Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-31

Key West, May 30.-Any doubt
remaining as to the exact location
of Admiral Cervera'S fleet has been
removed by reports brought in by
naval scout ships. The Spanish
squadron is anchored in the har-
Dor of Santiago. and the problem
remains for the commanders of
the American feet to dispose of the
enemy, either by corking up the
bottle, or by forcing the long mar
row passage and smashing the
Spanish squadron at the anchorage
its commander has chosen. 1t has
been the opinion of Rear Admiral
Sampson that Admiral Cervera
would seek either Santiago de
Cuba or Cienfuegos as a naval
refuge and base and the movement
of the two American squadrons
has proceeded upon this basis.
Strong and effective as are the
Spanish ships, representing as they
do the flower of the Spanish navy,
every argument in naval strategy
compelled Admiral Cervera either
to seek shelter of the close harbor
of Santiago or return to Spain,
Lo oh 10 hjC Stand at
Santiago. That he would court a
fight in the open sea is an idea
which has never been entertained
in American naval circles, although
his ships, without exception, have
I>gh qualities, owing to their great
speed, for such a contest. On the
other hand, it was believed the
Spanish admiral would attempt to
run into San Juan de Porto Rico,
but the fact of the recent bonn
bardment of the forts of that har-
Dor, coupled with the great posi-
bility that Rear Admiral Samp-
sons fleet would be met if he at
tempted to enter that harbor, left
The Spanish admiral only one alter
native, and he adopted it by going
to Santiago, where, it is presumed,
he has been able to coal, clean and
repair, ard is in a position to
accent either the conditions I'M
posed by the blockade or the issue
of a fight in the inner harbor,
after Tie American fleet has forced
the passage.
1t has been thought that the
campaign against Admiral Cervera
might now be ended by demolish-
ing the forts at the entrance OF the
harbor of Santiago, blockading the
channel and isolating the Spanish
fleet until the other problems OF
the war are worked out. This,
however. is not in line with the
policy and, simply accepting the
view of the situation taken by the
naval experts here, Admiral Ger
vera will have to accept battle at
once. 1t is confidently expected
that a hard blow will be struck
within three or four days and that
the result will be known to the
world at large at the expiration or
that time. 1t has not been dis
closed whether Commodore Schley
is to be reinforced, but it would
not be surprising if some additional
ships were sent to him.
Copyright. Associated Press)
Mole st. Nicholas, Hayti, May
3O.-The following dispatch has
been received here from the cor
respondent of the Associated Press
with the American fleet, Off Santl-
ago de Cuba:
Off Santiago de Cuba, May %
Commodore Schley and the flying
squadron has the Spanish meet
bottled up in the harbor OF san
tiago de Cuba. BY the most clever
manouevreing, the commodore al
lowed the Spaniards to think he
had left in disgust They took the
bait and ran into the harbor.
Commodore moved down this
morning and at 6 o'clock, going
close to the harbor, he saw the
Cristobal Colon, the Maria Teresa
and two torpedo boats.
Commodore Sehley has acted
upon his own information and
Judgment for the past six days,
and believes the whole Spanish
feet is there. He sat on the after
triangle Of the Brooklyn this morn
ing until after the discovery of the
fleet, and he then went to break
fast, saying: II have got them,
and they will never get home
The United States auxiliary cru