CHASING CERVERA 305 however, no reason to suppose that they ventured on an act that might have involved them in trouble with England. Cables have an awkward way of getting out of order at critical junctures, just as in the anxious days of the Jameson Raid the British South African cableceased to work.

his lighter ships to watch the Windward and Mona Passages, by which it was expected that Cervera might make a dash for Havana or for the North Atlantic.

Schley received orders at the same time to cooperate to the soutn of Cuba, and steamed full speed from Key West,making for the Yucatan Passage, at the west end of the great island, between it and the mainland. As soon as he had coaled his ships, Sampson steamed eastwards along the north of Cuba, with his scouts well in advance, ready to engage Cervera if he should make a dash either for Havana or At five in the afternoon of the next day (Thursday) another Spanish torpedo boat, the Terror, ran boldly into St. Pierre in the daylight. The appearance of these messengers of the fleet was proof sufficient that it could not be far off, and in the sunset light of the same "INFORMATION WANTED!" (Reproducedfroma Cartoon in the" New ] 'orhHerald") evening those who looked out from the hills of Martinique saw four large warships heading northwards under easy steam. They were Cervera's cruiser,. The Harvard, one of the armed liners of Schley's fleet, slipped into St. Pierre the same evening, and her commander triedto get a cable message away,but was told that it wouldprobably be delayed. He was also informed that under the French neutrality proclamation he would not be allowed to leave St. Pierre for twenty-four hours after the departure of the Terror. But late in the evening the United States consul and the New York Herald correspondent were able I despatches through by way or Hayti conveying the important news. It was not till the 15th that Sampson received the news. He steamed for Key West to coal, leaving San Juan. Schley's squadron was thus actually in the island-fringed basin of the Caribbean Sea, while his scouting cruisers searched its whole extent. Sampson watched its northern outlets to the Atlantic. The accepted theoryat Washington was that the Spaniards would make for either Havana or Puerto Rico,most likely thelatter. If they went direct for Havana they would have to meet Sampson, whose squadron was qtiite capable of making a successful fight, even though it was weaker than the Spaniards in torpedo craft. If they made for San Juan they would be soon blockaded in the bay.

There was just a chance that Cervera's object was to intercept the battleship Oregon and the cruiser and gunboat accompanying her, which hadlast been heard of at Bahia and wereknown 20