The herald., 1898-04-28
THE FLEET NOW AT SEA
/ EXPECTED SOON TO ASSUME THE
80 OFFENSIVE
SPANISH PRESS IMPATIENT
And Is Anxiously Waiting for Reports
Of Bombardment Of Americas
Big Coast Cities
Associated Press Special Wire

LONDON, April 27-It is reported here
from Madrid that the destination Of the
Spanish feet, which Is said to have been at
sea for some days, Is unknown to anyone
but the minister Of marine, Admiral Ber-
mejo. But it is added that news is ex-
, pected before long at the Spanish capital
of the bombardment of American coast
towns. The reports from Madrid also say
that the Spanish naval authorities are sat-
isfied that Spain can easily force the black
ade Of Cuba when she desires TO do so, but
In the meantime, II is explained, as the
governors Of Cuba and Porto Rico have
advised the Spanish government that they
do not need the fleet, the government has
decided to "utiize the warships else
where
. Sailed Already
BAYONNE. France, April T.-Accord-
Ing to a letter just received here from
Madrid, dated Tuesday, a Spanish squad
ron consisting of four iron-clads and three
torpedo boat destroyers sailed for the
United States yesterday. 1t was rumored
that the squadron was to steam directly
across the Atlantic and lombard northern
ports of the United States. The port from
which this squadron sailed was not mem
ond squadron consisting Of four iron-clads
and two cruisers was being formed at Ca
diz. Its destination was unknown.
Spanish Auxiliaries
NEW YORK, April GA dispatch to
the World from Madrid says: An active
exchange of Views is going on in Madrid
between the Minister of State and the
Ambassadors of the great powers about
the royal decree published in the Madrid
Gazette, which defines the intentions of
Spain in the present maritime war.
The European powers are pleased to see
that Spain, for the time being, consents
to refrain from arming privateers, but
would have preferred to see her adhere
to the treaty of Paris of 1856, as nobody
can say how soon pressure Will be brought
on the Queen Regent and Ministers and
they will be forced to assent to the popular
outcry for privateers to prey on the Amer
lean ships and navy and interfere with in
, ternational trade on the high seas.
The idea of creating an auxiliary fleet
of merchant steamers was suggested to
Spain by Russia, who all through has
hardly concealed her sympathies with
Spain against America The auxiliary
fleet already consists of forty steamers
IN SPAIN, elSHt IN SuDu anu several at
Manila.
The war is stopping so many Spanish
lines to the colonies that more are offered
to the government than can be manned
and armed.
Nothing causes more anxiety in Spain
than coal supplies for the royal and mer-
chant vessels and for Spanish industries.
Several war vessels have suffered SER
iously from having used native coal.
The Spanish press and public are get
ting angry and impatient because so many
days pass without hostilities beginning
actively. They ridicue the slowness and
procrastination of the American govern
ment and commanders which they take
to be proof that the United States INDUCED
in big talk and threats without being re-
ally prepared on land and seas for war
which the Spaniards are convinced they
. can make last much longer than Mckinley
and his counsellors dream.
Hunting for Yachts
= LONDON, April 27.-Special dispatches
from Tangicr, Morocco today say the
Spanish warship Pelayo is cruising In the
Mediterranean and that two torpedo boats
are in the straits of Gibraltar.
Sailed From Somewhere
BAYONNE, France, April 27.-Mail ad-
vices from Madrid dated yesterday says a
Spanish squadron sailed yesterday and it
was rumored it was going to lombard
. northern ports Of the United States The
report Of the departure was not given.