The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 10, 1898, Page 1

Call ———— N — VOLUME LXXXIII.—NO. 161. SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 189S. Admiral Sampson’s Fighting Ships, the New York PRICE FIVE CENTS. SAMPSON LYING IN WAIT FOR THE SPANISH FLEET EXPECTS TO ENGAGE IT IN Leading. AMERICAN ARMY TO BE LANDED IN CUBA BY SUNDAY NEXT First Detachment of a Force of Sixty-One Thousand Men Will Soon Be Marching Upon NEW YORK, May 9.—The Her- 1ld’s Washington correspondent tele- graphs: All necessary preparations were made to-day in the War Depart- ment to send an army, consisting of both volunteers and regulars, of over 31,000 men to invade Cuba. The first detachment of this army will be in Cuba by Sunday next and will immediately establish a base of supplies for United States troops. The entire policy of the adminis- tration has been changed since the day the news of Admiral Dewey’s great victory rcached Washington. From a defensive plan of operation the Governmen: has now taken a most aggressive stand. In the Cabi- net meeting to-day final arrange- ments were made which it is hoped will culminate in the capture by the United States army and navy of all the Spanish possessions. It was de- rided by the President and his Cabi- aet that it would be much better to await a report from Admiral Samp- son before the grand invasion of Cuba was begun. I am informed that the administration fully expects to receive a definite report from Ad- miral Sampson by Thursday of this week, and it is hoped that in this re- port the danger hitherto experienced from the Spanish armada will be en- tirely eliminated. As soon as this ceport is received at the Navy De- sartment orders will be immediately sent to General Shafter, commanding the regular army at Tempa, Fla., to move at once upon Cuban soil. When the regular army has de- parted from Tampa orders will be sent to 45,000 volunteer troops which are to be this week mobilized at Chickamauga to at once advance in three divisions to Tampa, Mobile wmd New Orleans. It is believed General Shafter and 2is army will be able in one short Havana. and decisive engagement to capture a base of supplies and to force a junction with the army of General Gomez. Captain Dorst, who has just returned to the United States from | Cuba, has made all necessary prepa- rations in regard to such a juncture | between United States troops and | their Cuban allies. General Gomez |has at present complete knowledge | of the military plans of the United | States and he is gathering his army preparatory to joining the first force of United States regulars. General Shafter, as soon as his first work has been accomplished, will immediately send a report to the War Department and orders will be sent by Secretary Alger to General Wade, who will be in command of 45,000 troops concentrated at Tam- pa, Mobile and New Orleans, to at once begin the transportation of his army to join the command of Gen- eral Shafter. Preparations for hav- ing a sufficient number of transports on hand at these three points are be- ing rushed by the quartermaster general of the army. Not the slight- est difficulty is expected from this source. The entire invading army after concentration in Cuba will be divided into three corps, commanded re- spectively by Major-General Wade, Major-Genera. Coppinger and Major- General Shafter. Owing to the strong desire which has been expressed by General Miles to be commander in chief of the army actively engaged in Cuba, he and his entire staff will be at the head of the army when the attack on Havana is begun. General ‘Wade, being the senior major-general of the three corps commanders, will rank as second in command. I am also assured that General Fitzhugh Lee, at his own most urg- ent request, will be in command of a | division of the Cuban army. Fight- |ing Joe Wheeler will in all proba- bility be in command of the cavalry in Cuba. So anxious is the War Department to expedite the movements of tne in- vading army that it will not wait for the volunteer army to be fully equipped with the regulation uni- form. Those troops already sup- plied with uniforms from their na- tional guard service will be expected to use the same while in Cuba. In case a regiment lacks the necessary equipment it will be supplied by the quartermaster’s department with plain blue blouses. These will con- stitute their uniforms. The Government has already pro- vided all necessary weapons and am- munition for those volunteer troops not already equipped. No difficulty will be experienced in this regard. LONG’S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMODORE DEWEY. Remarkable for Their Terseness, Conciseness and Compre- hensiveness. WASHINGTON, May 9.—It has been known for some time to a few people in the administration circles and at the Navy Depcrtment that the orders sent to Admiral Dewey under which he made the attack on Manila were re- markable for terseness, conciseness and comprehensiveness. Efforts to secure the text of the order have been un- availing up to to-day, when the Presi- dent referred to it In a message sent to Congress by him relative to the thanks to Dewey. This made 1t proper to be published as part of the record under which Congress was to proceed. This is the text of the order: WASHINGTON, A) Dewey, Hongkong, China: = War has commenced between Spain and the United States. Proceed at once to Philippine Islands. Commence n&eflflom at once, garneuln.rly against the Spanish fleet. ‘ou must capture vessels or destroy them. Use utmost LVors. LONG. o ril 24, TORPEDO-BO Flight Spanish a Spirited KEY WEST, Fla.,, May 9.—There wa: rejoicing here to-night when the dis patch-boat brought news of an en- | counter that took place off Cardenas | Bay yesterday afternoon between the torpedo-boat Winslow and three Span- ish gunboats, in which one of the gun- boats was apparently disabled and all were put to flight. The Winslow was steaming in with that in her demeanor that hinted that she had no intention of stopping right away. There was agitation in the sig- nal statfon, and in a short time flags fluttering hysterically spread the mes- sage that the American vessel was nearly to the range buoy. Three gunboats slipred their cables and ran bravely out to their safety limit. Every Spaniard aboard expected to see the American blown out of the water. Three 6-pounders crackled and three shells threw waterspouts about the Winslow, but she was not struck. The Winslow drove straight ahead, attacking the boats. Lieutenant Ber- nadou no sooner saw the first white smokepuffs from the Spanish guns than he gave the word to the men already stationed at the two forward one- pounders, which barked viciously and flotilla. On plunged the Winslow to within 1500 yards of the gunboats, while the row raised by the rapid-fire one- pounders was like a rattling tattoo. The Spaniards were apparently stag- gered at this fierce onslaught, single handed, and fired wildly on seeing their pretty plan all gone wrong. The Wins- low now swung around broadside to bring her two after-guns to bear as the Spanish fleet scattered, and lost their formation. The Winslow soon maneuvered so that she was —~npering at all three gunboats at once. The sea was very heavy, and the knifelike torpedo rolled so wildly that it was Impossible to do good gun practice from her decks; but despite this big handicap, the rapidity of her fire and remarkable effectiveness under the circumstances demoralized all three opponents, which, after the AT WINSLOW FIGHTS THREE WARSHIPS Small American Craft Puts to Gunboats After Encounter. | Winslow had fired about fifty shells, i began gradually to work backward to- ward the shelter of the harbor. They were still hammering away with their 6-pounders, but after the first fire were wild, and seemed to be vaguely shooting at the wide, wide world. Sev- eral shells nassed over the Winslow and one exploded 100 feet astern, but the others were shorter, considerably off one side. At last one pound shell from the ‘Winslow went fair and true and struck the hull of the gunboat Pinzon a little aft of amidships, apparently exploding on the inside. The Winslow men yelled. The Pinzon stopped, evidently dis- abled, while one of her comrades went to her assistance. By this time the Spanish boats had retreated nearly to a position where they could not be followed because of mines and torpedoes. The Pinzon got under way slowly and limped homeward with the help of a -tow line from her consorts During this episode the Machias re- turned and when within the two mile range let fly two 4-inch shells from her starboard battery which accelerated the Spanish flight. The Winslow’s crew was indignant at this interruption of their sport. and one of the gunners said to Ensign Bag- ley: *‘Signal the Machias to clear out, sir, and let us have a show.” But the flotilla managed to creep back into Cardenas harbor in safety. MADRID, May 9.—An official dis- patch from Havana asserts that an American cruiser and a large torpedo- boat attempted to force the Cardenas channel and opened fire on the Span- ish gunboats Antonio Lopez, Ligra and Alerta. After a half-hour's engage- ment ‘the American warships, the dis- patch says, were “forced to retreat.” ‘Hempmill Destroyed. GRIDLEY, May 9.—The large hempmill belonglnfi to John Heaney on Feather River, three miles northeast of here, cnugg:mfln to‘—,dr' !romdl hot journal. m lnm'll an .d-mworthof ANOTHER DAY MAY Officials Are NEW YORK, May 9.—The Herald’s Washington correspondent telegraphs: Having definite information that the | Spanish fleet which leit St. Vincent ten | days ago is not at the Canaries or al} Cadiz, the authorities confidently pre- | dict that Rear-Admiral Sampson will | engage it in battle within the next | forty-eight hours. In this event the | battle will occur in the vicinity of Sani Juan. | There are two other points at which | the enemy may first make its appear- ance—in the track of the battle-ship Oregon and her consorts, the gunboat Marietta and the cruiser Nictheroy, which arrived to-day at Bahia, Brazil. or along the North Atlantic coast _of the United States. But the necessity of securing coal will compel it to ulti- | mately proceed to its base i"A }’on?} Rico, and there it will fin | awaiting it | its fate in the shape of a division of the | North Atlantic squadron under com- | mand of Rear-Admiral Sampson. This has been a.dav of exciting ru- mors at the Department. It was posi- | tively announced at the close of ofiice; | hours that there has been no engace- | ment as reported; that the Montgomery | had not been pursued by the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, and that consequently Rear-Admiral Samnson’s fleet and none:| of its members had been destroyed. | That startling news is expected mo- isting in official circles. Confident that Rear-Admiral Sampson with the force at his disposal will be able to crush the Spanish squadron, the Naval War Board, which was in session to-day, did not concern itself so much with his | movements as with ¢ plan to be adopt- | ed to secure the safety of the battle-ship | Oregon and the vessels accompanying | her. As soon as the announcement of | the arrival of the battle-ship at Bahia, Brazil, was received at the Department from Captain Clarke, her commanding officer, the matter was at once referred to the board, and as the result of its deliberations there is reason to believe that instructions have been sent to Cap- tain Clarke for his observance. The board for the first time was assisted in its deliberations by Captain A. T. Ma- han, retired, who reported to Secretary Long this morning and was immediatey assigned to duty with the board. What instructions have been given to Captain Clarke it is impossible to learn. In any event the neutrality pro- ! claimed by Brazil will only permit of | his stay in Brazilian waters until to- | morrow, when he will resume his jour- | ney north. It is highly ~robable that | the Oregon will not touch at any other Brazilian ports, but will proceed at once to join Rear-Admiral Sampson’s fleet, while the Mariet*s and the Nic- | theroy will continue to Key West or Norfolk. From to-morrow on the Oregon and her consorts will be in grave danger. If lying in wait for the American men- of-war it is beileved that the Spanish ships will station themselves under the lee of the island of Fernando No- ronha, to ‘the eastward of Cape San Roque, and from there.conduct their operations. It was recalled to-day that Rear-Admiral J. C. Walker, retired, | when a member of the War Board, strenuously urged that a force be sent, to join the Oregon, but his advice was not accepted. The official view to-night is that the Spanish fleet is at some point in the Windward Islands, which are to the | mentarily is shown by the tension ex- | south of Porto Rico. If that be so their presence will shortly be reported by the American scouts which are pa- SAN JUAN SEE THE FIGHT All Confident of Victory—The Ore- gon’s Danger. trolling along the decree of latitude to the northward of the Barbadoes. It was pointed out to me to-day that ten days have elansed since the fleet left St. Vincent, and, going at the rate of ten knots an hour, they should by this time have covered the distance to San Juan. Another official with whom I talked called my attention to the fact that when the Vizcaya and the Almirante Oquendo sailed for the Cape Verde Islands from San Juan they left the latter port on April 8 and did not reach their destina- tion until April 22. It was possible, this expert thought, that the Spanish fleet on its voyage to San Juan might consume an equal period. In this event the American and Spanish fleets will not sight each other before Thursday or Friday. It is considered highly probable in naval circles that the Spanish fleet may find re-enforcements awaiting it at the Windward Islands. Just before the blockade of Cuba was inau~urated it was estimated from official reports that there were sixty-five _Spanish men-of- war in Cuban and Porto Rican waters. Of these vessels but seven outside of the cruisers are considered worthy of at- tention. These are torpedo-gun vessels and torpedo-boats which fled from Cu- ban waters before the blockade com- menced. The Depar nent has been ad- vised of the presence of Spanish vessels in the West Indies from time to time, and it has been heliavad that these were ships that escaped from Cuba. It may be that they are under instructions to join the Cape Verde squadron and will accompany it to San Juan. So far as can be learned, however, the programme hitherto given in the Terald of permitting the Spanish fleet to enter San Juan, where it will be kept bottled up, has not been changed. nor will it be unless circumstances should arise dictating other action. On account of the accuracy with which the newspapers have been outlin- ing the naval rlans of the campaign, the Department issued to-day this official order: “In accordance with the recommenda- tion of the Naval War Board all offi- cers and employes of the Navy Depart- ment are hereby forbidden to furnish information as to matters pertaining or bearing upon the conduct of the war to any person or persons not connected with the Department, or to any news- paper or other publication, unless au- thorized to do so by the Department.” ARMS AND SUPPLIES FOk THE INSURGENTS. Second Expedition Sent by the Gov- ernment to Aid the Cuban Forces. TAMPA, Fla., May 9.—The steamer Glssie, one of the Mallory line boats, chartered by the Government for use as a transport, will sail for Cuba before morning, loaded with arms, ammuni- tion and supplies furnished by the United States Government for the use of the Cuban insurgents. A company of 100 United States troops from the First Regiment of Infantry will ac- company the expedition and aid in guarding the landing of the valuable cargo, and will, if necessary, penetrate into the interior far enough to place the supplies in the hands of the insur- gents. The expedition will be in charge of Captain W. H. Dorst, General Miles’ aid, who has just returned from Cuba. 8 e The Monocacy Must Leave. PEKING, May 9.—In consequence of the declaration of neutrality by China in the war between the United States and Spain the Tsung La Yamen has requested the United States steamer Monocacy to leave Shanghal.