The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-21
SPANS RESERVE FLEET.
A German War Correspondents Sarcastic
Description.

A German War Correspondent t's Sarcastic
Description.
SPANS preparations for war have not
excited the admiration of German ex-
perts who have had an opportunity to
inspect them, and the Army and Navy
Journal reprints the following descrip-
ton OF what the Spaniards are doing at
Cadiz. as seen by Eugene Wolf. a cor
respondent of the Berlin T%ageblatt:
Three long days and the greater part
Of as many nights I nave spent in the
harbor OF Cadiz and in her dock yards.
l saw some formidable ~intrenchments
going up at the northern end of the bay,
at Rota. The dam at the south end OF
the city Is being strengthened and for
tilted, and three batteries nave been
erected. A naval officer told me Cadiz
had Is or IS new krupp guns. Whether
there is any ammunition for these guns
! could not learn. The Cadiz people
doubt IL. Another matter which Is quite
serious: Gun practice seems to be a
lost art In Cadiz. ! have not heard a
shot fired during the week l am here.
The present captain general does not
think much Of it, said a black-eyed
sonora to me. 1t is so hard on one's
nerves and such a waste of powder be-
sides
"A waste Of powder indeed. The
governor general of the Philippines
must have been of the same opinion.
II am almost ashamed of this letter.
l was sent out to report war, OF at least
war preparations: and, though l search
ed high and low, ! cannot discover any.
l came to this city from Cologne. the
Rhenish fortress, and j vow hat l saw
more var preparations there in a day
han ! did here in a week. The soldiery
Is lounging about; army officers are
gambling. flirting and smoking ciga-
rettes. / hoped to find the captain gen.
eral on a bed of laurels. and found him
in a forest of orange blossoms. His in
timation of war secrets was a mere
bluff There are no secret prepara-
ions. IL there were any, l would have
seen them.
The spot where Cadiz is mortal Is it's
water supply, or rather its want of the
commodity. The city has few wells.
and 30 per cent. of the necessary water
comes from Santa Maria. which is six
miles distant to the north by sea and
10 miles by rail-"
Under date Of May 3 Mr.. Wolf writes
as follows:
asst ! have seen the Spanish Ar
mazda No. 2. or the reserve fleet The
Spaniards call 1t the new Armada. 1t
consists of the Pelayo. Alphonso XII.
the Vittoria. the Normannia, formerly
owned by the Hamburg line: the CO.
lumbia. one torpedo boat destroyer and
a torpedo boat. The Carlos ", an iron
clad. is on the way here.
The Pelayo Is a fine ironclad. II
makes a good impression. There are
four big guns on deck and a good many
smaller ones at the sides. The Span
iards regard this ship with almost SUI
perstitious veneration. Pictures of her
are everywhere; the general public
thinks her the fastest and most formid-
able craft afoat. But I have been talk-
ing with people who know the Pelayo
well. and l gather from their intima-
ton and hints that she is one of those
bellies who are beautiful only when in
repose. she has a bad walk on her. as
they say. For that reason the Pelayo
has never been taken around much.
She only shows off in the safety OF har-
bors, and then is much admired. Only
once did she venture out to sea. i am
told. and the experiment was disastrous.
The Alphonso XII. Is a good enough
cruiser. of which little good or bad 10
said. The Vittoria Is a su-perannuated
lady OF not uncertain age. She looks
her years all over. They are fixing her
up. though. She has received new boil
ers OF late and new guns; but. after all.
TO quote an English naval officer whom
i met here. She resembles one Of the
old horses used at the bull fights. There
In little doubt that she will tumble over
OF the first rush of the bull
But I must not forget the brand new
iron clad which has been building OPP
posite the arsenal for the last 10 years.
A week ago she was far enough ad-
vanced to receive her boilers, but the