The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-29
SPAIN STILL DELAYING
NO SIGNIFICANT MOVE MADE BY
HER SHIPS
news That Portugal Would Not Al
low the Transmission of News
Regarding War Vessels In Her
Ports the Cause of q Sensation
Until 1t Was Properly Under
stOOd-FIotfIIa Mt ST Vincent

BY The Associated Press.
LONDON. April 2S-PortugaI fur
nlshed the naval items Of news of
greatest interest today. The Official
gazette at Lisbon this morning pub
llshed a decree to prevent publication
OF reports regarding the movements of
war vessels on the seaboard or in the
harbors Of Portugal. It was at first
supposed that this related not only to
Inc main land, but to the Cape Verde
Islands, where the Spanish torpedo
f1otilla is at anchor. The news caused
a sensation, as it was taken as an in
dlcatlon that Portugal intended active
~ to espouse the side Of Spain. Later
IT was learned that the early reports
were misleading and that news was
not published regarding the ships at
st. Vincent
Reports from st. Vincent stated that
this afternoon the Spanish squadron
was still at anchor, but it was believed
that the ships would sail tomorrow.
as the paymasters were settling up
their accounts. A steamer which ar
rived today from st. Vincent reports
that the Spanish warships there are
unable to get half the amount Of coal
which they require to fill their bunkers
The Spanish torpedo boats reported
at Gibraltar are constantly cruising be-
tween Algeiras bay, near there, and
Ceuta, the Spanish penal colony on the
African coast, and Getares bay, at the
entrance Of the bay Of Gibraltar
1t Is reported from Madrid that a
Spanish squadron of nine warships
sailed from Manila on Monday last to
take up positions off Subiglik bay.
where they will await the passage Of
American merchant vessels for the pur-
pose of capturing them
The British foreign office has official
ly been notified by the Spanish en-
Dassy that the government of Spain
mas ordered the ports of Cuba, the
Philippine islands and Porto Rico to
be defended by lines of torpedoes and
that entry into these ports, therefore,
is only possible under the guidance of
pilots who are in readiness outside the
lines of defense to take ships in.
The mystery regarding the move
ments or the Spanish men-of-War is
still unexplained. The secretaries at
the Spanish embassy, interviewed on
the subject, ridicule the statement that
the squadron at Cape Verde is delayed
by lack of coal, first, because for a
long time the Spanish vessels have
been particularly well-fitted out, not
only with coal, but with food and all
kinds of War-like material. Second, be-
cause ST. Vincent could supply any re-
quired quantity Of coal.
According to adViceS via RuyOnne,
the battleship Pelayo was completely
fitted and equipped at Carthagena and
has gone to Cadiz. Reports that she
has been cruising in the company Of
other vessels, probably means that she
has been trying her boilers.
1t is believed that the squadron at
Cape Verde islands has really been
waiting for the arrival of the Pelayo
and the Alfonso Kill, and other men
ofwar, but now that Portugal has de-
clared neutrality, the fleet will be COM
PEELED to sail without delay, whether
reinforced or not.
The sudden departure of the British
cruiser Charybdis from Gibralter yes
terday, caused great excitement. 1t
was supposed an encounter was immi-
nent, and that she intended to main
tain neutrality. A special land guard
was mounted and preparations made to
train the guns. The Charybdis fired a
single shot to warn possible trespass-
ers.
Tonight the Destructor stopped sew
eral merchantmen south Of Europa
Point. An American merchantmen is
expected to try to take refuge at Glib
ralter some time before daybreak.