The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-17

Washington. May 17.-Intimations
have been received here that Captain
General Blanco at Havana is very short
OF ammunition. in which case the power
full batteries at the entrance OF Havana
harbor would be deprived of large
part of their defensive strength. This
state Of Affairs may lead to desperate
attempts at blockade running on the
part of the Spaniards in the hope of
getting more ammunition into Havana.
IT is believed that the supplies so fire.
quently referred to as being on the
Spanish flying squadron were Of this
character rather than food supplies.
which makes IL all the more important
that Sampson and Schley should sue
ceed in keeping Admiral Cervera from
ceaching Havana or Cienfuegos, or any
port in Cuba connected with Havana by
rail. Commodore Schley probably Is
well down the Florida coast now. and
should be able to guard the Florida
straits. His appearance on that side OF
Cuba would enable Sampson to bring
his ironclads with perfect safety to Glen
fuegos on the south side, and with this
disposition OF our naval force and the
free use Of a considerable number of
our scouting vessels, Ii is hard to see
how the Sps nlsh fleet can escape from
she gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean sea.
Secretary Longs order relating to the
publication of news emanatinC from the
navy department had the effect Monday
OF considerably curtailipg the supply of
Information that heretofore has been
rather freely given. The secretary's
order was directed to Captain Crown
inshield, chief of the navigation bureau,
and he in turn gave IL effect by making
an order in his own name that no person
connected with his bureau in any ce-
pacity should have any conversation
whatever upon subjects in any way
pertaining to the navy with representa-
tives Of the press. AS an Offset, II was
ordered that bulletins of such facts as
have actually occurred and are proper
Tor publication, and are not connected
with existing or projected movements,
shall be prepared and posted on the bull
letin board.
The sum total Of the information pub
lished by the bulletin board yesterday
under this rule was a notice of the
Intention to start the Philippine relief
Expedition, and OF the permission given
10 some foreign neutral vessels to pass
the blockade at Havana. In explana-
tion of the issue of this order the naval
authorities say that some of the news
papers have been so far lacking in pa
triotism as to print plans OF campaign
and projected movements OF naval ships,
with the result that the war board has
been obliged completely to revise it's
plans in the knowledge that the Span
iards had promptly taken notice of the
publications and were prepared to profit
by them.
Complaint was made to Secretary Long
that the newspapers were working in
Jury to the government in such cases.
1t is not the purpose Of the secretary
TO prevent the press having any informa-
tion that 10 not calculated to cause n
miscarriage OF the plans of the depart
ment. but II remains to be seen whether
the naval officers to whom the order had
been directed will not by their ironclad
interpretation OF IL bring about modi-
ncation I'm the interest of liberality.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is a rather curl
Gus proceeding that may lead TO very
considerable widening Of the blockade
itself, so that in the end the neutral
supplies, the carrying OF which into
Havana would interfere with the naval
and military operations of our govern
ment, may pass the blockade under
suitable regulations laid down by the
United Stattx The statement that the
navy department still hopes to make an
exchange Of prisoners at an early day
shows that the mission OF the Uncas was 4
nv M means n cap,plpfQ faf1uro
For the Philippine expedition the de-
pattment is laying In a store OF supplies
which will. IL necessary. keep the army
OF 1900 men for period OF six months,
90 100000 rations are being accumu-
lated by the commisssry department at
Ban Francisco for shipment from time
Go time TO Manila. A large consignment
will be taken out on the City OF Pelxin
which is 10 sail the latter part OF this
Veek and which has been della ved In ffar