The herald., 1898-04-30
A PORTUGUESE DECREE
DECLARING NEUTRALITY IN
THE PENDING WAR
THE FLEET OFF CAPE VINCENT
Should Have Sailed, but No Reliance
Can Be Placed on the Reports
Sent Out
Associated i.ress Special Wire

Associated lsress Special Wire
LISBON, April 29.-The Official Gazette
today publishes the neutrality decree of
Portugal In the war between Spain and
the United States. 1t is similar to the de-
cree issued at the time Of the outbreak Of
the Franco-Prussian war and contains six
articles:
One-Forbids the equipment Of privateers
in Portuguese waters.
Second-Forbids the entry Of privateers
into the Portuguese waters.
Third-Permits belligerents to make a
short stay at Portuguese ports.
Fourth--Deflnes legitimate trade as re-
CARDS belligerent forces and forbids trad
ing In goods which may be considered con-
traband Of war.
Ftfth-Warns Portuguese and foreigners
in Portugal against actions contrary to the
security of the state
Sixth-Refuses protection to any infring-
ers Of the decree.
The Fleet Sails
LONDON. April ss.-The Evening News
this afternoon publishes a dispatch from
ST. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, saying
the Spanish cruisers Maria Teresa. AL
mirante Oquendo. Vizcaya and Cristobal
Colon. accompanied by the Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyers Pluton. Terror and
Furor, had, at the hour the dispatch was
filed e o CLOCK this morning) just sailed IN
westerly direction, presumably going
towards Cuba. The dispatch adds that
the Spanish torpedo boats Azore. Rayo
and Ariete and the Spanish transports
San Francisco and Ciudad de Cadiz. sailed
at the same time In a northerly direction.
probably going to the Canary Islands. The
Evening News commenting on its dis
patch, says:
1.-THE import Of the cablegram Is that
the whole effective fighting force Of the
squadron has been dispatched west. while
the non -effectives and the non-combatants
are proceeding to another anchorage.
"Well informed naval authorities are
aware that the torpedo boats could not
traverse the Atlantic at the present time.
as they have not sufficient coal capacity
for a voyage to Cuba. and the risk of
coaling In mid-ocean is too great
This long delayed move is most sig
nificent. Its significance is in the fact
which can hardly be over emphasized, that
1t is practically Spain's first real move
Official Notice
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The Navy
Department has received information that
the Spanish squadron has left the Cape
Verde Islands. Her destination Is not
known.
Put Back to Port
ST. VINCENT. Cape Verde Islands.
April 20, p.m.-There has been collision
among the vessels of the Spanish fleet and
some of them have returned here.
Headed for Home
NEW YORK, April GA special to the
Journal from Washington says: The
Board Of Strategy recommended at a late
hour Thursday evening that as soon as
1t becomes apparent that the Spanish fo-
tilla does not intend to cross the Atlantic
the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and one
of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterran-
can will be seized by the United States as
bases Of supplies.
If the Spanish fleet does not come to us,
the Board of Strategy has decided that to
end the war the United States ships must
attack Spain at home. The best warships
are certain to reach the other side Of the
Atlantic considerably the worse for the
voyage. BY seizing the Canaries they
can be made a basa of operations against
Spain.
All Movement Denied
NEW YORK. April 29.-According to a
dispatch from Madrid to a local paper 1,
has been o'Ii' ally announced in MaIrid
that the Spanish fleet has sailed from st.
Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, presumably
for America.
On the other hand dispatches have been
received direct from st. Vincent and state
that the fleet is still there but all arrange
ments have been completed for departure.
and it is believed the Spaniards will move
within the next "a hours.
The Spanish cruisers Reina, Christina,
Castillo, Velasco and Don Juan de Aus
tria, and the gunboats Paragua. Ulloa. El
Cano Gen. Lexo and Marquis Duero have
sailed from Manila, 1t is believed, to meet
the American fleet commanded by Capt.
Dewey.
Spains torpedo boat destroyer Destruc-
tor, and the torpedo boats with her, con-
tinue to watch near Gibraltar for Ameri-
can yachts and for q war ship reported to
have been sold to the United States by
Italy.
The Spanish torpedo boat Temerario has
sailed from Buenos Ayres and has entered
Port La Plata ard is anchored there wait
ing orders 1t is said that she was obliged
to leave Buenos Ayres on account Of the
PRONUNCIATION of the neutrality decree by
Argentine.
1t was officially announced in Madrid yes
terday that the cruiser Peayo had sailed
for Cadiz, and that the battleship Vitoria
and cruiser Alfonso XIII are being repaired
at Cartagena. The torpedo boat Audaz has
arrived at Cadiz.
The cruisers Alfonso XII, Conde de Ven
ito, Infanta Isabella, Marquis de Ensen-
ada. gunboats Nueva and Pana Filipas,
Magellan and Antonio Loepez. and trans
port LIE Gaspi are at Havana.
The People Deceived
NEW YORK, April 29.-The Spanish
people are almost paralyzed with disap-
pointment. AYERS the Madrid correspond
ent of the World. 1t was officially an