The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
But VIII Return to Cuba at Once and
Assist the Army I'm Driving
Out the Spaniards.
LATEST SCHEME OF POWERS
EUROPEANS MAY PREVAIL ON SPAIN
TO SUE FOR PEACE.
Exchange of Views Between Repre-
Stationed at Washington.

NEW YORK, May IA special TO the
Tribune from Washington says The naval
war board is convinced that the Spanish
armored flying squadron, popularity known
az the Cape Verde fleet, has returned TO
Cadiz, and that Spain has abandoned all
her American colonies. The war in Ameri-
can waters at least, has therefore been re-
duced to simple matter and its duration
is expected to be exceedingly limited. Ar
rangements have been promptly made to
bring back Admiral Simpsons fleet to Key
West to unite it with the army in quickly
terminating Spanish rule in Cuba.
1t is positively announced that San Juan
de Porto Rico will not be bombarded. and
that the island will be let severely alone
for the present at least. until Cuba is
freed and American military government
firmly established there. 1t is believed that
this will be a matter of not more than two
weeks. and then the heavier ships will be
relieved for duty against Porto Rico or for
tory for cruise in force, augmented by the
armored ships in Commodore Schley's
squadron against Cadiz itself, unless Spain
in the meantime sues for permanent peace 4
The idea that the Spanish vessels would
run home instead of confronting certain de-
feat near Porto Rico has been held by the
vast ma ajority of naval officers since the
first Spanish squadron. composed largely or
torpedo boat destroyers, returned to st.
Vincent after several weeks at sea shortly
before war was declared. On that occasion
grave concern was manifested in Washing
ton for some time, and it was with decided
relief that the news was received of their
turning homeward.
For the last week the best experts in
washington have agreed that the Spanish
ships. if on any offensive mission, had the
battle ship Oregon as their objective, and
when, after ten days, they failed to report
at Pernambuco for coal, the war board re-
lrctantly decided that they might be at
tempting to enter the Caribbean by the
Barbados passage to come upon Porto
Rico or Cuba from the south. 1t was con-
sidered the better part Of valor to send
SAMPSON eastward, where he could more
readily secure an engagement, at any rate,
before Cuba could be reached, trusting that
definite information would be secured the
moment the Spaniards approached Barba-
does or st. Thomas. This precautionary
cruise Of Admiral Sampson, while probably
disappointing in the extreme to all the OIL
GERS with him, is believed to have been not
without advantage, as it permitted the re-
tention of Commodore Schley's ships at
Hampton roads and thereby secured the
Atlantic seaboard against alarm for the
safety of the chief coast cities and navy
yards.
The return of the Spaniards to Cadiz Is
gratifying in the highest degree to the Pres
ident and his advisers, who desire to
achieve a speedy termination of the war, as
n uch for curtailing the enormous expense
e. involves as to relieve the decentralization
OF business throughout the country which
would be inseparable from long continu-
ance of the conditions of the last month.