The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-04
READ AT CABINET MEETING.
Commodore SchIey's Brief Report
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Problem of Destroying Mines.
WASHINGTON, June "a brief bulletin
telling of Commodore Schley's reconnois-
sance at Santiago de Cuba on Tuesday. was
all the information the Navy Department
had to contribute to the press to-day. This
bulletin went to confirm the press dis
patches, which told of the firing on the for
tif1cations at Santiago, but which have been
so steadfastly discredited ever since the
first report. 1t appears from the bulletin
given out that Commodore Schley concen-
trated a pretty good fire upon the Spanish
defenseS and it seems probable that had he
found conditions more propitious than they
were he would have resolved the recon-
noissance into an assault in force.
The Cabinet meeting to-day, which lasted
until o'clock, was largely devoted to the
discussion of present and prospective army
and navy movements which cannot be made
public. A report had been received from
Commodore Schley, which was read by Sec
rotary Long giving in a general way, an
account of mis- recent engagement at Santi-
ago. The purpose of the demonstra tion the
commodore states, in effect, was to develop
and other works and to obtain an estima tie
of the character of the guns and the ability
OF the Spaniards in the matter of gunnery,
etc. The movement was entirely successful
and satisfactory. Not a single shot touched
vessel of our fleet The commodore has no
reasonable doubt that Cervera's squadron is
hemmed in in Santiago bay.
In the course of the meeting Attorney
General Griggs explained to the members
States vessels which have been condemned
by the court can be appropriated to the use
of the government without formality or any
decree involving advertisement and sale.
There seems to be doubt that it is the
purpose of the government to push forward
with the greatest possible expedition the
mil ffdFy nd
tlago and Porto Rico, and, for the purpose
of making the result of both expeditions
absolutely certain, large military forces will
with the navy and the insurgents. The pur-
pose IS to make them overwhelming in
strength and numbers and so crush the en-
envy at every point and bring the war to a
speedy termination.
THE MINE PROBLEM.
The great natural strength of the Spanish
position at Santiago and the formidable
character of their batteries as indicated by
Commodore Schley have confirmed the
naval officials in the belief that they have
been wise not to direct any such reckless
assault upon the place in the absence of
proper forces as has been advocated in some
quarters. The problem would be simplfied
were it known that there were no mines in
the channel. AS it is the problem presented
has enlisted the active interest of the army
engineers as we'll as of the naval officers
here. 1t is the duty of the army engineers
in this country to lay just such mines as are
supposed 10 be in place in Santiago harbor
and they are curious to see how their broth
erS in the navy propose to go about the
work of destroying them. A good deal has
been written in the textbooks about coun-
termining, and many theories have been
brought forward to show how this can be
done But on the authority of one of our
engineer officers these theories have never
been satisfactorily tested and there is no
case on record of successful countermining
against modern improved electrical mines
1t remains to be seen how Sampson is GO
ing to solve this problem, whether by the
use of the NesuViuS, with her dynamite
projectiles by the aid of divers. or by re-
course to the old method of dragging for the
mines with small boats, as in cable-cutting
operations.
The owners of the Holland submarine
boat, who had proposed to so into Santiago
harbor and destroy the Spanish war Ships
at much a vessel, have come forward
naval officers of their craft. The Navy De-
partment was obliged to decline to enter
tain the first proposition, ii smacked of
privateering and was in violation of inter-
national law. The principal objection was
that the boat could not be in regular COM
mission and in command of a naval officer
Besides, they contended that she had never
been thoroughly tested. Now the boats
owners propose that naval officer or Off
GERS be designated to go down in the Hol-
land. and then that she be commissioned.
A SPANISH BUGABOO.
Notwithstanding the rather positive state
ment coming from Jamaica to the effect