Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-21
PRESENT WAR PIVOT.
MEETING OF FLEETS Is WHAT
SITUATION TURNS ON. y
SHIPS CREEP AWAY FROM KEY VEST
They Are Expected to Be nsard
from soon i'm n Very Intercstfnw
wry-s'a.ss of the ynriess Prise
Cases.

| KEY WEST, FLA. May 2n--The pro-
logue has been spoken and the curtain
! Is about to rise on the first act of the
drama. This is the unwavering opinion OF
naval men here. Dcwey's brilnapr
achievement at Manila Is regarded az y
separate episode; San Juan IN already a
memory, and the sporadic encounters
| along the Cuban coast are accepted as
merely preliminary skirmishes, tentative
| rather than decisive. The meeting OF tho
two great hostile fieets Is tho pivot upon
which the situation turns. and that
few days, perhaps hours, will bring them
together IL tho universal opinion here.
This view is confirmed by the news that
Admiral Cerveras squadron has reached
| Santiago de Cuba The intelligence came
to-day, and IL it did not affect tho sisua-
tion, ii was "A singular coincidence that
activity among our ships WAS perceptbly
heightened. and the work OF coaling and
provisioning those In the harbor was
pushed with more than usual haste.
The ships were surreptitiousiy creeping
toward the open sea as the day waned,
and the ranks OF naval men ashore were
constantly thinning until. at dusk, there
was scarcely one TO be seen. The news
paper dispatch-boats have nearly all de-
parted, with particular care not to lose
sight Of the United States warships.
WAR STORES ON ARGoNAuTA.
The centre OF interest again shifts away
from Key West. but whittier is the ques-
tion none can answer. Otherwise, the
day has been duh and empty of action.
Some littlo stir was created by the dig
c0very OF a secret chamber in thc hold
of the Spanish prize steamer Argonauta.
containing fifteen cases % mmlnition.
over a hundred Mauser rifles. an other
war stores. The Find" was made by the
United States Marshal's officers and dis.
sipated all doubt as to the Argoneuta as
a prize OF war
The Argonauta was taken three weeks
ago by the United States gunboat Nash
vile off Cienfuegos. On board were Colo
mel Vicente Cortijo. said to be brother
in-law of Lieutenant-G General Naleriano
Weyler, and twenty-eght Spanish SOL
diers, now in Fort Mcpherson, as well as
mail matter and dispatches for General
Blanco and other Spanish officials in
Cuba.
The reports that several new Spanish
prizes were being brought in to-day are
character was the barkentine Carlos +. =
Rosas the story OF whose capture last
Tuesday has already been told. She was
brought la here by a prize crew, and an
ohored along with the other prizes In tho
harbor.
The discovery of the war supplies on
the Argonauta will not change the status
of her case before the prize court. q r
had already been decided to-day. before
learning OF the find, that the steamer
was legitimately a prize OF war, no
claims having been filled by the owners
of the ship or cargo.
OTHER UNDOUBPED PRIZES.
like decision was rendered I'm the
cases OF the steamer Ambrosio Bolivas.s =
and the schooners Candidita, Mathllda,
and Sophia.
The only formality remaining to make
these vessels the absolute property OF the
United States is the confirmation by tho
Federal Court authorities Of the findings
OF the prize commission.
The cases OF the Buena Ventura the
first capture OF the war, and the Pedro
Catalina, Miguel Joyer, Panama. and
Guido, all large and valuable steamers.
will have 10 be tried In regular form by
the United States Court, claims having
been filed by the owners Of the ships ana
cargoes,