Evening star., 1898-05-20
SPAlN'S FLEET AT SANTIAGO
Sampson and Schley Reported Coaling at
Key West
Rumor That the Cndix Fleet is Some
where In the Vicinity Of
Nova Scotia.

An Associated Press cablegram from
Madrid (via Paris) yesterday says: The
Spanish squadron has arrived at Santiago
de Cuba without accident
A later direct message from Santiago de
Cuba confirms the arrival Of the Spanish
squadron.
A special copyrighted dispatch to the New
York Herald from Kingston, Jamaica. the
same date says: The steamship Adula.
which arrived today from Santiago de
Cuba, reports that she passed seven war
ships between Jamaica and the coast of
Cuba. These vessels were steering west in
double column and their nationality was
unknown. They are supposed to have been
the Spanish fleet
A dispatch to the Herald from Panama
says: AS yet neither Barranquila, Cartha-
gena. Port Limon. Greytown nor any other
port near Panama has reported news of
the Spanish Meet There is much anxiety
here and at Colon, the authorities being
puzzled as to how to act in case the fleet
puts in at Colon for coal or other supplies
The declaration of neutrality by Colombia
makes coal contra band of war
Sampson Joins SchIey.
The Herald this morning says: Admiral
Sampson, with the division of the North
Atlantic squadron under his command
which attacked San Juan, Porto Rico has
returned to Key West, where ne has effect
ed junction with Commodore Schley's
squadron. This means that he has under
his orders the battle ships Iowa. Indiana
ana Massachusetts,, the second-cass battle
snip Texas and the armored cruisers
Brooklyn and New York. which make him
s superior by two armorclads to the Spanish
fleet.
Admiral Sampson, it is said, has been
given authority to employ divers to clean
the bottoms of men-of-war which were
Win him before San Juan. provided he
oeems the opportunity good one. If it
proves true that the Spanish fleet Is at
Santiago de Cuba, he will doubtless defer
this action. The hulls of these vessels are
reported to be very foul, Notwithstanding
the cleaning by divers which they received
three months ago.
Admiral Sampson. it is believed, will form
new flying squadron out of the vessels at
ish ships and engage them until the re-
mainder OF his squadron can arrive
Strange Warship Sighted,
copyrighted special to the New York
Herald from Bridgewater N. s., via Hall
fax, N. s., yesterday, says: This morning
about o'clock the smoke of several steam
ers was seen off the coast near Cape La
Haye. Several persons went I'D on a hill
known Round HILL at Getson's Cove
ana from that eminence saw distinctly nine
large vessels under steam heading in about
a southeriy direction.
The ships appeared to be travelling at a
fair rate of speed. Their nationality could
not be discerned
foLr correspondent received this infor-
nation from Reinhardt Bros of Getson's
Cove. who vouch for the correctness of the
story. The ships, when seen, were near
Indian Island. and about four or five miles
from the coast.
Bernabe Secures Coal.
The Montreal Star OF yesterday says: A
new feature OF the Spanish American war
--one in which it is said that Senior Polo
Bernabe and his associates are keenly in
terested-is the probable advance OF the
Cadiz squadron into the North Atlantic
One barrier alone has been standing be-
tH cen the New England coast and the Ca
oiz I1eet. 1t is the lack of coal for the war
ships when they get to this side of the
ocean. 1t has been planned to secure a
ccal supply. Spanish ships now carrying
1t may be well on their way across the At
Ianiic; indeed, according to nforma ton re-
ceived from a Star correspondent at North
sydney, c. B, it is possible that even at
the present time Spanish coal ships are in
the waters about Newfoundland.
The advices from Cape Breton state that
Senor Polo has been in communication with
an agent or correspondent on the Island of
St Pierre and Miquelon, the coalng sta
ticns of France in the North Atlantic.
There Is constant exchange of trade be-
tween Cape Breton and st. Pierre and the
gossip of one port Is more or less current
in the other.
For the last week lookout operators on
the Newfoundland coast have reported the
al pearance of strange vessels in those wa
ters. In this connection the Stars inform
ant suggests that these strange craft are
sunboats conveying the Spanish vessels
ccal.