The San Francisco call., 1898-04-27

N ptuO DOuIlQ west, anu IL IS pre- V q sumed that they were Spanish q q vessels. q q These reports seem to tally q q with other advices that the q q Spanish battle ship Pelayo, q q which sailed ostensibly for St. q q Vincent. was really dispatched . . with torpedo boats for the . . American coast q q . . ooUo ooo .
 NEW YORK, April 26.-A Washing ton special to the Herald says: Au- thoritative information has reached here that Spain, anticipating the issu- ance of a neutrality proclamation by France, has removed the battleship Numancia from Toulon to Ca thagena. The vessel was lowed from Toulon yes- terday and it is understood that every effort will be made by the Spaniards to put her into condition for service as promptly as possible.
 There is considerable speculation in maya. circles as to the whereabouts of the battlesLip Pelayo and the armored cruiser Carlos V. The Pelayo left Ca dig on koril r, nine uavs ago, ostensi- bly for Cape Verde Islands and the Carlos V sailed from Ferrol on April 20, six days ago, her destinat on beng officially announced as Cadiz.
 Officials say that if the Pelayo were bound for Cape Verde Islands she should have reached her destination several days ago. It is admitted to be possible that the two ships may have met and are now on a cruise against American shipl ing.
 The Columbia and Minneapolis which are swifter than either of the Spanish vessels, are now at sea looking for any of the enemyS warShipS or auxiliary cruisers, and should a superior force be sighted they will at once dash for the nearest port, and the flying squadron will be sent to give battle to the enemy.
 No official adviceS have yet been re- ceived of the departure of the Spanish fleet from St. Vincent. Official infor mation was received some days ago that Spains second torpedo fleet was about to sail from Cadiz, but the of ficials are unable to say whither it has gone.
 The naval plan of campaign against Cuba contemplates a ruse de guerre when the proper time arrives for the seizure of the port desired as base of operations against Havana.
 While several men-ofWar will make demonstration against Havana or an other port, a strong fleet of WarsLlpS will be engaged in shelling the point picked out as the proper base, and force of 2000 marines and bluejackets will be landed under their fire.
 It is expected that the insurgents will cooperate with the navy, and it is not believed in naval circles that much trouble will be experienced in the cap ture of the port.
 While the navy has practically made all necessary preparations, the army is disposed to wait until fall before com mencing active operations It is ad mitted in all circles that it is neces- sary to secure base through which supplies can be sent to the insurgents, and once it has been occupied by American marines it will be necessary to send an army of 15000, as stated in the Herald, to hold 1t against any force which General Blanco may send against it.
 So far as any combined operations on the part of the army and navy are con- cerned, however, nothing has yet been determined. It is the expectation of the authorities that the Cubans will drive the Spanish troops into Havana and other points and will be able to take such ports as are not strongly gar risoned.
 According to advices received here, General Blanco has already begun the abandonment of the trocha and is col lecting his troops in Havana, where he will await the arrival of relief expected to be brought by the Spanish fleet.
 Naval authorities are extremely anxious that the army shall at once begin offensive operations by sending formidable force to Cuba, and then, with the aid of the insurgents, making an attack on Havano while the navy co-operates by attacking the city from the sea.
 President Mckinley, Secretary AL ger. Major General Miles, Adjutant- General Corbin and Brigadier- General Shafter, who has been selected for the command of 15,000 troops to be landed in Cuba, will hold a conference to-mor- row. Final arrangements will then be perfected for the conduct of the pro- posed plan.
 As at present determined upon, it is understood that the military will be transported to the Cuban base in yes sells conveyed b. men-of war and will aid the marines in fortifying it. Once this has been accomplished 1t will be an easy matter to ship into the in- terior an ample quantity of supplies of all kinds for the use of the Cuban in- Sureents.
 When this work has been completed 1t Is highly probable, as the Herald forecasted this morning, that the arm- ored ships of the North Atlantic squad ron will be relieved from blockading duty and will join the armored ships of Commodore Schley's fleet. The com bined force will then be ready to give battle to the Spanish fleet, which will by that time, it is expected, have been for some days out from Cape Verde Islands.
 While no effective blockade of Porto Rico has yet begun, I have it on erelia- ble authority that American men-of- war have been cruising in that neigh borhood for several days.
 Members of the naval war board have prepared a pl.n of operations against