Show SPANISH FLEET F ESCAPES F ANnIS HEADED fOR CUBA Enemys Swift Cruisers Are Sailing Right Around Admiral Sampsons Squadron UNLESS SPEEDILY HEADED OFF WILL RAISE THE CUBAN BLOCKADE 1 Sampson Will Soon Be Joined By Commodore Schleys Squadron andthe Battleship Oregon r ape Haytien May 14 Copyrighted If 1S9S by the Associated PressThe steamer Supply formerly the American Ameri-can steamer Illinois under command of Lieutenant Roberts from Philadelphia Philadel-phia arrived bere at 53CT oclock today Upon his arrival Lieutenant Roberts wired to Admiral Sampson for orders Admiral Sampson is at Puerto Plata on the north coast of Santo Domino He communicated today with the American consul at Cape Haytien Washington May 14 Definite official offi-cial Information reached the authorities here late this afternoon that the Spanish i Span-ish squadron has been sighted off the I Island of Curacao one of the Dutch West Indies lying off the coastof Venezuela I Ven-ezuela This information was regarded as of vital importance as It not only fixed the position of the enemy but disclosed the purpose of the Spanish admiral to elude Admiral Sampsons fleet and make his way through the Carribean probably to Cuba The island isl-and of Curacao was originally Spanish and is peopled mainly l > y descendants of Spaniards though it is now one of the Dutch possessions The Spanish J admirals course was also influenced by the fact that the French cable starting j from Caracas Venezuela touches at tne island of Curacao and thence proceeds pro-ceeds northward through the Cambe an to Hayti with spurs running east and west to Porto Rico and Cuba respectively re-spectively He is thus enabled to get in touch from Curacao with the Spanish Span-ish authorities In Cuba and Porto Rico I and throuch them directly with the 1 Spanish admiralty at Madrid No immediate battle with Admiral Sampsons fleet is expected as the Spaniards as seems likely have succeeded suc-ceeded in oassinc south of the American Amer-ican fleet and are now well to the westward west-ward of it As the enemy Is In reach of the cable the navy department regards it as of the most vital concern that the exact whereabouts of the American ships should not be disclosed during the next few days Thus far they have felt handicapped by the fact that the Spanish Span-ish admiral knew the whereabouts of our ships while we were in doubt as to the locality of his ships The officials offi-cials here regard It as essential during dur-ing the next few days to reverse this condition so that the Spanish admiral I will be moving in the dark while our officers will be posted as to his movements II move-ments through the Carribean The de pai ment doubtlcss is informed as to I tne whereabouts of Admiral Sampsons squadron but it does not see fit to give any information on the subject and the same rigid silence prevails as to the whereabouts and destination of Commodore Schleys flying squadron The Kime has reached such a critical stage that premature publication as to the whereabouts of our ships might cause inestimable loss and failure of j present plans I OREGON IS SAFE In one respect the maneuver of the Spanish fleet is a relief to the naval officials here as it tends to show the safety of the battleship Oregon She is proceeding from the north coast of South America to join Sampsons fleet and is somewhere in the neighborhood of Martinique Had the Spanish squadron squad-ron remained at that point there would have been serious danger that the Oregon Ore-gon would have been intercepted now however she is well out of the way of the Spaniards so long as she follows the usual route MAY RAISE BLOCKADE t It is not to be supposed that the rI < j y department with a knowledge oft of-t p whereabouts of the Spanish fleet 1 I Is going to allow any OJ its hard 1 v i rk ° d little cruisers and gunboats er P31d In blockade duty on the Cuban c ast to fall victims to the huge Span ifi ironclads Their commanders will be prmptly advised of the approach cf the Spaniards and it may be set i dcwn as sure that unless the department I depart-ment is satisfied that Sampson orS i or-S hley can head off and crush the i Fpanifrh fleet the Cuban blockade yes i s ° li will be given permission to take care of themselves and get out of harms way I 1HE LATEST FAILURE The determined attack made by the Marbl I head and other vessels on the j 1ea ua onfr i ocean cable running seaward from lonuegos shows that the government finds i necessary to cut off all comma ncaUcn between Captain General Bliiico at Havana and Spain by cable That the effort was not wholly successful success-ful Tias owing to the appearance of a sujrcrrir force of infantry aided by n3i pIne guns which appeared to have t kcn the American sailors In the boats cnta c d < in cablecutting by surprise They v ere prepared to risk a few rifle shots but not the murderous fire of Maxims However Captain McCalla who is noted for determination and courage if for any quality it can bet be-t nl for granted win not abandon the task until he has succeeded Considering Consid-ering the great strategic value of such a rmve the loss sustained by the Am rcan vessels was insignificant and th > nture was certal ily warranted t > the results Once lilanco is pre xtnled from communicating with Spun as well as with Porto Rico it j Is e ected their discouragement wills will-s t ir and this campaign consequently rill have an earlier conclusion I t At a late hour tonight ofilcIals of the navy department stated that they had k rrrcived no information of Admiral I Sampsons fleet beyond the Associated Press dispatch announcing its arrival at Porto Plato Porto Plata Is a small seaport on tile North Dominican coast I The French cable line runs through this port and also runs down to Cura rca where the Spaniards were sighted Admiral Sampson probably will put in at Cape Haytien and It is from there the first official report from him is expected ex-pected From Puracoa to > P < rfo PIta Is a straight line distant e of abou 503 miles 9rt rt = f though going through the Mona passage i I pass-age and circling around the cetral part of the North Dominican i coast to I Porto Plata l it would probably be about COO miles This indicates the stretch I separating the two fleets Since last heard from Admiral Sampson has covered cov-ered a distance of between 250 and 300 miles From Porto Plata to Havana in which direction Admiral Sampson is now going is 760 miles The Spanish fleet Is now approximately based on a straight line calculation about 1200 miles from Havana To reach which however she would have to go through the windwardjpassage and risk a battle I with Sampsons fleet |