The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-21
MADRID, June 2O.-Advices
from the Canaries, dated June 9
report the presence there of thir-
teen Spanish torpedo boats.
CadiZ Fleet Returns.
WASHINGTON, June 2O.-The
War Department has received a
dispatch that the Cadiz fleet has
returned to Spanish port.

element in Havana which the government
is disposed to protect, namely. the civilians,
for without doubt there would be a repeti-
tion in Havana on a smaller scale of what
is going on in Santiago, namely. al of the
food supplies would be seized by the mill
tary and the civilians left to starve.
Batabano is not blockaded port and this
exposes one of the weaknesses of the block
ade plan, as it leaves open good seaport
connected directly with Havana. The place
was not included within the blockading line
for two reasons. In the first place. the
navy did not have a sufficient number of
ships to extend the blockade lines without
running great risk of having the blockade
declared ineffective. In the second place,
owing to shallow water large ocean-going
craft such as would bring troops munitions
of war and other valuable war material from
Spain could not get into the port which
thus became less of factor for harm in
the working out of our plans. If brought
from Spain in large ships these supplies
would have to be transshipped at some
ne1ghboring port to ccasting vessels of light
er draft and with the means of information
within its control naval authorities have no
doubt of their ability to cut off promptly
any such coasters. Nevertheless, in view
of the degree to which the practice of carry
ing in supplies to Havana has extended the
naval officers have determined to tighten the
guard lines around the south coast of Cuba.
AS soon as Santiago has fallen and Ger
vera's fleet has been destroyed Sampson will
be able to spare sufficient number of yes
sells of the smaller type to make it almost
certain that nothing can cross between
Jamaica and Cuba on the south without
passing the inspection of the American
ships.
Word went around the War Department
this afternoon that the Cadiz fleet had made
another spectacular appearance this time
returning to the home port. The source of
information is not disclosed, so that ii is
impossible to tell how much credence to at
tach to the report. The Navy Department
was promptly informed of the receipt of the
message
TROOP MOVEMENT RUMORS.
Rumors of troop movements continue to
emanate from Camp Alger. This time it is
stated on what appears to be better author
ity than usual that one briagde, composed
of the three most perfectly equipped regi-
ments-the First Rhode Island and Sixth
and Ninth Massachusetts-are to be sent
from this camp to Santiago. The Sixth IL
New York and Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth Michigan are said to be slated for
Porto Rico, and the quarterma ster-in-chief
Of the corps is supposed to be arranging
for the transportation of these troops. who
will, it is reported be sent by sea directly
from Newport News on the two big liners
Yale and Harvard, late the New York and
Paris. Secretary Alger said late this after
"a M Il
issued, so that the rumors are more or less
speculative.
There was a wholesale christening at the
Navy Department to-day when Secretary
Long supplied names for not less than thir-
ty-five war craft All of these were pro-
vided for in the last naval appropriation
bill, and while contracts for their construc-
tion have not yet been let the advertise
ments have been issued, except in the case
of monitors, and all the boats will be under
way before cold weather. First in the list
of the big battle ships is the Maine, for
Congress has provided that that name shall
be continued in the naval list The other
two big battle ships will be called the Mis-
souri, and the Ohio The first of the tor
pedo boats bears the name of the brave
young Ensign Bagley. who was killed on
the deck of the Winslow under the guns of
Cardenas, the first American naval officer
to lose his life in the war. Four States have
the privilege of giving their names to moni-
tors - Arkansas, Connecticut Florida and
Wyoming. The names given to the sixteen
torpedo-boat destroyers are those of Amer
ica's famous naval heroes--Bainbridge Bar
ry. Chauncey, Dale, Decatur, Hopkins,
Hull, Lawrence, MacDonough. Paul Jones,
Perry. Preble. Stewart, Truxton, Whipple
and Worden The names applied to the tor
pedo boats are those of lesser fame but
still of glorious memory. Besides Bagley's,
they are: Barney, Bi1dle Blakeiy. De Long
Nicholson OBrien, Shubrick Stockton
Thornton. Tingey. Wilkes. There Is now
only one vessel, either building or author
lied, left without name. a gunboat Off
cially known as No. 16