Evening star., 1898-03-25
FEAR TORPEDO FLEET
Naval Officers at Key West Point Out
Its Force.
MENACE TO OUR BATTLESHIPS
Preparations for Actual War Go
Actively On.
ANOTHER ORPEDO BOAT

KEY WEST, Fla, March 25.-It was not
Until today that the news of the departure
of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla from the
Canary Islands became known among the
naval officers here. 1t created intense feel
ing, especially among the officers of the
torpedo boats which are in this harbor.
One of the most prominent of these officers
said today: "If the United States allows
the Spanish boats to get to Porto Rico it
will be the biggest mistake ever made.
They are greater menace to the safety
OF cur fleet than If all the rest of the Span
ish navy was brought to these waters.
''At Porto Rico they will be nearer Key
West than Havana. Only two torpedo boats
in our navy would have any chance of
getting away from the Spanish torpedo
boat destroyers. The Iowa, New York and
Indiana lying out there six miles off the
land would practically be at the mercy of
say dozen Spanish torpedo boats, which
could run over from Porto Rico in a short
time should war be declared.
Means of Defense Lacking.
I'VE have no protected harbors here,
and we have not single torpedo boat de-
stroyer, and unless a fleet powerful enough
to be proof against these torpedo boats is
quickly concentrated in these waters, or
unless the Spanish flotilla is warned to
keep farther away, / should Judge that it
would be better to take every United
States warship far away as possible
from this menacipg force which Spain in
tends to concentrate within such a con-
venient distance as Porto Rico.
1T is all very well to talk of peace and
to say that there is no probability of war.
but at the same time while international
relations are strained displays of force
should be met with alacrity, and, as q tor
pedo expert, 1 must say that If every ship
in the United States navy was brought
into these waters 1t would be none too for
midable display when the strength of
the Spanish fiotilla is considered"
Activity at Mare Island.
VALLEJO, Cal, March 25-Great activ-
.ty prevails at the Mare Island navy ward
Inc cruiser Philadelphia has been ha,IeJ
from the stream and lies alongside the
quay wall. near the Charleston. The gun
poat yorktown has also been towed to
the wall, and all three ships fairly swarm
with men at all hours. The Charleston is
rapidly nearing completion, and will be
ready to go into commission in a compar
atively short time
The Yorktown. too is nearly ready for
sea, and the purchase of supplies for both
is now being made.
Lieut. Commander Thomas S. Phelps ir.
formerly executive officer of the receiving
ship independence, who accompanied Presi-
dent Dole Of Hawaii on his trip to Wash
ington as naval aid. has been appointed
chief aid to Rear Admiral Kirkland
Armament at the Presidfo.
SAN FRANCISCO. March pa new
twelve-inch rified cannon, with a disap-
pearing carriage, to be located at the Pre-
sidio, has arrived from the east and will
be mounted at once Eventually il is the
intention of the War Department to ha 'e
three or four more of these disappearing
guns at the Preside. three at Lime Point
and about seven at Point Lobos.
Several carloads of powder and projec-
tiles for the new guns, well as for
the other modern weapons at the Preside
and Lime Point, now en- route from
The east. AT the Preside there are five
ten-inch modern rifles and three dynamite
guns IN position, also five tWelve-inch guns
mounted on barbettes and sixteen twelve
inch mortars. A sc condary battery of NOR
tars is now being prepared. At Lime
Point there are three twelve-inch rifles on
barbettes.
Naval Officers Changes.
PORTLAND, Ore, March 25.-Robert w.
Calf, chief engineer, u. S. N, who has
been inspector of machinery on the tor
pedo boats being tuilt by Wolf & Swicker
iron works, has been detached and ordered
to proceed to Mare Island on the arrival
of his relief, Passed Assistant Engineer
Howard Gage, who has been on duty at
the Union iron works, San Francisco.
Rough Riders Offer Services.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March Ex-Governor
Richards has received an offer from Geo.
r. Shanton, weil-known Laramie cow
boy to raise within ten days notice a
company~of fifty rough riders and expert
shots for service in the event of war. The
men will furnish their own mounts and
equipments. The offer will be accepted by
the governor if war should ensue.
President Asked to Go Slow.
COLORADO SPRINGS. Col. March 25.-
A petition signed by fifty citizens OF Colo
rado Springs was sent to President McKin-
ley expressing the hope that in behalf Of
justice, humanity and Of our own perma-
nent rational welfare, the United States
will continue to refrain from hostile inter-
may bring war, and it Is possible that VIC
tory, by begetting a willingness to inter-
fere in the affairs Of other nations, may
produce results that might be worse even
than defeat"
Among the signers are DIR. William F.
Slocu,n, president of Colorado College; Irv-
ing Howbert, collector of internal revenue;
Louis Enrich and others equally prominent.
Battery Mt Point Wilson, WASH.
SEATTLE. WASH, March 25.-The con-
demnation suits by which the government
secures a site for battery at Point Will
son have been closed in the federal court
The price to be paid aggregates $4,000. A
number of heavy guns are now on their
way here and preparations for setting them
up Will be Immediately commenced.
Models to Go to Omaha.