Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-13
SPANS POWERFUL FLEETS.
AMERICAN sQUADRoNS IN FINE SHAPE.
spanish Cruisers Leave Porto Rico-I,oth
Navies Now Ready to Strike Power
full Blows at Each Other.

full Blows at Each Other.
New York, April 13.-Advices received
| by the navy department indicate that
| Spain Is organizing as rapidly as pos
sibe two powerful fleets which will,
1t is supposed, he opposed to the two
fleets that this country has assembled
at Key West and at Hampton Roads,
says a Washington correspondent of
the Times.
one of her fleets Is forming at Puer-
to Grande, St. Vincent. Cape de Verde
islands, and the other is forming at
Cadiz Spain.
| Naval experts think that the fleet
at Cadiz is intended for the defense Of
the Spanish coast from any attack by
the flying squadron. while the fleet that
is assembling at the Cape de Verde ISL
ands is intended for retaliatory attacks
upon our coasts.
SPANS FLEET STRONG.
It is remarked that the latter fleet is
composed of very fast vessels, torpedo
boats. torpedo boat destroyers, and
swift cruisers. Even the supply vessels
up with the movements of the rest of
the fleet. 1t is just the kind of
squadron that would be formed for the
| purpose of attacking the coast and in
the meantime lodging an enemy's fleet.
1t is probable that it could keep out of
the way of the majority of Capt. Samp-
sons vessels and 1t would not be safe
for one or two American ships to leave
the squadron too far and subject
themselves TO a sudden attack by II
swarm of torpedo boats. If this Amer-
can South Atlantic squadron keeps to-
! gether, therefore, it seems probable, that
/ the Spanish fleet, which is faster as q
/ whole. could evade II on the high seas
and choose its own way of fighting.
The plan presupposes that the Span
| ish fleet. nnw rendezvoused in the Cape
Nered islands,w Will move to the defense
| of Havana or seek to draw of the
American ships by a foray on our
| coast. 1t is evident that Spain expects
an attack on Havana. and II was for
| this reason that she withdrew the Viz
caya and Almlrante Oquendo from
that harbor.
FEARS FOR THE FLOTILLA.
1t is true that she has not, at least
according to the latest advices of the
navy department, moved this torpedo
! and cruiser fleet farther in this direc-
| ton: but this is tho<yht to be due to
the fact that she Is afraid to start it
| this way on It's long journey across the
ocean lest war be declared and the fleet
! be taken at great disadvantage by the
| flying squadron, which would be adj
vlsed OF the outbreak of the war insant
| ly and could move across its path OF
course, II the Spaniards sailed from
] Porto Grande they would come under
! scaled IN
| for hostile American ships, but this
would not prepare them for n sudden
attack by the flying squadron, which
| could pick its time and place for fight
| ing.
If Havana is invested and the Span
| lsh fleet moves to its assistance, part
of Capt. SIMPSONS fleet would have
to meet 1t unless the flying squadron
be kept in these waters. The Cape do
| Verde fleet is not strong enough now,
b viewer, to make such precaution
Necessary. and II is considered that the
Key West squadron will he sufficient
| for the work of capturing Havana and
of holding the torpedo f,tllla at bay or
| of dispensing and destroying 1t. and al
low the flying squadron to carry out
| the plan already worked out, of maxi
ing a dash at the Canaries and cutting
| in two Spain's weak line of defense.
WILL ATTACK HAVANA.
1t is now determined that as soon as
war is declared Capt. Sampson will
| steam for Havana and attack II by sea-
and that a land force will hasten to his
| aid and invest the city on the west,
thus cutting 1t off entirely from the
| coast of the island except by means of
an inner harbor. Havana can be read
| lily and safely shelled from the sea
without exposing the attacking vessels
to a damaging FIRE. This is the opin-
lon OF Capt sigsbee, who made a care
full study OF the defenses of the city
during his stay there 1t Is also the
opinion of Gen. Lee, who has made
even closer study of the capital. II Is
also expected that the revolutlonists of
the province Of Pinar del Rio, who are
by no means suppressed or extermin-
ated. win hasten to the aid OF the army
OF occupation, while Gomez and Garcia
will move straight on Havana from the
east.
The Spanish troops who have fought
In vain against unarmed and starving
bands of revOlutionists will hardly be
able to Withstand such concerted at
tack by the reyolutionists who have
successfully resisted them in the field,
and the well disciplined and well armed
troops OF the United States. The fall
OF Havana Is thought to he n matter
OF few days only. and with Havana
Will practically fall the entire Spanish
authority and forces in the island.
The living squadron. which has
stripped for battle and was riding un-
easily in Hampton Roads with It's fires
banked and decks cleared for action.
will be launched at once. 1t is thought.
for us pre-airanged attack on the
Canarles, Its purpose Is to divert tho
Spanish fleet, destroy its base of sun
piles In the Canaries, cut it's line OF
communication, and seize n point OF
great advantage for establishing a
base OF action for our navy.
II will than hurry ia ,I,y~ .-...
Spain and engage any fleet II NAV
meet In Spanish waters.
STRENGTHENING THE SPANISH
FLOTIILA.
Chicago, April ia special to the
Times Herald from Washington SAYS: