St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-22
WHICH SHALL LEAD?
Secretary Herbert Will Prob
: ably Have a Complex
Problem to Settle.
Probable Contest for the
\ Honor of Leading the For
eign Vessels.
British Admiral Hopkins De-
tePmined to Have First
Place.
The Columbus CaravelS Ar
rive Safely at Hampton
Roads.

FORT MONROE, Va, April 21.-Secre-
tary Herbert will probably have COM
plex problem to solve before Monday
should the Russian admiral, now on his
way from the West Indies, arrive here
before the departure of the fleet on that
day. \ naval officer of one of the flag
ships stated today that the English
vice admiral, Sir j. o. Hopkins,
does not relish the idea of haV-
ing any but first place in the
fleet formation when it starts
for New York, which would give him
the place of honor behind the American
vessels. The Russian admiral, it is un-
derstood, ranks Admiral Hopkins, the
formers commission antedating that of
the latter, both being for the same grade.
II is believed that precedence will gov
ern in the formation. and if such should
be the case the Russian fleet
would be entitled to sail at the
head of the foreign ships, not
witnStandlng the fact that Admiral
Hopkins arrived in port first. The Eng
liSh admiral, it is said, has looked into
the matter and is determined to head the
line. Should the Russian officer persist
that he is entitled to the first place.
Admiral Hopkins will produce his COM
mission, which he has ready, promoting
HIM to the grade of full admiral, run up
his flag, salute it and thus be entitled to
lead the line. Naval officers are watch
ing with interest the outcome OF this
phase of naval procedure.
Secretary Herbert is expected toreach
here at 10 o'clock tomorrow. In the
evening he will give a dinner on board
the Dolphin to the commanding and
staff officers. Sunday evening Admiral
Hopkins will entertain the secretary
and the admirals and captains on board
the Blake. Admiral Gherardi stated to-
day that the fleet would sail at 10 O'Clock
on Monday morning for New York. The
caraVelS may be sent ahead IN convoy OF
the tug boats. This evening many
officers left for the international ball at
Norfolk The ball room was crowded
with dancers until late hour.
Arrival of the CaraveIs.
The three Columbus caravels arrived
here at half-past o'clock this morning
in tow of the three Spanish war ships,
and were received with great thunderS
of saluteS and display of flags OF the
countries represented by the fleets, and
dropped anchor at the end Of the Amer
lean line of vessels. The day could not
have been more beautiful, nor the scene
more impressive, as they came down the
Roads, decorated from jib-bOOm to tatf-
rail with the flags of CASTLE and Aragon
and Queen Isabella. standing out and
fiuttering in the gentle breeze. Ihe
little fleet were tumbled about off the
Virginia coast yesterday in lively
fashion by the northeast wind that oleW
all day, but they managed to make the
capeS early this morning, and, after
taking pilots aboerd, proceeded IN. AT
the head of the fleet vas the unpro-
tected cruiser Infanta Isabel, towing
the flagship Santa Maria, which dis
played the flag of an admiral. Behind
and mile aStern came the torpedo
vessel Neuva Espana, with the
Nina as her charge, and in the lat
ter's wake was the big black pro-
tected cruiser Reina Regente, with the
Pinta. They were t0Wed by at least a
quarter of a mile of hawSer and looked
like so many ducks sitting on the water,
the feathers of their tails plucked.
When off the fort the stars ana stripes
were brought out and Saluted by the
leaders, the fort quickly responding.
Before the Santa Maria was abreast OF
the Philadelphia the Dutch frigate Van
Speyk ran up the Spanish cOlorS and
saluted them with thirteen rounds.
Then the Russian ship General Ad-
miraI commenced to salute, and later
every flagship in the harb0r hOnored
these curi0uS-lOOking craft and the
country they came from.