The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-28
TORPEDO FLOTILLA.
Its Coming Causes Very Grave Con-
Germ at Washington.
SPAIN SAID TO INTEND USING II
To Cripple the American Navy as
Soon as Possible
WITHOUT WAITING FOR A MAX
Administration Has Been Warned Of
This Plan.t
II MIST STOP Al PORTO RICO.
Flying Sunndron vii, Leave Hamp-
ton Roads Wcdnc-day TO Inter
ccpt the Fleet.

New York. March 27.--The Suns Wash
ent the administration may APPEAR to be
to the coming OF the Spanish torpedo flo
tilla to waters in close proximity to the
coast of the United States, there is grave
alarm felt among he highest officials o,
the executive government and particularly
among officers on duty at the navy depart
ment. There is more cause for this alarm
than the mere suspicion that the fiotlla
has purpose hostile to the Amerit an
squadrons on the atlantic coast.
THE Sun correspondent has nforu,s
ton OF most trustworthy character tSat
on the 18th instant. the day after tho
first section of the flotilla reached the
Canarics from Cadz, President Mckinley
was warned by person whose testimony
was considered worthy OF belief that he
had positive knowledge that the purpose
of the flotlla was to strike the squadron
now under Captain Sampson's command, In
the hope of cripplpg the naval force OF
the United States so that Spain would be
in better condition for wnging war. II
was stated TO the president that the bow
Was TO be struck according to a plan az
ranged before war was actually declared,
the Spanish government presumably BE-
lieying hostilties could not be avoided
This warning may seem to be based on Z
ridiculous assumption but It was cer-
tainly considered serious enough TO war
rant the issue of directions which caus
Admiral Scard to place pigket b,a
about his vessels and to use searchligbts
from shutdown until sunrise every night.
The information was also considered
worthy OF enough credence by the
naval strategy board to compel it TO rec
ommend TO the president and Secretary
Long the immediate formation of fly
ing squadron rors the counter movement
against the flotilla.
More concern over the plans of the
Spanish government in regard to the flo
tilla was given to the administration by
tie receipt OF cipher cable message from
Minister Woodford containing the notice
that no kilograms relating 10 the move
ment OF the Spanish naval vessels would
be received, sent or delivered IN that coun-
try. General Wcodford said this embargo
re lated especially to the torpedo fleet IL
could no, be ascertancd whether the cen
sorship applied to Minister Woodfords dis
patches. but 1t probably did not. as such
action might cause The severance of diplo-
matte relations. At amy rate, both Min
| ister Wcodford and Lieutenant Dyer, the
naval sttache at Madrid, managed 10 send
| TO the state and navy departments Thurs
day cipher DISPATCHES. informing the gov
ernment Of departurc of the flotilla from
| he canaries for Porto Rico. One effect
Of the embargo on the news relating TO
the movements Of the Spanish ships. OF
war has been, however. TO prevent the navy
DEPARTMENT from getting any reliable in
| .o,maiion as TO whether the hosiiia con-
| sists Of more than six torEedo boats and
The converted merchantmen which left
adiz on March 10 for the Canaries. where,
according to the report, they were 10 be
] ointd by seven other torpedo vessels. The
| shert abouts OF this second division Is a
| nysteiy TO the naval OFFICIALS, although
| hey have exerttd every means ia their
power 10 get positive information in re-
.ard to its movements and its compost
| lion.
The department has been given to I'M
dsrftand that thu srmored cruiser Cris'
opal Colon Is actinS ss convey OF the sec
end d,yis,tu The only positive ipforms'
tan in The possession Of ~ government