Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-18

alleged orders Of Spain stopping her tor
pedo fleet at this Canary Islands resulted
from negotiations now on between the two
countries Is denied. The positive statement
OF Secretary Long that the orders to the
Massachusetts, and the Texas were not a
concession to Spain. and the fact that the
movement o; these vessels Is actually in
line of preparation for possible hostflitfes,
dfsposes Of that end OF the alleged under
standing. 1t Is stated positively on excel
lent authority that this government knows
nothing about the torpedo flset having been
stopped at the Canaries. 1t may be assert
ed on authority that there is nothing in the
movements of the naval vessels or in the
steps being. taken at the department in
preparation for an emergency to indicate
that the strain between the two countries
has been relieved in any way.
The sams is true as to the preparations in
progress In the War Department The de-
partments are down to the systematic
work of preparation and consequently there
at first. but there Is no let up in the ac-
tivity OF preparations.
Spanish Electioneering Device.
1t is not acknowledged at the depart
ments that any negotiations have put a
is there any evidence that such Is the case.
On the contrary. thu alleged semi official
utterances printed in dispatches from Mad
rid indicate hostile spirit In Spain which
is not reassuring. The declaration that the
Spanish flag shall continue to float over the
Island of Cuba is. Of course, to be expect
ed. Spain would. of course, say nothing
else until she had actually drawn down
that flag. But the assertion that Spain
will not pay indemnity for the loss of the
Maine is one that 1t was unnecessary to
make in advance of the demand being made
by this government and 1t is construed as
intended TO make display of a threatening
attitude. 1t is Lot thought that the purpose
Of it is to impress this government, but
rather that it is for the benefit of the
Weylerites and for effect upon the cleo
ions.
At the same time 1t is regarded as not ju-
dicious In the Sasasta government to as
sumo SO defiant an attitude for any pur-
pose. and, at all events, while such def
ancss are being uttered the situation can
not be said to have become more pacific.
Apparently nothing has developed officially
to render the outlook more warlike. and
this government is persisting in the as
sumption that Spain will act with wisdom
and propriety whsn the crisis comes.
Spain Must Dissimulnte.
One thing which may explain the de-
hant tone of the alleged semi official ut
terances emanating from the Spanish gov
ernment is that it Is understood that the
Spanish minister here has intlmated to
the State Department that the Sagasta
government is compelled. in order to salts
fy the demands of the Weylerites and to
meet the political emergency in Spain. to
assume q much less friendly and more
deilant attitude than that government in
tends to maintain. This, however, does
Eot tend to improve the situation, since 1t
disclosed purpose of deception not cal
culated to increase the confidence of this
government in the good intentions of Sa-
gasta- Ii the Sagasta ministry will indi-
cate an intention to betray a part of their
own people. it is not thought that they
VIII be more sincere in dealing with a
foreign people whom they regard as enc
n,ies. The thing sounds too much like u
proposition: Let me pull your nose to i'm
press that other fellow. l won't mean it,
you know
1t is said that this intimation having
ccme to the ears of the President has no-
made a very good impression on him.
Torpedo Boat DestrOyers Wanted.
The Navy Department has by no means
suspended It's efforts to obtain possession
or desirable warships abroad, and in no
direction is there visible any relaxation of
the steadily pursued purpose of the Navy
and War departments to provide for the
defense OF the country against hostile at
tack. The formation of the new squadron
at Hampton Roads is in itself only the lat
est manifestation OF activity in this di-
rection. being the outcome of the delibera-
tions of the strategy board which has been
sitting almost daily at the Navy Depart
nent for some time past.
Another conclusion of the board, which
it is desired to put in force as soon as
possible, is that the navy must be re-
irforced by a number of torpedo boat de-
stroyers, not torpedo boats. These are
vessels Of about 800 tons displacement,
from their size able to keep the sea al
most as well as cruiser. With the enor-
nous speed of thirty knots an hour and
an offensive armament of quick firing guns
equal to the average gunboat, 1t is said that
the power of such craft is certainly very
great. Perhaps they may be the ideal
naval craft. One distinguished naval OFF,
Ger, an expert In ordnance matters, ex-
presses the opinion that two such torpedo
beat destroyers might destroy the biggest
battle snip in the world. If they stood ready
to run the risk of being sunk themselves.
All that would be necessary for them to
do would be to hold the battle ship in
sight during the daylight hours. which
they could do easily. owing to their su-
perior speed, and when darkness had come
to attack the battle ship from opposite di-
rections simultaneously at full speed with
torpedoes.
None 10 be Obtained.
Such considerations as these have infiu-
enced the board to recommend the procure
ment Of Us many of these boats as possible
and as soon as possible. But SO far the
department has been unable to buy any
abroad, and, while four torpedo boats of
the larger class Of thirty knots speed al
most equal to the destroyer type are build
ing in this country, they cannot be COM
pleted for many months to come. A repre-
sentative of one of the largest English tor
pedo boat firms, now in Washington, says
that our government has been too narrow
minded in alloting money for such boats.
Although 1t Is a weu-recognized fact that