VOLUME LXXXIII.—NO. 178. The SanSAN FRANCISCO,FranciscoFRIDAY, MAY 27, 1898. Call PRICE FIVE CENTS. HAVANA'S DEFENSES ARE SOON TO BE BOMBARDED BATTLE-SHIP OREGON WILLFIRE THE FIRST SHOT AT OLD MORRO While Schley Holds Cervera's Fleet in Check Sampson Will Begin Active Hostilities.

CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HOUSE, WASHINGTON, May 26.—Now that the Administration is fully convinced that Commodore Schley is in a position to keep Cervera's fleet locked up or to destroy it, Admiral Sampson is to be directed to begin at once the bombardment of the fortifications that protect the harbor of Havana. Simultaneously a force of 25,000 or 30,000 men willmake a land attack upon the Cuban capital. Only the capture of the Cuban capital, either by surrender or reduction, willput an end to the siege. These details of a new plan of campaign were decided CUBA, VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR OF SANTIAGO DE LOOKING SEAWARD. upon to-day at the White House during a council of war, in This Shows the Morro Castle on the Left and Socapa Point on the Right, With the Spanish Cruiser Vizcaya and the Torpedo Destroyer which the members of the Naval War Board, Secretary Alger, Furor in the Foreground and the American Men-of-War in the Distanoe Watching the Entrance. Secretary Long and General Miles participated. to-day ptble Schley A dispatch was received from means elude and strike searchlights willplay constantly. ItIs Hayti, stating that the Spanish fleet for our Atlantic seaboard. said that this is not mere gone conjecture, had left Santiago and had to But now Schley has but that naval maneuvers were car- was in Wash- that denftwgoa. It reported ried on at Key \VeSpain's tion to bombard the Spanish to the for BOARD ton Herald town. at the Navy Department credit embarkation will be now maintain. .-very torpedo-boat Embassador at Paris has informed the Within the next few days it is ex- must have Hut BOAT DEWEY, pected Haytian report later advices engaged in the attack was PATCH ALBERT F- OLD Foreign Affairs that an effective move will be received, evening is landed in Cuba. discovered French Minister for to been for this there long before was that Manila is the prospective destina- taken drive the cork into the bottle manifested that It is believed there will be no im- it within striking dis- CHANNEL,May 25 (via \zy West, in which Cervera's men-of-war are lo- the same confidence tance of the cruisers battle-ships. BAHAMA tion of the squadron mobilizing at Ca- yesterday. Naval experts mediate invasion of Porto Rico. Itwas and — cated and whose mouth Is being there was One of the attacking torpedo-boats pla., May 26). Judging diz. From an official source sharply by Schley, have impos- at first suggested that Sampson while was from the recent in France watched and the declare that it would been so bewildered by this report was by au- taking of action will in vessels to have elud- in the Bahama channel should be di- the searchlights that received the such result sible for Cervera's it nearly ran a Admiral Sampson's thorities to-day. The statement was placing at the disposal of our Govern- they not have rected to return to San Juan and com- into cruiser. movements of fleet ed Schley, and that could The coupled with the announcement, how- ment a fleet of armor-clads which could his vessels arrived before plete the work he was engaged in when lesson drawn fmm this attack States naval no dispatched to Spain sailed before a sally by enemy tbe United authorities ever, that the information was laid be- be before the harbor without being observed by the presence of Cervera's fleet in West was that the was im- Cadiz squadron could get through the the possible, owing to fore the French Minister by the Spanish our scouting cruisers, three or four of Indian waters called him hurriedly the modern methods longer have any anxiety concerning tf)e Suez canal. discovering approach. Embassador under instruction from the GIBRALTAR, were patrollng the south coast home to mobilize. of an It had May 2>>.—The warships which shown Spanish Cape Verde squadron. After a Ministry which recently went out of at Cadiz, forming Spain's reserve Cuba, between Cienfuegos and San- It was argued that Spain would not also that the attacking fleet of not get office, and that as the new Ministry squadron, under command of Admiral tiago. send her reserve fleet across the At- could within range, although game of hide and see^ along tfye was leveling considerable criticisms at Camara, are busy testing their guns Board's confidence that lantic with Cervera's locked up and her they had come with the range of the northern and machinery preparatory tv their de- The War guns of the ships the work of its predecessor, the plan as Cervera is imprisoned in the harbor is only remaining base of supplies (San attacked. It is said coast of Cuba, wtycb several parture from that port. Their destina- Juan) that these Tortugas consulted the authorities here were informed may best by the fact that at the destroyed. This plan may yet maneuvers at and have tion cannot be ascertained. Larg>. shown Key practically days, th>e prows of tfye flagship New Yor^ been changed. quantities of coal continue, to arrive at White House conference to-day a be adopted, although at the White West represent the sit- In any event, according to informa- Cadiz. hydrographic chart of Santiago har- House conference to-day it was agreed uation before Santiago. IfCervera sent out his torpedo-boats and her consorts arz again turned west- tion received, it is extremely doubtful MADRID,May 26.—1t is currently re- was exhibited. This showed that that it would be better to mobilize as as scouts they ported afternoon that bor channel, if the fleet can be got in a condition to here this the the narrowest point in the large an army as possible in Cuba with- would be detected before they had done ward, to Havana, or, week, and Spanish Government has ordered all mouth, is less than sparing any troops Rico any damage and destroyed by presumably threaten sail under another probably up, near the harbor's out for Porto the longer necessary the steamers of 1000 tons capable width, small gunboats. time will be to put it of making a minimum of of a mile in while at this time. This would leave San The American ships perhaps, a prominent part in trje twelve knots one-sixteenth (thirty to taKe in satisfactory condition. an hour, to be impressed as auxiliary there are only five fathoms Juan open for the reception of Spain's would have the advantage of concen- long-delayed invasion of Cuba. The machinery of several vessels is cruisers. The Spanish Commissioners feet) of water, there being barely a reserve fleet, and it was argued it, too, trating their entire fire upon one small Deported to be out of order on account at the varinus points. It is added, have sufficient depth to accommodate the might possibly be locked up. passage. c Sampson turn gait. During night of lack of skilled men. battery been instructed to take charge of such man of war draw- A naval officer said to-night: A night battle is quite That Admiral should ! the the fleet had The of steamers, passage of a modern "It unusual In !come up monitors Puritan the armored cruiser Carlos V is also not whether mailboats or other- This is between Estrella would be strange indeed if after an- naval annals, it back at this .seemingly critical juncture with the and wise. ing 27 feet. but has occurred. The has | Mlantonomah, had been sent in satisfactory condition. Workmen are on the east of the harbor nihilatingMontljo's fleet at Constellation fought the Revenge at indicates that, Admiral' Cervera" which employed day night battery side Manila and by owing to and and in making the on the west side, bottling up in we night, engagement continuing helped our navy out of its dilemma j ahead their slow speed, necessary repairs, every PROHIBITS THE and Canovas Point Cervera Santiago the for torpedo and effort is from the open darkness, putting himself into a neat pocket at the boats Ericsson and Rod- being made to get the ships away from and is only a half mile should succeed in imprisoning Admiral six hours in the during which Santiago and handing key gers. This force was soon augmented as as ARMS sea. It would, therefore, be possible Camara also." the main mast of the Constellation was de Cuba the Cadiz quickly possible. EXPORTATION OF battle-ships to Schley. At any.rate.the by the arrival of the cruisers Mont- Naturally the report that the Spanish for one or two of our A report reached Washington to- carried away and the ship crippled. It Commander 1898, Gordon most formidable danger yet "met by the gomery and Marblehad, and it began to Government h^d informed France that Copyr!frht«»<3, by James Bennett. standing out to sea to prevent the en- night from Key West that a vessel ar- is believed that if Admiral Cervera at- United States naval forces in this war look like a real fWt, bent on real busi- the destination of its fleet was Manila HONGKONG. May 26.— Acting for the emy's egress. riving there had heard heavy firing in tempts to escape he will choose the an ness. On Tuesday afternoon the big was the cause of some comment in of- British Government, Governor Sir Hen- having been settled to the satis- the vicinity of Havana. Itis not prob- night for this movement. has apparently come to end for lack circles, but further This schooner Supply Joined the fleet, and ficial until informa- ry A. Blake issued to-day in the Ga- present it was decided to able that our blockading of an object. tion comes regarding the decision of faction of all vessels would On the other hand naval officials are several hours were passed in distribut- the zette an extraordinary decree prohibit- military expedition. begin a bombardment Admiral Sampson has massed a pow- ing provisions among the various ships. new Ministry the authorities do not push the Cuban until Admiral discussing the means the American enemy. ing for six months, from May 28, the reports seemingly reliable Sampson returns. erful fleet, to crush the only to Night had again fallen when the fleet propose to waste very much time in colony Different commander may adopt to make exit im- kindly worrying over exportation from the of arms, day or two located learn that the enemy has moved on eastward. Just at dusk the the matter. ammunition, gun powder or have for the laßt possible. In the blockade of Charleston gunboat Wasp came up west In view of the bottling up of the naval and Sampson's squadron off Ha- Besides it is understood crushed himself. The cruise of Samp-' from the military stores, unless by special per- Admiral barges full of stones were sunk at the and delivered dispatches to the admi- Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago Santiago; but the here that the Oregon son's fleet has already occupied six authorities say mission, granted under local ordinance. vana and before willbe channel entrance, cutting off ingress occupied ral. As the fleet moved eastward red de Cuba the that it This probably is about half way be- egress. days, including the time in and white signal lights suddenly would be absurd for the Spaniards to Is a continuation of the procla- truth allowed to fire the first and A few old hulks would getting ships together. ,As the sun squadron mation issued on November 25, last, tween these c: tremes. He was known shot serve the same purpose in the present our flashed from the signal vqxd of the send their reserve to the far importation on rose Monday abated some. York, and all the vessels east they believ^ their plans owing to the into China of to have sailed east from Havana at Castle when the case. is difficulty in getting on the wind New other and will supplies Hongkong secret so- supposition Morro There such Ten miles off early Monday immediately answered. As the war- not be carried out notwithstanding the from for Monday morning and the old craft and the sinking of derelicts at Havana. given cieties. Ithas no special significance through the bombardment begins as a morning a of spars and smoke ships rocked gently on th" swell of the information was to the French Spanish was that he sailed south proper points in the cnannel would be cluster waves the signal lanyards swayed Government. action at Spain in in regard to the war, but it joined Schley indicated the whereabouts of the fleet. The will hamper the Philippine insurgents Windward Passage and reward for her gallant cruise attended with great danger. They gracefully with their strings of con- keeping France informed of the move- obtaining supplies. As the Dewey approached we could stantly changing liglit*. ments a good in — at Santiago. must be towed to position, subjecting The intense of her fleet aroused deal \u2666 he around the Horn. make out York, Indiana and by suspicion, It appears now that has been those in charge to the danger of mines the New gloom seemed accentuated the flag- of and it is believed to be Spain's channel, nearly gunboats on the -Havana ship's electric signals and nothing of of good existing No Action on Note. cruising in the old Bahama off At last accounts the big battleship torpedoes. is also the guns all the indicative relations be- Cuba, Koy •and There blockading The had the vessels could be seen except the tween the two governments. NEW YORK. May 26.—A dispatch the northeastern coast of where had arrived at West from Jupiter to guarded against. station. monitors L,ike Inlet, of Morro Castle be disappeared. The cruiser Montgomery waving lanterns. fiery specters With the Monterey and the Charles- from London says: The powers have he could be within easy sailing dis- Fla. It Js understood, however, that Morro of the night they moved away on the ton attached to his fleet, Rear Admiral decided that no action shall be taken or Santiago searchlights, had come up from Key West and Com- believed, tance of either Havana Castle has no so that a scout for the Spanish fleet. Gradually Dewey, it is will be able to on Spain's recent note requesting them intercept Cer- modore Watson had transferred his the lights mysterious Spanish squadron and at the same time ADMIRAL CERVERA night operation of this character could winked their take care of the if to protest jointly against the Cuban it by any pos- pennant to her from the Mayflower. message and went out and then there sent against him, and meantime the blockade. vera's squadron should IS be executed without the Spaniards be- After long continued signaling the New was left not a trace of the fleet. SURELY TRAPPED ing made aware of it. Taking every- Wednesday morning York about 11 o'clock turned and head- All the fleet There is No Possibility of the Es- thing into account naval officers feel along the The lopped along to the westward, idly re- a ed eastward coast. In- position that Admiral Cervera committed diana, tracing its path. The was at cape of the Fleet From fell in just behind and then the junction of old Bahama and San- fatal blunder in being trapped at San- Mayflower, the Santiago. no trap Newport, Vicksburg and taren channels, and seemed well SCHLEY'S SHIPS IN CIENFUEGOS HARBOR. tiago and that there is fear the Wilmington. chosen to intercept an enemy who "WASHINGTON, May 26.—Naval on- will prove inadequate to hold the Span- • Slowly the line of warships steamed sought passage to the Atlantic coast cers are now turning their attention to ish warships^ along with Dewey the United States. The morning inquiries possible for the in their warke. of manner, Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett. whether itis Ad- Cojimar was passed, passed, in this the fleet not miral Cervera to get out of Santiago then Matanzas and five AMERICANS MUST Cardenas light was moving more than knots an hour. They hold then given a wide The cruiser New Orleans about noon harbor. that this maneuv*f Iberth to the south. At Carders, a big .'\u25a0 place flying is impossible, and being so, the career HAVE PATIENCE deserted I her with the KEY WEST, May 26.—Five ships of Commodore Schley's squadron entered the har- black cruiser came cracking along division and went alongside the New of the Spanish admiral is at an end, from the northwest and joined the pro- York. After an interchange of signals bor of Cienfuegos on Tuesday and steamed all around it without drawing the fire of any so far as it constitutes a menace IfThey Desire a Naval Battle Before cession. Itproved to be the New Or- at close range the New Orleans turned against our ships. The British com- Invading Cuba, So Says disappeared eastward, going leans, just from the north. She was fol- and soon Spanish battery. Then the warships filled their bunkers with coal. ment that Admiral Hornby, In1855, had Sagasta. by at a sixteen-knot gait. Shortly after lowed the gunboat Machlas. At last steamed ahead -in the escaped with his entire fleet from a har- NEW YORK, May 26.—A Madrid dis- was on the Vesuvius di- This news was brought here by a torpedo-boat, which came to Key West from the fleet off its mission in the rection of Key West/after taking some bor under similar conditions, and that patch states that Ragasta says there teeth of a gale, which covered the dispatches flagship. The mo- to make tight at Snntiago unless Cer- spray. from the . Cienfuegos at full speed, bringing dispatches from the Commodore, On the day before en- Admiral Cervera should b^ able will be no decks with During the night, notony of the afternoon was broken by escape when he gets ready to lo »o, vera desires it. The Americans will was one, of Amphitrite his another stormy the the arrival the monitor tering insurgents, for not accepted. The naval view here find the Santiago forts and ships wry sight of the tow the transport Panther. They Cienfuegos harbor the fleet established communication with the is (which\ Dewey lost fleet. No lights in of is just the contrary. It is pointed out different from those destroyed at Ma- shown, turned and followed the fleet westward in were and we were warned not When whose use 30,000 rounds of ammunition were landed. The insurgents were found need that Admiral Hornby escaped from an nila. Ifthe Americans are waiting for too along the Cuban coast. the to come near. When dawn of Tues- Dewey this afternoon it open bay, must a naval battle before attempting to in- day ship "left the' fleet thirty pairs while Admiral Cervera not a was In sight, \u25a0 Francis, shoes, to by they says, came but was Just off Kay \u0084 where :it of and were contributed them the American sailors. through a channel about 300 vade Cuba willneed, he con- noon the entire fleet was • < come about made commanded three |channels, but it was yards wide, on which the American siderable patience. but flead ahead.SQlng i.ajonj: at eajy. .SlftwlX.m.Qyiaa.^e.fltward. ;;\u25a0 r;; -;rif\u25a0<-<•: