The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-05-07
SPAN tSH FLEET.
surmises as to It's Location and
Iptentions.

Spain's fleet has sailed from Cape
Verde Islands in two divisions, one
OF which sailed north toward the
Canary Islands and the other went
toward Porto Rico.
An unsigned dispatch reached the
State Department this afternoon an
nouncing that the first division, ap-
pareutly bound for the Canariss,
had returned to st. Vincent on ac-
count of a collision. 1t is believed
by the administration and naval Of
ficials that this dispatch was insti-
gated by the Spanish authorities,
and it is therefore regarded with
considerable doubt.
-Four armored cruisers-the AL
mirante Oquendo, the Vizeaya, the
Infanta Maria Teresa and the Cristo-
bal Colon, and three torpedo boat
destroyers, the Terror, Furor and
Osado-formed the division which
sailed westward.
The division which started north
consisted of three torpedo. boats
Ariete, Azor and Rayo, the auxiliary
cruiser Ciudad de Cadiz and the
English collier, from which the fleet
coaled before it sailed. 1t was this
division which was reported to have
suffered an accident and returned
to port.
The announcement OF the depart
ure Of the Spanish men of-war reach
ed the State Department this morn
ing, and it was confirmed by private
information received here. 1t was
this announcement which caused the
officials to look upon the message
subsequently received as Of Spanish
origin
withstanding the report made
by the American Consul in the
morning that the fleet had sailed,
the dispatch this afternoon reiterat-
ed this news, and Furthermore an
nouDced the return OF the division
composed OF the torpedo-boats on
account of a collision. Had the
message simply stated that the tor
pedo-boats had returned on account
of collision, even had it been un-
signed, the department might have
put some faith in it, but the reitera-
tion OF the news of the sailing
of the fleet caused officials to
regard the information with sus-
picion The dispatch was probably
addressed to the department, but
the absence OF the Consul's name
and the further fact that it was not
in cipher were regarded as signifi-
cant indication OF the source OF the
message.
AS the Spanish force has not been
reinforced by the battle-ship Pelayo
the protected cruiser Alfonso XIII
and second torpedo boat fotilla at
CaGiz the authorities do not believe
that it will come west, despite the
fact that the armor-clads and de-
stroyers sailed in the direction Of
Porto Rico. 1t is generally believed
in naval circles that the ships will
proceed to the Canary Islands,
where they will await the arrival of
reinforcements from Spain and will
then come west
In order that the authorities may
be advised without delay il the yes
sells are bound to Porto Rico, the
St. Louis or Harvard will be sent to
the eastward of Porto Rico to ascer-
tain the fleets position, If bound for
that point, and when this informa-
tion is secured will hasten with all
speed to where the armored fleet OF
Temerario at the American Govern
ment will be in waiting.
Considerable relief is experienced
in naval circles over the departure
of Spain's fleet from St. Vincent, for
the reason that the safety of the
battle-ship Oregon is now believed
to be assured. The accuracy OF the
Herald's cable advices is shown by
the fact that while the Navy De-
partment learned yesterday that the