The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-31
FLEET BOTTLED UP.

There seems to be no longer any
doubt that Cervera's fleet is bottled up
in the harbor of Santiago. This is good
news, not so good, though, as if the
Spanish fleet had been captured or
sunk, for then Commodore Schley's
fleet would have been free to act with
SIMPSONS or to undertake independ-
ent enterprises. There is a possibility
that the Spanish fleet may escape, but
no probability. 1t is quite likely that
Commodore Schley will be given free
hand in the matter of the treatment of
the bottled-up fleet, using his own judg-
ment whether or not he will lie outside
the harbor or attempt to force his way
in to get at the Spaniards.
This notorious Cape Verde fleet has
been very elusive in the past and the
fact that it was not located has been
the cause of much rejoicing and self
congratulation by the Spaniards. while
the press of Europe has been sounding
Cervera's praises and saying he had
outmaneuvered Sampson and Schley.
That he eluded them no one denies, but
he will elude them no more.
When the search for the Spanish fleet
is considered by itself it is remarkable
that it should have been bottled up so
soon. The fleet left the Cape Verde is
lands April 90, and it was not reported
off Martinique until May 70. How long
it will be before it Is finally disposed
of no one can say. 1t was nearly two
years and a half before Nelson was
able to bring the French fleet to the
stand that ended in the battle of Ira
falgar. In May, 1903, war between
France and England was renewed. The
day following the announcement of the
fact Nelson departed to join the British
fleet in the Mediterranean. At the time
Toulon. Nelson lay outside that har-
Dor for months waiting for it. In jan
uary, 1906, the French fleet left the har-
Dor of Toulon for the first time since
it had been bottled up, Nelson being
absent on the coast of Sardinia. The
next day he was advised of the fleets
departure. Not knowing where the fleet
was he sailed to the eastern end of the
Mediterranean only to find that it had
not been there. At Malta, on his way
back. he learned that the fleet had re-
turned TO Toulon. On his way to that !
harbor he learned from a friSate that |
the fleet had left Toulon. Early in |
April it passed through the straits, but |
Nelson did not learn of the fact until |
eight days after. He did not know in |
which direction the French and Span |
but early in May he learned definitely |
that they had gone to the West In |
dies; and thither he followed them. |
When he arrived at Martinique he |
learned that the fleets. learning of his
presence in West Indian waters. had |
hurried back to Europe. Back to Eu-
rope hurried Nelson, sighting Cape Vim
cent July II, and anchoring at Gibral-
tar the 18th. On the goth he went
ashore, the first time in two years lack
ing ten days. From Gibraltar he went /
to Portsmouth, where he learned some
hing of the fleets, among other things
hat they had had an indecisive battle |
with Sir Robert Calder. Not long after
ne learned that they had gifted at
Vigo, then gone to Ferrol and thence
o Cadiz. Nelson left Portsmouth Sep
ember IA and arrived off Cadiz on the
9th. He took station some distance
IF the coast, hoping thereby to induce
he fleets TO come out, but it was not
Until October q that the meeting he
lad so long sought took place, and then
vas fought the historic battle of Ira
aIgar. Nelson had waited long, but he
lie did not wait in vain.
The people were getting somewhat
that the Spanish fleet was
lot brought to bay by Sampson or
;chley, yet it was bottled up in less
han three weeks after its arrival in /
Vest Indian waters. After all it is re- ]
narkable that the bottling-up should
AVE been accomplished so soon. In the
uture when we get impatient, let US
Nelson's chase after Ire
lille and Villeneuve, how long it was, {
ut how happily it terminated I