passages
land come around to the north Of Cuba
and to Havana, hoping Inar Samp
.SOn has made for EienfuegOs.
The situation is regarded as one in
which successful strategy now depends
=Nnuch on the rehsfhility 0of the informa-
tion concerning the Spanish fleet, and
sthe time that will be permitted to make
-rthe1 necessary start to prevent the enc
fllRy ffrom securing some Epoint of van
ttage. The cable as much AS the scout
ihas skept the Department land Admiral
xSampsoe1 advised OF late, hut when the
Spanish admiral again gets beyond the
scope OF communication there Is no
pasSibIeIKleans OF locating his command
n1sless ssNne of the fleet .pat4ol vessels
sight him and carry the news rapidly
TO some Pace where 1t can ibe sent to
one of the two squadYDns now on the
lookout
M0RE SCOUTS ARE NEEDED.
The absence of larger and more eff
fective RatrUl fleet is now felt. Com
ment 81 made that the authorities
should bssXe anticipated the necessity
of having half z dozen or more vessels
for this service and should have order
ed the fOur Morgan liners now Oh the
New England coast and at hampton
tRoads to duty of ti6s kind. This type OF
vessel was secured 10y the government
nt is contended, for rapid work on Pa
trCl service, and where there are now
but three avaiijble scouting vessels
operating south there should be not
less than half a dozen.
"A large number Of these ships crslis-
ing over certain zones HNSs1fd render 1t
practically impossible for the Spanish
vessels to approach any sect1on or
Cuba without due notice given tine
fleets under Admiral Sanf8on and
Commodore Schley. Widely eparated
s9ne two fleets are now so situated that
d would be impracticable for one TO
proceed speedily to the assistance OF
! the other II attacked by the spanish
forces. y AA--- -