The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-22
Though Cervera is Doubtless
at Santiago Cuba.
THE POLARIA DECLINES
WILL NOT LAND ANY PASSEN-
GERS AT HAVANA.
BERNABE GOT NO COAL STATION
French Embassy Treats the Report With lndig-
nant Contempt. Government is Pre-
pairing 10 Purchase Floating
Docks.

fhiuse W IiNH1SS As~"'S
Docks.
Washington. May 20.-All of the news
that was given out to-day at the Navy
Department was comprised in one short
bulletin posted at the close of the day.
stating that the department had infor-
nation believed to be authentic, that Adj
miral Cervera with his Spanish flying
squadron was at Santiago de Cuba.
This went to confirm the newspape,
reports and also the Madrid cablegran.
published this morning, the latter rath-
er unusual circumstance for the Spanish
bulletins have been notably deceptive
ever since the flying squadron left Ca.
diz. Accepting this statement as cor
rect, it indicates that there is little pro-
liability of Il hostile meeting between
Sampson or Schley and Cervera imme-
diately. Looking over the charts OF San
tiago harbor. the experts soon discovered
that the place would be a veritable rat
trap for the Spaniards, with its narrow
entrance in which single American
monitor could bottle up the whole Span
ish fleet
The naval strategy board christened
Of late, the war board is to lose one of
its most active and valuable members
III the person of Captain Barker He
leaves Washington tomorrow for Hamn.
ton Roads to take command of the fine
protected cruiser Newark. which has iust
been extensively repaired at the Norfolk
navy yard. Lit is expected that the New
ark will join SIMPSONS squadron in the
West Indies soon as she can get there.
1t has not been determined who will
succeed Captain Barker. as a member of
the war board. 1t may be that the va
cancy will not be filled at present. though
there has been favorable mention Of the
name of Admiral Ramsay, retired. in
that connection.
Preparations go on steadily for the
Philippines military expedition. General
Merritt who will command stopped I'M
Washington this morning on his way
westward from New York, and spent
most of the day in consultation with
the officials of the department, arrang-
ing the details OF the expedition.
Another transport was secured to-day
and the department. is showing d dispo-
sition to treat General Merritt with the
utmost liberaiity in the equipment Of his
force. 1t is expected that the advance
guard on one vessel, under the com
mand of General Otis, will sail out Of the
Golden Gate tomorrow bound for the
Philippines
A beginning was made to-day toward
the organization Of independent volun-
teer forces under authority conferred up
on the President by special resolution.
The National Guard will have no part
in these organizations which will be
made up of engineers immnnes and cleo
tricians.
The State department announced that
the Polaria, the Hamburg American line
steamer at Key West. which was an
thorized to land certain passengers in
Havana had declined 10 avail itself Of
the privilege so that the department is
relieved of what promised to be an EN-
barrassing incident and of the necessity
of what might prove to be Il dangerous
precedent Officials here dismiss as
pure invention the story coming from
Montreal that former Minister Polo has
succeeded in securing for Spain coal
ing station on one Of the French islands
of St. Pierre, Miquilon off the New
foundland coast. AT the French embas-
sy the report is treated with indignant
contempt as the French decree Of neu-
trality IS binding on the French govern
or Of these islands and effectually pre-
vents the granting Of such exceptional
privileges as coaling stations.
The Navy department is about to close
for bids for n steel floating dock capa
bic Of floating n ship Of $4,000 tons 10 be
located at New Orleans
The department is also looking for
ward to securing docks at other points.
A board consisting of Admiral Ram
say, Engineer Anderson and Naval Con-
strnctor Linnard, will begin meetings at
the Navy Department next Monday. be-
fore going to Galveston and Sabine Pass.
Texas. and points along the Chesapeake
bay. with view of recommending sites
for docks. The board was authorized by
the recent naval bill.
Another project for docks is contained
in the deficiency appropriation bill now
before Congress. This provides for the
immediate purchase Of two floating
docks.
As soon as the bill becomes law, the
department knows where it can pur-
chase these docks, ready for service
They are at New York, and although Of
wood and comparatively small, they will
be of nestimable service on being towed
to Key West, where they will accommo-
date all but the largest battleships and
cruisers The department hopes to own
these docks within a few weeks, per-
haps a few days, as the need Of docking
and scraping the warships which have
been in Southern waters for long time,
is becoming imperative.
MCCOY WINS THE FIGHT.