The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-25
SOME CRITICISM OF
THE NAVAL STRATEGY.
CarpePs Want to Know Why Snmp-
son Used Up Coal TO steam Back
to hey West.

NEW YORK, May PA Washington
dispatch 10 the Times says: News from
Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley
Is looked for az the navy department any
hour. but no one at the department ap-
pears TO be able or Will say just where the
news Is TO come from. All that can pos
itiveiy be ascertalned there Is that the
United States fleets are somewhere out
OF Key West and looking Tor Admiral
Cervera, and hoping to come UP with and
fight HIN. Whether IL will De at Santiago.
Cienfuegos or somewhere between those
points and San Juan de Porto Rico not the
most speculative expert will venture to
say.
Meantime there Is some discussion among
the naval officers about the actions Of the
feet OF Admiral Sampson that suggests
a spirit OF criticism. Naval officers who
have the highest respect for the men who
are supposed TO have designed the pan
OF campaign OF the United States fleet
are openly expressing wonder that Ad-
m.ral Sampson was permitted 10 travel all
the way from San Juan TO Key West to
consume a great deal OF coal and then
to coal again. merely TO sail back over
the course he had just traverssd. His per-
sonal inclination, IL is believed. would have
led his 10 remain in the Windward pass
age, holding position OF great strategic
advantage until his scouts brought him
many officers believed him TO be there
after he had left for Key West.
To the suggestion made 10 these officers
that the Washington authorities did not
know the Spanish fleet was al Martinique
until Sampson was fairly on his return
trip. the unofficial strategist answers that
the department knew a week ago that
Cervera vas at Curacao: 1t had al It's
command two CT three swift. vessels that
could have stopped Sampson before he
had come half way on his return, and that
GOLFERS could be provided TO take coal 10
him and that he might thus have been
able 10 intercept the Spanish fleet on Its
way TO Santiago harbor. As 1t was, Ad
m.ral Sampson left Key West the day the
news was received there from Washing ton
that Cervcra had arrived. II the news Of
SIMPSONS departure worked its way TO
Blanco, he probably sent Il by wire TO
Santiago next day, ana Admiral Cervera
was afforded chance TO move out and
renew his explorations of the Caribbean
sea.
But the navy department will forget
the waste OF tine by Admiral Sampson
IL "a learns tomorrow or next day that he
has arrived al Santiago and finds Cervera
still there. When he started from Key
West Thursday he had to steam 700 miles
TO reach Santiago. At a ten-knot pace
he could have made the distance In three
days
The almost unanimous opinions Of naval
officers is that whether Cervera has de-
cided 10 stand and fight, or run and wait
"A iitt.e while before giving battle. he can
not long postpone Il meeting with Admiral
Sampson and perhaps with Commodore
Schiey al the same time. The policy OF
silence concerning naval movements has
been very strictly observed now for a
couple OF weeks but not so strictly that
a Il
modore Schley got away from Key West
a ittie sooner than Admiral Sampson.
IL II was but half day sooner. he ought
10 have been able with his swiftest ships
to reach Santiago de Cuba on Saturday
1t Is assumed that he did so, by those
who conclude that the department sent
him 10 look for the Spanish fleet where
Il was last heard OF. II is believed Schiey
went 10 the south Of Cuba by the Yucatan
passage.
Navy officers assume that everybody IS
now familiar with the formation OF San
tisso hsrbor. ana the Gisadvan'sge II
which fleet would he placej that re-
tired into il 20 await the coming Of an on
ponent Few OF them believe that Cervera
has attempted this course. They incline
10 the opinion that he went toward Mar
Unique 10 meet the golfers sent over n
provide him with the fuel he must now
need. and perhaps ne Joined by some OF
the vessels often reported ut Cadiz or some
other Spanish port hut which some con-
servatIve naval officers are firmly con-
WINGED may have been on their way across
the Atlantic 20 reinforce him.
This last possibility will not spoil the
chance. TOW seemingly good, Of an early
fight. Very prominent naval officers who
today talked with members OF the admin
ist.atian expressed very decidedly the view
that Admiral Cervera had neither suf-
iiciens skin or coal ~ escape the conflict
which Sampson and Schley are seeking,
A gentleman who is not connected VII
the navy hut who is very much inter
estcd Ia seeing II DO It's work well. says
that Il Is mistake 20 suppose that the
naval strategic board has tramneied
Sampson or SchIey or both with conflict
INK o. embarrassing orders
Practically said this gentleman.
Admiral Sampson has had his own way
~ all that he has done. II he returned
70 Key West when Cervera wss at Ct,ra-
Goa, knowing that ne must return 10 fiad
hirn. he did 80 for i reason that seemed
Imperative 10 him"