Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-18

The Spanish naval departments are
at CadiZ, Ferrol, Cartagena NOW in the
possession of the insurgents, who have
with them the great ironclads Numan-
cia and Tetuan, and one or two more
besidesl, Havana, and the Philippines
| They have also fleets stationed in the
Mediterranean sea and in the Pacific
ocean. Since the insurgent outbreak in
| Spain their splendid marine corps has
| become seriously demoralized, and the
navy has also suffered in its esprit. a
year or two ago the Spanish navy con-
sisted of one hundred and twenty
steamers, with seven hundred and
eighty-seven cannon, and three sailing
vessels with thirty-two guns. At the
same time four more vessels were in
process of construction. At that period
the sailors OF the feet numbered fourteen
thousand and the marines five thousand
| five hundred. Circumstances have since
occurred, however, which have seriously
impaired the efficiency or both these
branches. At the present time at least
ten ships Of the Spanish navy are col
lected about Cartagena. OF these the
| republican fleet, under Admiral LObo,
comprising the Vittoria, Almansa, Villa
/ de Madrid, Carmen, and two paddle
wheel steamers, are blockading the in
| transigente fleet, which includes the
| Numancia, Tetuan, and two more. The
| Fernando el Catolica was sunk short
| time ago while in possession of the in
| transigentes. The Vittoria is the only
ironclad in Lobo's fleet. The Zara6oza,
another ironclad, is in possession of the
Spanish government; and the Arapiles,
one of the largest of this class, is at the
Brooklyn navyyard.
A bad Fish.
Mr.. Fish is the tardy member of the
cabinet. The President and most of the
others in his official circle show sensi-
tiveness on the Cuban question which
the secretary of state turns away by bis
constant suggestions on the jurispru-
denct Of the case. Mr.. Fish is the bull
wark of Spain in the cabinet. His in
telligence and understanding are supe-
rior to the rest OF the cabinet. He is the
man of authority in the administration.
The statement of the Virginius case,
which was telegraphed to you yesterday,
has since been found to be qualified by
several minor objections which Mr.. Fish
iterates. He says that he is opposed to
the annexation of Cuba to the United
States. First, because we would lose
twenty-seyen millions of revenue now
derived in our customs from Cuban
sources. He seems insensible to the
fact that those same customs would rep
resent an equal amount of relief to our
people. He says that it would cost q
vast deal to maintain government in
the large island Of Cuba. In estimating
the taxes which would carry on the ex-
penses Of the island, he says that we
should have to bear the expenses of a
fixed army there, and an additional ma
val force. He breaks out OF party rules
when he stigmatizes six hundred thou
sand of the population as ignorant and
almost helpless. He says that we are
I burdened enough in this country with
| the above class Of citizens.
A Precedent in the virgfnius Matter.
I Washington correspondence N. X. Tribune.l
The details of The interference of the
British government in 1884, to stop the
/ harbarities perpetTated in the Carlist
war, were laid before the President to-
day As pertinent precedent to be con-
sideTed in connection with the Virgin
} ius affair. The course of the British
government was the immediate conse-