The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-19
SPANISH FLEET SLY AND SHY.
CERVERA HASN'T YET ATTACKED
SAMPSON on sCHLEY.

Navy Department at Washington Ex-
changes Many Cipher Cables with
Admiral SampsOn-The Latter In n
Position to Encounter the Span
iards should They Try TO Reach
Either Porto Rico or CienfuegOs-
Washington. May 1S,-For more than
four hours this morning the midwatch of
the cipher experts in the navy department
and state department were kept busy re-
ceivIng and sending dispatches to the fleets
Of Admiral Sampson and Commodore
schley, and the consular representatives in
the West Indies.
The first dispatch arrived at the navy de-
partment shortly before l o'clock this
morning. 1t was from Admiral Sampson,
informing Secretary Long of his where
abouts.
Al the same time information was re-
ceived at the state department from our
consul at San Domingo that the Spanish
feet Is supposed 10 be at San Juan, Porto
Rico.
From 1 o'clock until all the cipher ex-
perts of the navy and state departments
did a rushing business and the represen-
tatives of the two branches of the service
were in frequent consultation.
Under the rigid rules prevailing in the
war chambers of the two departments, it
was impossible to CLEAN the purport of the
lively interchange of cablegrams, but
those who kept vigil at the navy depart
nepf DURING fba ,,to,bt co,,1d pot balp 1,aipsy
impressed with the idea that important
communications were being received from
the feet.
1t was noticeable, too that the officers
went about their work in the "wee sma"
hours with cheerfulness that indicates
that the news they were receiving was of
an encouraging nature.
1t is understood that Admiral Sampson
and Commodore Schley now have a thor
ough understanding, and Admiral Sampson
is now in a position to encounter the Span
sh fleet, should it seek refuge in Glen
fuegos or make a desperate dash for Porto
Rico, as some of the naval experts fancy
may be the intention of the Spanish adj
miral 1t is thought that the spaniards
Cuban coast, and they are maneuvering
to mislead Admiral Sampson and draw him
away from Cienfuegos. For that reason
it is not generally believed at the navy de-
partment that the Spanish squadron has
eluded Admiral Sampson and reached
Porto Rico 1t is claimed that Admiral
Sampson has been In a position for more
than three days 10 know whether the fleet
was bound for Porto Rico.
G., for yzft he HTt~o~
was among the visitors at the navy de-
partment to-day. He had a long talk with
Secretary Long. In discussing the war
problem, he said he is convinced that the
Spanish feet came over to this side Of
the water for the sole purpose of breaking
the blockade of Cuba.
Without pretending to be the custodian
of exclusive official information on the
subject, Gen. Tracy says the Spaniards are
trying to establish communication with
Captain General Blanco, and in spite of
the mysterious movements of their fleets
we should not lose sight of that idea. He
says the entire United States fleet should
be ordered to Cuban waters to destroy
the Spanish squadron before it can make
a landing. He says it is idle to employ
the great warships of the navy patroling
the New England coast when they should
be on duty with Admiral Sampson He
says New York Is not the least alarmed
by the silly rumors of a threatened at
tack by mythical Spanish fleet New
York harbor is thoroughly fortified ana
protected, and he was very much gratl-
fed to hear that encouraging news had
been received from Admiral Sampson