New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-09
PREPARING TO STRIKE.
THE FIRST BLOW MAY BE AT sPA1Ns
TORPEDO FLOTILLA.

TORPEDO FLOTILLA.
IF IT LEAVES THE CAPE vERp ISLANDS THE FLY
ING SQUADRON MAY BE SENT TO INTERCEPT
IT-AMERrcANs EXPECTED TO BE
| OUT OF CUBA TO DAY
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBUSE.l
| Washington, April S-The Navy Department
has received information that the Spanish tor
pedo iotilla purchased six hundred tens OF coal
at st. Vincent. Cape verd Islands. and Is now
ready for sea, awaiting orders Not only did
each Of the six torpedo-boats fill their bunkers.
but the accompanying transport ship laid In
full supply Of fuel. II Is considered likely that
the iotilla preparing to resume its voyage
| to the West IndeI when the situation became so
acute several days ago. and that 1t is now held
under orders from Madrid. In readiness to return
directly to the Canaries and receive further re-
Enforcement and protection from Cadz. So long
as It stays In port It causes no particular con-
! Germ at the Navy Department. but should 1t
sail with an unknown destination the Strategy
Board will strongly urge the immediate dispatch
Of the Flying Squadron for cruise IN the
vicinity Of Porto Rico to intercept the little fleet
in any attempt to reach a base Of supplies near
this continent to effect a junction with the
| Vizcaya and the Oquendo, which were still at
San Juan de Porto Rico to-day.
After tomorrow the United States will have
no consular officers in Spanish ports to COM
municate the movements Of vessels, but COM
prehensive system will go into operation for
securing trustworthy information promptly.
The naval authorities were satisfied tonight
that no Spanish squadron had left Cadiz. and
they do not imagine that any will leave the port
until further developments
HURRYING FINAL PREPARATIONS
Preparations for all eventualities being
| hurried to completion. General Lee will leave
Havana tomorrow. probably on the Fern. now
In Havana Harbor although It said at the
| State Department that he might take one OF the
| Plant Line steamers. At that time also the
| other United States consuls and most Of the
| American citizens in Cuba will be out Of the
| island. Official reports received here to-day said
that large numbers Of Americans were sailing
the steamers from Havana and other ports
Entire quiet has prevailed there up to this time
The United States Consul at Porto Rico Is also
preparing to come home.
! No instructions. It is said have been sent to
| Minister Woodford concerning his withdrawal
! from Madrid. that being left to his discretion
The prospects OF his withdrawal have been fully
considered. and there Is reason to believe that
! In the event of his retirement the British AM
|
terests and afford protection 10 such Americans
as remain in Spain. This. It is stated in an au-
thoritative quarter is part Of agreement be-
tween the United States and Great Britain. and
| recprocates the action Of the United States Gov
1 errment in affording protection to British sub
jects a former occasion
The Spanish Minister at Washington has re-
ceived no instructions as to his departure. nor
has he made preparations to Co. although his
establishment is in such condition that he
could start within few hours after receiving
orders from his Government TO depart. As an
evidence Of the complete cessation Of negotia-
tions II can be cited that to-day closed the sew
enth consecutive day since the Spanish Minister
called at the State Department.
Military and naval preparations are proceed
| ing systematically. but the larger details Of
preparations have been shaped. and there is 1T
tie more to DO than to see these regularly ex-
ecuted. While there are many naval move
ments there has not yet been any decisive order
affecting the movements of the fleet. All is in
n state OF expectancy.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE UNCHANGED.
| The Presidents message remains unaltered,
and this being the last Cabinet day before the
message will go to Congress. alterations are
unlikely between now and Monday. barring al
|
| After the meeting. Cabinet officers said that the
| message would be sent to Congress on Monday
no change in that respect having been consid-
| ered and all causes for delay having been re-
| moved. The calmness OF the Cabinet meeting
| which was OF the most uneventful held In
recent days. was another evidence of the feeling
| entertained by the Administration that the case
| Is made up and that nothing now remains TO be
| done but to present the subject to Congress and
| await the final outcome there.
| The feeling that an end had come to diplomatic
talk and that action alone remained. was shared
! in all quarters including the foreign Embassies
| and legations where the Ambassadors and
Ministers expressed the opinion that all has been
| done In Washington that can or will be done In
the cause OF peace. What Is going on at Madrid
| gives slight hope OF such concessions as will
| alter the present situation. There are no nego-
tatlons in the sense OF exchanges on pending
propositions. Both countries apparently have
| said their last word concerning the respective
| PROPOSITIONS. Certainly this is true to the
| United States, and there was no evidence to-
| day that the Spanish Government would recede
| II Is even doubtful whether the concession Of
| an armistice by Spain would be sufficient at
| this late moment to turn the situation into
| peaceful channels.