The herald., 1898-04-26
FLEETS and FLOTILLA
LIE QUIETLY AT ANCHOR AS IF
SPIKED DOWN
FLYING SQUADRON WILL FLY
The Moment Some Proud Spaniard
Offers Prize at all Worth
Flying After
associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, April 26.-In spite Of per-
sistent rumors there has been no import
ant movement Of Spanish naval vessels
since the beginning of the war. The first
squadron remains at st. Vincent, Cape
Verde islands, the second squadron Is be-
lieved to be still at Cadiz and the torpedo
boat Temerario has not left the river
Plata.
The United States North Atlantic
squadron continues to blockade Cuba and
will probably be reinforced by the dyna-
mite cruiser which left Newport yester-
day. The flying squadron remains at
Hampton Roads watching the Spanish
fleet at st. Vincent. The cruisers Minne-
appolis and Columbia of the flying squad
ron reached New England yesterday. The
Columbia arrived at Newport and the
Minneapolis is off the Massachusetts,
coast. These fast cruisers are supposed to
be waiting to meet the new cruiser To-
peka and the auxiliary cruiser Paris, now
en- rout from England to New York. The
cruiser New Orleans has finished coaling
at the Brooklyn navy yard and is expected
to sail today to join the Minneapolis and
Columbia off the New England coast. The
San Francisco is nearly ready for sea and
will sail tomorrow or Thursday probably
movement of the flying squadron, no "
split in two sections will depend upon that
of the Spanish Cape Verde fotilla. which
will be compelled to leave st. Vincent In
accordance with thenneutrality law.
The Asiatic squadron, being driven from
.Hongkong by the British neutrality proc
lamation, Is at Mirsbay, China. and Is be-
lieyed to be about to attack Manila. The
battleship Oregon and the gunboat Ma
rietta. coming north along the South
American coast, are in no danger. 1t IS
believed that Spain has leased subma-
rine vessel which will be used as q mine
destroyer. The vessel. 1t is said Is the type
invented by Count Pozzo and built in
France. 1t is also reported that the vessel
will be sent to American waters.
A Junta Pilot
MIAMI, Fla, April 26.-Captain Charles
Silva, who since the beginning Of the Gu
ban war has been employed by the junta
in plotting 1libustering expeditions to the
island, has been ordered by the navy de-
partment to report for pilot duty to Ad-
miral Sampson.
= 1t is known that Admiral Sampson has
with him three other Cuban pilots who
have been engaged in the work Of land
ing expeditions.
They are Juan Sentos, Ramon Herman
dez and the latters brother, whose first
name no one seems to know. They were
all three placed at Admiral SIMPSONS ser
vice by the junta a week ago. The en-
ployment of Silva suggests an early land
ing in Cuba. 1t is a matter Of common
knowledge that Silva took the Dauntless,
Laurada. Three Friends and other vessels
on about thirty flibustering trips.
II am thoroughly acquainted with the
Cuban coast" said Captain Silva, land ]
can pilot landing party to effect juno
tion with Gomez. There would be little
more risk in it than taking ferryboat
from New York to Jersey City. Once
across an expedition that went along
would have the protection of gunboat or
cruiser anyway.
Il do not think that Admiral Sampson
can do better than capture Matanzas, and
make that port his base of operations. Yes
sells that draw no more than Is feet can &c,
right into the harbor. and the Iowa can
steam to within a mile and half Of the
forts. l have landed ilibustering expedi-
tions at Matanzas. There are Cubans all
around there, and the Spanish are not in IA
position to make very effective resistance
There are three Of the forts In the ports.
but no one need pay any attention to them,
even II they were not destroyed. think
modern ship could sail right by them.
"But IL Admiral Sampson does not wish
to destroy Matanzas he can have my SER
vices in landing forces on any part of the
island. for know its whole coast line
''The Cubans themselves can do almost
anything If Uncle Sam gives them the
material. Gomez wants the honor of cap
turing Havana himself
II see that a great point has been made
of the fact that Spain has more than fifty
vessels around Havana. There are only
four of them that could hurt any one. All
the rest are transport launches and scows.