Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-01-12
A Secret nftha War.

One well-kept secret of the war
even the President does not know.
Probably it never will he told. Meth
er the President nor Secretary Alger
will insist upon the revelation. That
will leave the information in the DOS
session of two or possibly three men,
and they seem to he clearly impressed
with tho propriety "f maintaining the
confidence which proved so important
during the war.
On the 10Th Of May General Gree
ly, the head Of the signal service of
the army, carried to the war room of
the White House the information that
Admiral Cervera had entered Santl-
ago harbor. This Information was
positive. 1t was also great sur
prise. The theory OF tile War Bo uu
was that, after leaving Trinidad the
Spanish Admiral, with his swift war
shlps, would attempt to relieve Ha-
vana, either by forcing the blockade
IN front OF the city, or by entering
(Ienfueg"s on the south side of the
island and establishing communica.
ton WITH Blanco by rail. Sampson
and Schley disposed their ships to
meet such probable movements, md
also the possible attempt at. dash
upon the South Atlantic Coast. But
the most remote contingency was
thought to be the choice by the Span
lsh Admiral Of Santiago rs destina.
ton. Yet Cervera went to Santiago.
and the very day he arrived there
General Greedy presented the infor-
nation to the President and the Sec.
re,arIes of War and the Navy. An
Immediate conference took place, and
messages were sent to the naval
commanders telling them the start.
ling news. General Greely's inror-
nation was so inconsistent with the
the cries Of the navy that it was re-
ceived with incredulity. Neither
Sampson, nor Schley acted promptly
upon it. AS the official dispatches
recently made public show, repeated
Instructions we're sent from Wash
iDgton for investigation Of the report.
Here, in Washington, General Greedy
stood out stoutly for the reliability
OF his authority. At length peremp-
tory orders took Schley to Santiago.
On the 10Th Of May, ten days after
Cervera he'd entered the harbor, and
the same length Of time after the sig.
nal service had reported the fact, the
navy confirmed the news, and estab.
ished blockade. General Greedy
aid the signal service we're hand
somely indicated. There is said to
have been rather interesting situa-
ton when the official but tardy dls.
patch came from Schley confirming
tue signal service dispatch. The
doubling Thomases OF the navy
owned up to their mistake. Some Of
them had gone 80 far as to express
emphatic disbelief of the earlier in
formation. Naturally there was
great curiosity to know show General
Greeley had done It," To this day
that remains secret, and there is no
intention Of telling the whole story.
Some facte, however, may be given,
with the reservation Of two or three
nance, the publication OF which, s3en
eral Greedy says, would do no good
beyond the satisfaction OF mere curl
osity, and might do harm to the per-
sons who would be identified.
There Is story current in inner
circles Of the War Department that
after the accuracy Of General Gree
ly's information had been shown in
the Cervera matter, the President
himself inquired from whom the news
came. General Greedy, go the story
goes, replied that unless the Presi-
dent insisted, he would prefer not to
mention names. The President rec.