The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-15

Washington. May 14-Definite official
information reached the authorities
here late this evening that the Spanish
squadron had been sighted off the ISL
| and of Curacao, one of the Dutch West
Indies, lying off the coast of Venez-
uela. This information was regarded
as of great importance. as it not only
| fixed the position of the enemies, but
disclosed the purpose of the Spanish
was to elude Admiral Sampson and
made their way through the Caribbean
| sea, probably to Cuba. The island of
Curacao was originally Spanish and is
peopled mainly by descendants of
| Spaniards, though ii is now one of the
Dutch possessions. The Spanish ad-
mirars course was also Influenced by
the fact that the French cable start
ing from Caracas. Venezuela, touches
at the island of Curacao, thence pro-
ceeds northward to Hayti, with spurs
running east and west to Porto Rico
and Cuba respectively. He is thus en-
| abled to get in touch from Curacao
with the Spanish authorities in Cuba
and Porto Rico. and through them di-
rectly with the Spanish admiralty at
Madrid.
No immediate battle with Admiral
Simpsons fleet is expected and the
Spanish. 1t seems likely. have succeed
ed in passing south of the American
fleet and are now well to the westward
of it. As the enemy is i'm reach of the
cable. the navy department regards il
as of the most vital concern that the
exact whereabouts of the American
ships could not be made known during
the next few days. Thus far they have
felt handicapped by the fact that the
Spanish admiral knew the whereabouts
of our ships. while we were in doubt as
to the locality of his ships. The off,
cials here regard as essential during
the next few days to reverse the plan
so that the Spanish admiral will be
moving in the dark. while our officers
will be posted as to his movements
through the Caribbean. The depart
ment doubtless is informed as to the
whereabouts of Admiral Simpsons
fie"- but il does not see fit to give any
information on the subject, and as the
same rigid silence prevails as to the
whereabouts and destination of Com
modore Schley's flying squadron. The
game has reached such a critical stage
that premature publication as to the
whereabouts of our ships might cause
inestimable loss and failure of the
present plans.
In one respect the maneuver Of the
spanish fleet is a relief to the naval
officials here. as it tends to show the
safety of the battleship Oregon. She is
proceeding from the north coast of
south America to join SIMPSONS
fleet, and is somewhere in the neigh
borhood of Martinique. Had the Span
ish squadron remained at that point
there would have been serious danger
that the Oregon would have been in
tercepted; now. however. she is well
out OF the way of the Spaniards so
long as she follows the usual route
1t is not to be supposed that the navy
department with the knowledge of the
Spanish squadron is going to allow any
OF its cruisers engaged in blockading
the Cuban coast to fall victims to the
huge Spanish ironclads. Their COM
manders will be promptly advised of
the approach of the Spaniards, and il
may be set down as sure that unless
the department is satisfied that Samp-
son or Schley can head off and crush
the Spanish fleet the Cuban blockade
vessels Will be given permission to take
care of themselves and get out of
harms way.
The determined attack made by the |
Marblehead and other vessels on the |
ocean cable running seaward from |
Cienfuegos shows that the government |
4
munication between Captain General |
Blanco at Havana and Spain by cable. |
That the effort was not wholly sue |
cessful was on account of the appear |
ance of a superior force of infantry.
aided by machine guns. which ap- |
peared to have taken the American
sailors in the boats engaged in cable |
cutting by surprise. They were pre-
pared to risk a few rife shots but not /
the murderous fire of Maxims. How
ever. Captain McCalla. who is noted
for determination and courage IL for
any quality. IL can be taken for granted \
will not abandon the task until he has
succeeded Considering the great stra-
tegic value Of such a move. the loss
sustained by the American vessels was
and the venture will GER
be warranted by the results
Once Blanco is prevented from COM
with Spain as well as Porto
Rico. discouragement will set in and
the war will therefore have an earlier
There are no unusual active move
ments in the war department. Bids I
were opened to-day for supplying the
government with a large number of
armor- piercing shells of the largest