The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-10
HIIH GREAT VICTORY
Sumner theoretically Smash
eS the Blue Squadron.
MADE GALLANT FIGHT
Scouts Looking for HigginSon
10 Tell him re Is Licked.

/ May aguez, Porto Rico, Dec. y.-A nOta-
bic victory was achieved this morning by
admiral Sumner in command OF the
white squadron. with the Inez. Illinois.
Albany ana Chicago.
he captured Mayaguez without resist
/ ance 1T ca This morning and Immediately
mined the harbor. The Nashville and
Eagle subsequently, entered the channel
and reported that the, Atlanta and the
san Francisco had last been seen OF
Ponce and that perhaps they had been
overtalzen.
Aumiral Summers victory was due 20
the careful execution of his plans. At
Trinidad he directed the white squadron
to proceed to point within a circle with
d radius of seventy-two miles, the cen
ter OF which was latitude and longi-
tude 45. The white squadron was re-
ported t. Admiral IIigginson. command
ing the blue. or opposing squadron. at
6 clock on the afternoon Of December >.
Admiral Summers objective point was
Mayasuez, GDayaniila. Ponce, Esenada or
Culebra.
Under the rules the white squadron
would win if it entered the port selected
and worked for one hour laying mines be
fore the arrival Of blue squadron dou-
ble its strength TIE white squadron
would lose If it was intercepted by a
superior force at sea. or within one hour
after having anchored in the port selected.
The white squadron sailed from Trinidad
the morning Of December 4. The Iowa,
albany Illinois and Chicago, forming an
the squadron and steamed at the rate of
y knots an hour to latitude 1A40 longi-
tude 1924 which point They reached at
o'clock on the afternoon Of December s.
The four vessels then steamed north in
line with ten islands. The greatest care
was Exercised TO prevent discovery. No
lights We're shown, and only small red
and blue flags We're used.
The fag officers did their night signal
ling by Whistles and shielded lights There
vas clear weather throughout the run
an especially careful watch was kept
December Z. when the four vessels We're
cue north of Culebra island which Ad-
ndral Sumner supposed to be the center
Of the north and south line of the blue
scouts In order to avoid these scouts
Admiral Sumner kept over 200 miles away
from the land. on December the Iowa
Illinois and Chicago ran parallel
with the north shore Of Porto Rico until
directly north of Mona passage, when
they turned to the south with the inten-
ton of making Santo Domingo. snea1ins I
along the shore of that island and making
a dash across the Mona passage unden I
forced draft to Navacucz
When entering the Mona passage at !
o clock this morning the squadron stopped
Tor a short time No niue scouts were /
sighted until dawn Then the Olympia,
Cincinnati, Detroit and Montgomery were /
seen. These vessels had been scouting on |
the north SHORE of Porto Rico. 1t is re- |
markable that they failed to sight the |
white squadron, especially as the weather I
was clear and there was half moon |
until ! o'clock All preparations for min |
ing the harbor had been made when the 4
four vessels Of the white squadron drop I
ed their anchors in Mayaguez harbor at
"a minutes past this morning. The last
vessel TO anchor was the Chicago. Boats /
were lowered at once and the mining of
the channel was finished in thirty-four
minutes. Upon the appearance of the
white squadron the Hist discharged green
ard red signals and attempted to escape.
No effort was made to prevent her. The
9ther scouts of the blue squadron. fear
ng capture. fastened away to search for
admiral Higginson. The commander of
-he blue squadron was last reported at
Vieques island. where he Will be advised
II Admiral Summers victory.
It is expected that Admiral sumner will
iail tonight FOR Culebra island. where he
viii transfer his flag. Admiral Dewey
sin then organize the fleet. Admiral Hig-
;-nson viii have command OF the first
squadron. an the battleships viii be in the
second division. which win he under COM
uand of Admiral Crowninshield. The sec
nd squadron. to include all the cruis-
rs. win be under the command of Admi-
al Sumner.