The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-05-24
CEREERA'S SKILL ONERRATED.
Times Thinks He Has Accomplished
Nothing by Coming.

London. May Zb.-1He HIS. TINS
morning III an article reviewing the war.
takes it for granted that Admiral otf-
vera's squadron coaled IN Venezuelan
waters from four British golfers. It
suggestS that the cruisers Nizcaya $50!
Infanta Maria Teresa risked Il disa'lvaE-
tage in being reported there i'll consider
alton Of their inability TO send DIS
patches to Gen. Blanc
The Times says: Even if it took !
longer route to escape observation Ad-
miral Ceryera'S force has been excessive
Is deliberate in its movements AMI III
fast cruisers nave not Yet shown great
speed. His strategy. 50 much boaSted
1T Madrid. is not yet apparent. Posi-
hly his movements are hampered by the
torpedo boats. but the extreme slowneSS
OF his ocean steaming destroyed his
chance of dealing an effective blow 1T
Key West, 1T Tampa. or against tn"
hlockading force denuded Of its more
efficient vessels by Admiral Sampson =
raid on San Juan dc Porto Rico. The
high speed Of the Spanish cruiser squad
ron 50 far has not been turned to any
a%ccount. and although its arrival ut san
tiago de Cuba may have some moral
value in assuring the Cuban garrisons
that they are not abandoned. no ava
object seems To have been attained. The
United States commanders now knoW
where the enemy is and nave had time
to concentrate superior forces and 10
cover their vulnerable points
Discussing the problem Of Il blockade
of Admira Cervera at Santiago de Cuba
or an attempt to force him TO give battle.
the Times article says:
The United States commanders pos
sess ample forces. but night and TN"
speed of the Spanish cruisers will give
them chances to escape. The result Will
be watched with much interest. The de
fences of Santiago are probably ne more
effective than those of Manila. To take
the United States cruisers into their har-
Dor III face of 4 powerful fire from Ger
vera's force. would be Il risky operation.
but a torpedo Hotilla if it existed in eth
CT fleet. might find opportunities for Of
fective employment.
Il. Admira Cervera succeeds in get
ting to sea and obtaining coal he VII
unqueStionably hamper the Cuban block
ade. although he can obtain no direct
advantage. 1t is evident that the moni-
tors greatly delay -Admira Simpsons
squadron. Such an incubus imposes
heavy disabilities upon Il modern fleet.
and 4 fast squadron capable of pursuing
the Spaniards if they leave the port is
urgently needed Failing. Such Il force
there appears to be no reason why Adj
miral Cervera should not steam to San
Juan de Porte Rico. coal. and go to sea
again before he could be overtaken. \
recent report confirms the existence of q
large quantity of coal at san Juan; and
is Admlral teryera can avail himself OF
this supply and leave behind his torpedo
craft. lie would lie able to reach Charles
ton or Savannah without difficulty.
a raid on either Of these points would
nave no important results. but it would
grayely interfere with the operations ci
the blockade. Reviewing the whole field
Of operations. the most important lessor
is the effect produced by the presence OF
4 small. compact. high speed squadron
which, however, hitherto has been some.
what aimIeSsly employed. From tn,
moment when it was known that this
squadron had arrived off Martinique. al
the plans of the United States board OF
strategy We're disarranged. BY under
taking Il commandment of the fortified
tons at San Juan nothing was gained
The United States has been Handicapped
by the lack OF 4 fast, ~homogeneou,
squadron.
1T would be Wise in future to leav,
the direction Of operations to naval com
manders. Councils have never prove,
capable in the course of war. Then
proper function is to obtain information
and to forward to the admirals VIII,
must be, rs Nelson claimed the right Il
be. free to act when the fitting opportnn.
lty arrives