The record-union., 1898-05-31
CERVERA'S FLEET.
Will Have to Accept Battle With
SIMPSONS Squadron at Once.

| KEY WEST, May 30-Any doubt re-
naming as to the exact location Of
| Admiral CePvera's fleet was removed
tby reports brought in by naval scout
tshipS and forwarded in the Associated
Press dispatches of Saturday night.
The Spanish squadron is anchored in
the harbor of Santiago, and the prob
Hem remains for the commanders of the
/ fleet to dispose of the enemy, either by
! corkng the bottle, or by forcing the
tlong, narrow passage and smashing
! the strong Spanish squadron at the
anchorage it's commander has chosen.
| 1t has been the opinion of Rear-Ad
miral Sampson that Admiral Cervera
would seek either Santiago or Glen
Ifuegos. as a naval refuge and base, and
! the movement of the two American
/ IsQuadrOns has proceeded upon this ba-
sis.
Strong and effective as are the Span
] ish ships, representing as they do the
flower of the Spanish navy, every argu-
ment in naval strategy compelled Ad-
miral Cervera either to seek the shelter
! of the close harbor or Santiago or re-
turn to Spain, and he chose to make
his stand at Santiago That he would
court fight in the open sea is an idea
which has never been entertained in
American naval circles, although his
ships, without exception, have high
qualities, owing to their great speed,
for such a contest.
On the other hand, it was believed
the Spanish Admiral would attempt to
run in San Juan de Porto Rico but
the fact of the recent bombardment
/ of the forts of that harbor, coupled
with the great possibility that Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet would be met
| if he attempted to enter that harbor,
! left the Spanish Admiral only one
alternative. and he adopted it by going
to Santiago, where, it is presumed, he
has been able to coal, clean and re-
pair, and is in a position to accept
either the conditions imposed by the
blockade. or the issue of a fight in the
| inner harbor after the American fleet
has forced the passage.
| 1t has been thought that the cam
paign against Admiral Cervera might
inow be ended by demolishing the forts
j at the entrance of the harbor of Santi-
/ ago blockading the channel and isolat-
ling the Spanish fleet until the other
problems of the war are worked out.
/ This, however, is not in the line with
American policy. and simply accepting
the views of the situation taken by
| the naval experts here, Admiral Ger
vera will have to accept battle at once.
1t is confidently expected that a. hard
blow will be struck within three or
| four days. and that the result will be
known to the world at the expiration
of that time. It has not been dis
closed wbpthp Commadara Ccblpv ic
to be reinforced, but it would not be
surprising if some additional ships were
sent to him
THE FLEET BOTTLED UP.
MOLE ST NICOLAS (HaytD. May 80
| Copyrighted. 1898, by the Associated
Press).-The following dispatch has
/ been received from the correspondent
of the Associated Press with the Amer
ican fleet off Santiago de Cuba:
Off Santiago de Cuba, May 29-Com-
modore Schley and the flying squadron
have the Spanish fleet bottled up in the
| harbor of Santiago de Cuba. BY the
most clever maneuvering, the Commo-
dore allowed the Spaniards to think
he had left in disgust They took the
bait and ran into the harbor Com
modore Schley moved down this morn
ing. and at o'clock. going close to the
harbor, he saw the Cristobal Colon. the
Maria Teresa and the two torpedo
boats. He believes the entire feet is
there.
Commodore Schley has acted upon his
own information and judgment for the
past six days, and believes the whole
Spanish fleet is there. He sat on the