The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-13
500 MILES APART.
That Distance Separated Hostile
Fleets at Last Accounts.

Washington, May 13.-The navy de-
partment was all excitement this morn
ing upon receipt of the news that the
Spanish flying squadron had been sight
| ed of Martinique, giving promise of
heavy fighting to come.
The statement given out at the navy
department that "the Spanish squadron
| is now hull down to the westward of
Martinique" could not be supplemented
| by additional information az to the time
| the dispatch was sent but it is suppOs-
| ed that the squadron was seen yester-
day.
Sampson already knows of it's move
mentS, for the United States scout, Har-
ward, which was put into Martinique
yesterday, is said to have found there
one of the torpedo destroyers compos-
ing the Spanish fleet, and certainly
would report the fact to Sampson via
ST. Thomas if possible to do so.
There is a suspicion that the United
States has not been treated with per-
feet fairness in the matter of the use of
the cable from Martinique, and that
messages of the utmost Importance,
such, for instance, as those reporting
the movement of the Spanish ships, have
been delayed a considerable length of
time to the great embarrassment of our
forces. The subject is one that will be
investigated in the future, as we'll as
other facts connected with the treat
ment of the Spanish ships in the West
India ports which are nOminally oper-
ating strictly under the neutrality laws.
1t is said that the Spanish squadron
has been lying in wait for the Oregon,
which, with the Marietta and Nicthe-
roy, sailed on the 18th from Bahia, to
join Sampson, and the reported activity
of the Spanish torpedo boat deStrOyerS
running in and out of Martinique seems
to show that they are being used as
scouts to give the rest of the squadron
notice of the approach of the American
battleShip.
If so. the mission will be fruitless, for
having discovered the wherea bouts of
the Spanish force, Admiral Sampson
will carry out his orders to destroy
their ships if they can reach them. The
fact that the Spaniards were headed
yesterday toward the westward on the
surface would indicate that they were
bound for the south coast of Cuba, but
war ships in these circumstances try to
mislead observers ashore.
The information that the Spanish
squadron has been sighted off Martin
ique, caused a decided sensation
throughout naval circles, as this brings
close to Admiral SIMPSONS squadron
the formida BILE collection of Spain s
strongest and most modern vessels. 1t
is this fleet which was reported to be
lying at CadiZ Evidently the latter re-
port was inspired by Spanish strategy
Martinique is a French island, lying
500 miles east of Porto Rico and 700
miles from the eastern coast of Cuba
1t is one of the outposts of the West In
dies and is the natural point at which
the Spanish fleet. coming from Cape
Verde, would first make a landing 1t
must now pass the French island of
GaudalOupe to the west, the Danish is
land of st. Thomas a little further west
and then its course is open to Porto Ri
co unless Admiral SampSon'S fleet en-
cages it before that move is made As
they stand now, the two fleets are about
500 miles apart, which, by hard sailing
both fleets could cover in one day or
the sailing of one fleet would bring them
together in two days.