The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-21
sPBINS SHIPS AT SANTIAGO.
coITD DE BOTTLED UP If THEY'D
REMAIN LONG ENOUGH.

Thcy Could Get There in Time
INV, Department Doesn't Look for
HattIe Immediately.
washington, May 2O.-AlI the news that
,,.,. .yen out to-day at the navy depart
,,snt was comprised in one short bulletin
-..tsl at the close of the day stating that
.rs daDartment had information, believed
T., be authentic, that Admiral Cervera and
h.. Spanish flying squadron was at santi-
i a-5 de cuba.
This went to confirm the neswpaper re-
oorts and also the Madrid cablegram pub
r.bed this morning, the latter a rather un-
4 rs,al circumstance for the Spanish bulle-
dns have been notably deceptive even since
8 hs lving squadron left Cadiz. Accepting
q This statement as correct, it indicates that
tbere is little probability of hostile meet
inc between Admirals Sampson and Ger
vera. or Commodore Schley and Admiral
4 C-rvera Immediately. Looking over the
charts of Santiago harbor the experts dis
81 cover that the place would be veritabe
rattrap for the Spaniards with its narrow
entrance in which a single American mon
s itor could bottle up the whole Spanish fleet.
The naval strategy board, rechristened
Il OF late the war board, is to lose one of It's
q most active and valuable members in the
p4rson of Capt Barker. He leaves Wash
ington tomorrow for Hampton Roads 20
AXE command of the fine protected cruiser
n Newark which has just been extensively
Il repaired at the Norfolk navy yard. 1t
expected, that the Newark will join Ad-
miral SIMPSONS squadron in the West In
d dies as soon as she can get there. 1t has
q not determined who will succeed
Capt Barker as a member of the war
& board. 1t may be that the vacancy will
s. nol be filed at present, though there has
i leen favorable mention of the name of Ad-
q miral Ramsay, retired, in that connec-
ton.
Preparations go on steadily for the Phil
ppines military expedition. Gen. Merritt,
81 who viii command, stopped in Washing
ton this morning on his way westward
81 from New York, and spent most of the
4 day in consultation with the officials of
s. the department arranging the details of
II the expedition.
Another transport was secured to-day
and the department is showing a disposi-
ton TO treat Gen. Merritt with the utmost
81 hberaliy in the equipment of his force
II is expected that the advance guard on
one vessel under the command of Gen
g Otis will sail out of the Golden Gate 20
morrow bound for the Philippines.
& The complaints for shoes among the
4 volunteers just brought into the army
q viii soon be silenced as the department
has placed orders for 100000 pairs of SOL
81 diers shoes.
beginning was made to-day toward
81 the organization of the independent voun-
teer forces under authority conferred upon
Il the President by special resolution. The
national guard viii have no part in these
ORGANIZATIONS. which will be made up of
engineers, immunes and electricians.
The state department announced that
the Polaria, the neutrality-suspicious. line
steamer a Key West which was authoriz-
Cd to land her passengers at Havana, has
declined to avail itself of the privilege, 50
that the department. is relieved of what
Promised TO be an embarrassing incident,
and Of the necessity of establishing what
might prove to be a dangerous precedent.
officials here dismiss as purely invention
the story coming from Montreal that ex-
Minister Polo has succeeded in securing
lor Spain coaling station on one of the
French islands off the Newfoundland
coast. At the French embassy the report
treated with indignant contempt, as
The French decree of neutrality is binding
On these islards and consequently
prevents the granting of such exceptional
lHVileses as coaling stations.
The navy department is about to call
l'r bids for a steel floating dock capable
doaung a ship of 1900 tons to cost
Vo0J and to be located at New Orleans.
Inc department is also looking forward
securing docks al other points. A board
'0As'stlng of Admiral Ramsay, Engineer
"9Serson and Naval Constructor Linnard.
'' begin meetings at the navy depart
'''Nt next Monday before going to Calves
y" ana Sabine Pass Tex, and points
o'oHs the Chesapeake bay with a view for
'oinmending sites for docks The board
as authorized by the recent naval bill.
another project for docksis contained in
'euclency appropriation bin now be-
''e congress. This provides for the i'm
'''"te purchase of two floating docks.
soon as the bill becomes a law, the de-
'lnent knows where it can purchase
I'e docks, ready for service. They are
q. New York, and although of wood and
'"paratvely small, they will be of ines
,"aoie service on being towed to Key
'est where they will accommodate all
III lI the largest battleships and cruisers.
Inc department hopes to obtain these
o'Ns within few weeks, perhaps days.
us the need of docking and scraping the
"1rships which have been in Southern wa
d sfs Tor long time IS becoming impera-
N i've.
Cervera Leaves Santiago.
Madrid, May 20.-It is asserted that Adj
l"ol Ceryera's sqadron has left Santiago