Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-05-14

Washington. May l2.-The foot of the
invading Yankee will step upon the soil
of cuba early next week. probably
Monday. Before that time the Charles
ton will have sailed from SAN Fran
cisco. carrying ut least 1870 tons of am
munition Tor Admiral dewey at Manila.
Il larger quantity than was expended In
the battle in that harbor, and the first
of 1000 troops.
" uiie these two expeditions are under
way news ought to come from Admiral
Sampson of the seizure of Porto Rico.
Despite the feeling of uncertainty re-
gardng the location of the Spanish
t!eet-a doubt shared by Secretary Long
as well as by other officials of the navy
drpartment.-there Is still every reason
to believe that the information officially
received to the effect that the fleet is "a
CadiZ is correct Investigation showed
that the American embassy in London
received its information through news
paper sources, the correspondent OF the
London Globe ut Cadiz having com
municated the arrival of the fleet to that
paper. His dispatch was very definite,
giving the names of all the vessels. ana
vas evidently sent by mail in order to
avoid the censor at the telegraph office.
He was found by the naval attache at
London to be Il thoroughly reliable man.
and confirmation of his dispatch was
received at the state department yes
terday in a cablegram, which stated that
the fleet had dropped down to Il military
station known as San Fernando, a few
miles below Cadiz.
The location of the fleet having thus
been determined. its future movements
give the administration some concern,
as the reports from Spain are conflict
ing. 1t is said that the vessels are des-
tined to sail in combined strength from
Cadiz to meet Admiral Simpsons
squadron, while, on the other hand, it is
asserted with equal positiveness that
they will go through the Mediterranean
and the Suez canal to the Philippine isl
ands. The latter program is regarded
rs very remote contingency. While
the passage of the fleet through the Suez
canal could not be opposed. the ships
would experience great difficulty in
securing coal during the long voyage of
more than 5000 miles.
The vessels of the northern patrol
are scouting Ill Inp nelSUDOF-
hood of the New England coast. where
II is admitted 90 be possible the enemy
may strike before making for Porto
Rico. If discovered in that section his
doom is sealed. The flying squadron will
be sent to the support of Commodore
Howelrs command. and the division of
the North Atlantic squadron under Rear
Admiral Sampson will guard the en-
trance of Porto Rico. through which the
Spanish men-ofwar will have to fight
their way in order to obtain coal.
The war departments plan of cam
paign in Cuba Is understood to be as
follows: The army will be landed at
some point under the cover of the guns
of the fleet and will at once CONNIE nee
the erection of such defenseS as will
make them secure from Spanish at
tack. When all the men are on Cuban
soil movement will begin to the rear
of Havana. and siege will be laid to that
town. 1t is not expected that this can
be done inside of Il month. and by that
time the vessels of the navy which are
now with Admiral Sampson will have
returned to their former posts before
the harbor entrance and will he ready
st a given signal to attack the batteries
i'm front while the army storms the land
side of the defenses. General Miles
leaves today to supervise the plans of
transportation.
transports without a warship for con-
voy.
The navy department felt obliged to
decline the offer made by some wealthy
New York gentlemen. headed by o. H..
=. Belmont to build and equip tor
redo boat for the use of the government
during the war Possibly the declina-
ton was brought about through the con-
ditions attached to the offer that the
boat should be commanded by Mr.. Bel
mont; for, without the least reflection
upon that gentleman. the navy officials