The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05
CAPT. SIGSBEE'S CRUISE.
Another story of the Sighting of Adj
mirnI Cervera's Fleet.

NEW YORK, June 4.-If the slightest
semblance of doubt has been entertained by
members of the war board and the authori-
ties of the Navy Department to the pre-
else location of the Spanish fleet it was en-
tirely removed, says the Washington CORE
spondent of the Tribune by the receipt of
important information direct from Captain
Sigsbee, of the auxiliary cruiser st. Paul,
who came on Immediately after reporting
his arrival at New York to Admiral Bunce,
and communicated to Secretary Long adj
vices from Admiral Sampson and Commo-
dore Schley, both of whom he left a few
days ago, the former then on his way
through the Windward passage and the lat
ter holding tight the Spanish vessels behind
the outer defenses of Santiago. Perhaps no
officer of the navy is more familiar with the
type of cruisers now at Santiago than the
former commander of the Maine, and. hav-
ing seen three of them lying at anchor in
the last four days, he is positive that the
fourth is there as we'll.
The last occasion that Captain Sigsbee
met the Vizcaya was In Havana harbor,
where she lay not two cable lengths from
the Maine, and while there Captain Sigsbee
not only carefully noted her qualities and
type but secured drawings. and accurate
descriptions of the war ship. He has inn
parted to Secretary Long the experiences of
the st. Paul and of Commodore Schley's
squadron in trapping the Spanish admiral
at Santiago. Captain Sigsbee does not take
fun credit for having discovered the ships
first. but says that both he and Commodore
Schley saw them about the same time, and
that as his signals went up to the flagship
conveying the fact that he had sighted two
of the ships Commodore Scheys were run
him. RIR communicating '"e same 'nio''la'i0" -
For six days Captain Sigsbee and the st.
Paul lay off the harbor, expecting nightly to
be attacked by the Spanish torpedo boat de-
stroyers. With his running lights doused
and all side lights out, he cruised off and on
about fifteen miles from the shore. under
darkened skies and with steam at low pres
sure. The use of searohlights to sight any
torpedo boat that might be lurking around
ready. to attack the ship would have re-
vealed his presence to the SpaniardS at San
tiago, and this was what the captain did not
wish them to learn. With every opportunity
of attacking him., the two thirty-knot de-
stroyers remained IN the harbor all the
time, and Captain Sigsbee accounts for this
conduct on their part IS due to the desire Of
the Spanish admiral not to permit his pres
Commodore Schley had established an eff
fective blockade of the port before the st.
Paul steamed away. ON leaving Santiago
Captain Sigsbee made for Mole St. Nicho-
las, and from there cruised to the west UNI
til he met Admiral Sampson from whom
he received dispatches for the secretary of
the navy. The next move of the st. Paul
will probably be in the direction of eastern
i
coaled and proviSioned Captain Sigsbee says
he will sail again. He will probably pass out
of Sandy Hook with his vessel Sunday or
The junction of Admiral Simpsons squad
ron with that already blockading Santiago
under Commodore Schley seems, according
TO Captain Sigsbee's calculations, to have
been effected on Wednesday last. The pres
ence of so many heavily-armored American
ships off the harbor in which Admiral Ger
vera's cruisers have taken refuge is taken
here to indicate purpose on the part of the
commander of the American fleet to reduce
Santiago at once by a naval assault, rather
than wait for the tedious cooperation Of
the land forces dispatched, or about to be
dispatched from Tampa. 1t is argued here
with some force that siege operations
against Santiago from the land side would,
on account of the rugged character of the
surrounding country, involve insuperabe OBJ
stacles and that, with ordinary field artil-
lery the besieging forces would be no
match for the guns of the Spanish men of
war inside the harbor The general eXpecta-
ton in naval and military circles is. there
fore that the combined American squad
rons will renew, or have already renewed,
the attack on the outer works, with view
to forcing an entrance into the bay and
compelling the Spanish war ships to accept
battle at close quarters. Events at Santiago
however are not counted on to delay or in
terfere with the execution of the admins
trations military programme, which in
includes the eventual occupation of Santiago
and the prompt invasion and seizure OF the
Island of Porto Rico