The times., 1898-05-06
THE COMING BATTLE.
IT VIII Probably he Fought Near
Porto Rico,


Porto Rico.
Another naval battle is believed to be
imminent. Until today the naval strate-
gists were of the opinion that Spain's four
cruisers and three torpcdo-boat destroy
ers now on the Atlantic would be heard
from at the Canary Islands. The fleet IS
out five days from st. Vincent. 1t started
westward. and did not vary from its
course all of the first day. No conceal
ment was given that the destination was
the American side of the ocean. 1t was
disbelieved at first. Spanish craft usually
says one thing and does another. The
strategists thought the Yizcaya. OGuendo
and companion cruisers would make a
show of crossing the ocean and by a de-
tour seek port at the Canaries This
theory, however. has given place 10 a
growing impression that the Spaniards
are really intending to strike blow on
this side. BY this time the fleet should
have reached the Canaries, or should have
been sighted in the waters of those ISL
ands if it was going there.
No chances are to be taken on sur
prise. Oft the Massachusetts coast an
American fleet, including the recently
purchased cruisers New Orleans and To-
peka, the commerce-destroyer Minneapo-
lis and Columbia and the ram Katahdin
are assembling. In every principal har-
Dor one of the old monitors is waiting
In Hampton Roads the flying squadron
what Is left of it, the cruiser BROOKLYN
and the powerful battleships Texas and
Massachusetts wait with steam up TO
go north or south on instant notice when
the hrst sighting of the Spanish fleet is
reported
Off the eCuban coast Admiral Sampson has
detached some of his vessels from the
blockadins squadron to come toward the
Auantic and take a central position in
readiness to go to meet the fleet as soon
as the mystery of its movements is
solved
In three places on the Atlantic front
is aoW assembled the nucleus of a power
ful fleet waiting for the word which will
loca.e the enemy. Between the points.
and far out into the Atlantic, patrol and
circle the mosquito fleet. with Commo-
dore Howell on his flagship the San
Francisco, directing the advance guard
movement. Beyond the fleet. hundreds
of miles away from this, are scouting
the auxiliary cruisers. loaded with many
days supplies of coal, and manned for
the fieetest runs they ever made. At the
first sight of the Spanish fleet, any one
of these scouts will turn and come al fun
speed for the nearest point on the At
ldntic coast from which the alarm can be
given. AS the scout ship races against
time it will be sighted by some of the
mosquito fleet. Signals will convey the
warning. The scouts will lead the Span
ish feet from three to five knots az,
hour. A day. perhaps two days. before
the fleet reaches American waters the
L.. Il
from Maine to Florida, and the American
ships will be assembling to give battle.
The plan is perfect. If the Spanish feet
has come steadily westward it must be
two or three days out from Porto Rico
and from three to four Gays distant from
any point the American coast. Prepa-
rations to meet it are in an advanced
stage.
The naval strategists hope the fleet
has not made a detour and gone TO the
Canaries. They want fight which shall
duplicate Deweys. They think the thing
to do is to smash another bunch of Span
ish warships. Such a result they believe
will practically end the war. II a few
days shall develop that the departure
from st. Vincent for this side of the
ocean was pretense only. there will be
deep disappointment on this side of the
water.
While preparing for the possibilities of
a southern course of the Spanish fleet to
meet the Oregon and of a northern course
to strike the Atlantic coast, the strate-
gists regard neither direction as the one
that is probable. They think that if the
ships come To this side at all they will
rendezvous at San Juan, Porto Rico.
There is where, in expert judgment, the
naval battle will be fought. The over
shadowing question of the war now is.
where will the Spanish iieet from Cape de
Verde Islands next be seen?
Until that question is answered the
movement Of troops to Cupa v i'll wait If
the whereabouts; of the enemy shall ind:-
cate the necessity for sca lighting. the
troops will not go 10 Cuba until the bate
is fought. That the invasion viii he made
soon after is promised. Officers in charge
of transDorta on received Instructions to
have in view vessels to hdndI, IL much
larger force than was contemplated vixen
the arrangement we're made IIsc wcatS
for the Tampa expedition. they Fave not
been directed to make contracts. but to
enter into ssucl negotiations tnIt the Gov
ernment can upon Drt notice command
water transportation for between 60CCG
and 10000 mel. Representatives. of
have been asked To furnish statements of
carry from |arious pcirts. Such urepa-
rations point to the possibility of sharp
and quick campaign in Cupa after the
foreshadowed naval engagement.