Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-27
0, THE SPANISH FLEET.
It Is at Santiago, Then It Isn't, Then
Il Is.
FRENCH PRAISE ADMIRAL CERvERA.
be In Strong Harbor-C Can He
Fight, or Escape In Safety?

Washington. May 27.--Secretary Long
said today on his way to the cabinet
meeting that he had not received any
official confirmation of the report that
the Spanish fleet was In Santiago har-
Dor. and that Commodore Schley was
lying In wait Mt the entrance. He
had, however, no reason to doubt the
accuracy of the statement beyond the
fact that several days had passed and
it had not yet been officially con-
iirmed.
1T ISN'T THERE.
New York, May 27.--An afternoon
paper prints dispatch from Its Key
West correspondent, alleging on
the best of authority that Cervera's
fleet left Santiago de Cuba on Satur-
day last, The statement lacks con-
1rmatior.
AND IT IS.
Madrid. May 27.-S u. m.-The I'M
parcial reiterates today that Admiral
Cervera is at Santiago de Cuba, which
port, II says, possesses advantages
over Cienfuegos.
CERvERA IS COMMENDED.
New York. May GA dispatch to
the Herald from Paris says:
Now that the presence of Admiral
Cerveras squadron In the bay of SantI-
ago is established. naval experts are
busy studying the problem as to what
viii be the probable result in case he
is attacked.
In general, Cervera Is thought to
have scored a point and to have acted
both prudently and nationally In
shutting himself up in the bay.
NJ. Landry. in the Figaro, may be
taken as expressing the opinions of
most of the naval officers here. He
says this morning:
SPANS only policy is to prolons
the war without giving a chance for
a decisive battle until the odds for
victory are all in her favor By TAX
ing refuge In the bay of Santiago. out
of reach Of the enemy's cannon, Ad-
inirai Cervera has carried out n policy
that circumstances have rendered it
Imperative for his country to follow,
seeing that by gaining time he enables
n Junction to be effected with him by
the reserve squadron now being fitted
out of Cadiz
BY entering the bay Cavern i'm
mobilizes part of the American squad
ron. He Is completely sheltered in n
magnificent harbor where he can pro-
vision his ships, rest his crews and put
the boilers in his engines in good or
der. He compels his adversary to
maintain a strict blockade that Is to
say, to be continually on the alert in
all weathers, to Use his coal and wear
out his engines and boilers. Finally
he gives Admiral Camara time to cross
the Atlantic and to Join forces with
him or attack another point In which
case part of the forces blockadlng
Santiago will have to be called
away"
NJ. Landry considers the possibility
or the Americans trying to cut out
Cervera; but thinks the operation SO
dangerous enc that 1t IL hardly likely
II viii be attempted. The sum total
or his opinion is that Spain has no
reason TO be downcast over the turn
taken In the conduct OF the war.
The Gaulois. on the other hand thinks
Cervera Is in dangerous position.
He is, 1t says. shut up until the day
he chooses to give battle. This cam
not be long postponed, as his presence
at Havana will become n necessity to
prevent the disembarkment of the
American expedition. In any case
victory will not be so easily won as
Dewey's was. Cervera's forces are
about equal to the American forces
Besides this he is supported by good
forts and batteries. Cervera's sue
cess then will depend upon his skill
and the Workmanship of his artillery
men.