The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-26

Washington. March 25.-The advance
of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla continued
to receive the closest attention of naval
officials. and while. so far as could be
ascertained, no definite line of action
was determined upon. the need of in
tercepting this fleet was urged by the
highest naval authorities.
From the standpoint of the Spanish
government, this movement was not
menace, having been decided upon
many weeks ago, On the contrary. the
Spanish government holds that the ex-
tenSive armament of the Dry TortugaS
is a more direct hostile act against
Spain than any movement of the flo
tilla- Instead of stopping the fiOtilla,
the present attitude of Spain tends to-
ward reinforcing with other Spanish
war vessels. not as a menace, but from
what the Spanish government feels is
a requirement called for by the exist
ing condition of affairs.
The flotilla is one of the most for
midable of its kind afloat and the send
ing of IT to the West Indies. at this
time is regarded as an indication of
SPANS endeavor to be prepared for
any emergency that may arise in or
near Cuba.
TIME ON THE SEA.
Naval experts are of the opinion that
under ordinary circumstances it Will
take the fiotilla about ten days to make
the Journey but it is exceedingly likely
that it will actually require several
days longer. The liability of the boats
to accident is great, particularly If they
should encounter rough weather. Then,
too, if they should be accOmpaniedsby
collier. the speed Of the fleet would
be reduced to that of the coal boat
Naval officials compare the torpedo
boats to race horses trained TO nice
ty. They are keyed up to a high pitch
for short, sharp and decisive work. and
if overtaxed. are liable to break down.
To make the trip to Porto Rico in ten
DAYS. absolutely smooth water would
be necessary.
RESERVE Is MAINTAINED.
1t is understood today that some cor
respondence with Spain through Min
lister Polo concerning the movements
of the torpedo fiOtilla is not unlikely.
The statements made yesterday to the
effect that this government might re-
gard the sending of the fiOtilla TO West
Indian waters as an unfriendly act. in
asmuch as il was evident that the
boats were not intended for use against
the Cubans, and as a matter of fact.
could be employed only against a hos
tile fleet of warships, were accumulated
today but what representations. if any.
will be made to Spain, cannot be as
certained. reserve being maintained.
MILLION DOLLARS SPENT.
By the direction of President Nc
Kinley, Secretary Long spent some
thing more than million dollars
Thursday in the purchase of u speedy
yachts and sea-going tugs, which will
be at once converted into torpedo boat
destroyers and picket boats.
In directing the purchase of yachts
and tugs, President Mckinley was
guided by the information showing
that the Spanish torpedo boat flotilla
has sailed from the Canary Islands for
Porto Rico.
Before this information came to
hand, the authorities were not willing
to pay the high prices asked by the
owners of yachts and tugs which had
been inspected and recommended for
purchase by the auxiliary cruiser
board, but the necessity of improvising
a torpedo fleet to offset that which
Spain is sending to Porto Rico was so
apparent that the president authorized
that the negotiations be closed and that
the vessels be purchased without
| further delay.
BARGAIN CLOSED.
Secretary Long at once telegraphed
Captain Rodgers, president of the
board, and received a telegram an
nouncing that the bargains had been
closed and that the vessels would at
| once be turned over to the government
at the Brooklyn navy yard.
Considerable secrecy is maintained
by the officials as to the names of the
vessels purchased and the price paid
for each. 1t is proposed that the YES
sells bought shall at once be sent to the
Brooklyn navy yard where they Will
be armored and their hulls and decks
/ strengthened and their armament
placed aboard. When completed they
will be sent Immediately to Key West,
where they will be placed under COM
mand of Captain Sampson.
NOT VIEWED FAvORABLY.
The purchase of several fast yachts
which it is proposed to transform into
the torpedo boats is not viewed with
entire favor by naval men. The vessels
the department has in view have
speed rate ranging from 16 to 20 knots,
while especially designed torpedo boats
have a speed of from "a to 80 knots. As
against regular torpedo boats, the fleet
of ''makeshifts,' as the proposed pur-
chases of the government were termsd
by a naval official. would cut a COM
paratively small figure. In the alb
sence of anything better. however, it
was conceded that the vessels, if ac-
quired by the government, would prove
of distinct value.
FORTIFYING PORTO RICO.
Word reached the navy department
officials today that the Spanish author
tiles have taken steps to supplement
the existing Notifications at San Juan
de Puerto Rico the main mort of the
island of Puerto Rico. The news is re-
garded as significant. Porto Rico is
the only other possession which belongs
to the Spanish government on this
hemisphere besides Cuba. The officials
of,the department, while acknowledging
that information of the foregoing char
acter has reached them, are very chary