The Red Cloud chief., 1898-05-20
THEY ARE NOT HERE TO FIGHT.
The Spanish Fleet Came TO Raise the
Blockade.
Has Supplies for BlanCO--Madrid Has Needed the Captain
Generals Call and the Fleet is Now Engaged in a Des-
perate Attempt to go to the Relief of Cuba by Landing
at C~ienfuegOs- Other War News.

WAsHiNGTov. May An inpor
,ant conference was held NJ the lc.
partment of state to-day between SOC.
rotary Day and the minister from
Netherlands, u q Wcrkhcrlin. The
subject under discussion was The
landing OF the Spanish fleet at
Caracoa, where It J., expected tha.
the Spaniard, tColS ou coal, food,
supplies and ammunition Caracoa /,
In possession 81 the Netherlands
and the latter nation was second
in the list OF foreign g~oycrnmrnts to
declare It's neutrality after war be-
tween the United states aud Spaia
vas declared. IL is claimed that the
Netherlands violated the neutrality
laws in permitting spain to make
rendezvous for her ileot and her
supply ships at Caracoa. Mr.. Adic,
assistant secretary OF state, who
is a recognized authority on IN.
tcrnational law aud treaty
>~tipulations, participated iu the con.
ference, which wa clothed with most
profound secrecy. senators aud Rep.
- 'sAAiNt ~ Y NN'NiN
'ary Day were quietly informed to
come back later. a, the Secretary was
engaged with the Dutch minister.
IL is claimed by the United States
ihat recent developments show the
Spanish had selected taracoa u, u base
of supplies months ago II is also
contcndcd that several large supply
.l,,g tna,, S,,,, l... -. II.
way for Caracoa by easy stages, over
an unfrcqucntcd route, with the
fixed purpose of meeting tho spanish
fleet at that point. The President is
now convinced that the Spanish fleet
left the Cape Verde islands and came
into Cuban water, for tho sole
purpose Of conveying these supply
ships to Cicnfuegos. The sc,ec-
ton of an out-ot.thc. way southern
course, by way of Martinique, and re.
cent developments ut Caracoa all tend
TO strengthen this v.cw Of the
situation. 1t is the inten ton of
the Spanish fleet to go 10 the
relief OF Blanco and the Spanish
forces in Cuba at al. hazards and
every effort will bc taken to avoid
meeting with Admiral Sarnp,on's fleet
or mix UP with Commodore Schley'S
squadron. IL is supposed that the
Spanish fleet did not venture into tho
waters for the pourposc OF
engaging in battle with the
American fleet. The spanish
government owes sacred duty 20 Gen.
cral B!anco and the Spanish forces
bottled up in the island OF Cuba by tho
American blockade. The demand for
supplies has been heard aud hccdcd
In Madrid, md the Spanish fleet is
now engaged in Il desperate attempt
TO go to the relief OF llanco by
securing n landing ut Cienfucgo% The
spanish admiral is not afraid to fight,
but he would prefer 10 carry out his
mission of relief before sacrificing his
fleet to the superior forces OF Sampson
and Schley's squadrons, There i no
disposition on the part of the President
ar the naval authorities TO discount
or nnderate the fighting qualities
of the Spaniards. They have demon.
stratcd their courage in coming over
in the face OF unequal conditions, and
their motive is first TO reach commun-
'cation with i~ilanco, IL possible. and
take the consequences of tho etfor.
whatever they may be,