The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
United States and Spain Keeping Tab on Each
 Others Vessels.
Information That the Torpedo Flotilla Will Return to the Canary Islands and Join
 the Cadiz Squadron.

NEW YORK, April "A Washing ton special to the Herald says: Off, cia1 confirmation of the Herald's an- nouncement this morning of the de- parture of the Carlos V from Havre for Ferrol was contained in a dispatch re- ceived at the State Department from Minister Woodford, who also reiterated his statement of a few days ago that the torpedo-boat flotilla had reached Cape Verde Islands and that 1t had been directed to await orders.
 Much to the regret of officials the Minister made no reference to the con- dition of the boats comprising the flo- tilla, and the matter was deemed so important that a dispatch was sent to him during the afternoon, asking him to instruct Lieutenant Dyer, naval at tache of this Government in Madrid, to ascertain their condition, if possible, and to inform the authorities here as soon as he had learned anything of inn portance. Information on this point is expected to reach Washington to- morrow The sharp watch which is being maintained by this Government in Madrid over the movements of Span
 
 Minister Woodford's dispatches of the last few days. Every movement of Spanish vessels has been chronicled and no effort has been spared by the Minister, attaches of the legation and consular officers throughout Spain to enable the authorities here to obtain this and such other naval information as will be useful to the United States in the event of war.
 There is reason to believe that Min ister Polo Barnabe and attaches of the Spanish legation are transmitting information respecting the movements of American vessels and increases which have recently been made to the American navy. Before the departure of Lieutenant-C Commander Sobral, na- val attache of Spain in this city, it was not an unusual thing to see him at the department discussing United States naval matters with the officials and ob- taining naval information, which he hastened to transmit to his Govern ment. He was always courteouSly treated and considerable information was given to him. His treatment is in violent contrast with that accorded to Lieutenant Dyer, naval attache of this Government in Spain.
 Lieutenant Dyer is followed by de- tectives, all requests concerning the navy of Spain are abruptly refused, and he is not allowed to visit Spanish navy yards. Notwithstanding the difficulty under which Lieut. 2nant Dyer laborS he is able to keep the office of naval in- telligence here very well informed in regard to the condition of construction or repairs to vessels at navy yards and of the movements of Spanish ships.
 It is the firm expectation of officials that the Spanish torpedo boat fiotilla will not continue on it's way to Porto ID. f& 1lI Verde to the Canary Islands, where it will meet the Spanish fleet, which Min ister Woodford said yesterday was on the eve of departure from Cadiz. AS the Herald stated this morning the au-. thoritieS do not believe for an instant that any of the vessels of the flotilla have been damaged by reason of the bad weather, for t.-e meteorological rec ords which they have looked up show that good weather usually prevails in the section through which tie fotilla passed.
 Ferrol, to which the Carlos V Is bound, is the location of one of the largest navy-yards in the Spanish kingdom, and the vessel has been sent to that point, the authorities believe, in order that she ma be completed with all possible speed. She is one of the most formidable armored cruisers of the Spanish navy, and under ordinary conditions, could not be completed until the latter part of May. Information which has reached the Navy Depart ment shows that it is the intention of Spain to rush the completion of the Carlos V, in order that she may be at tached to the squadron mobiliZing at Cadiz, and sail with it to the Canaries.
 There Is a great deal of speculation in naval circles concerning the destina- tion of the Vizcaya and the Almirante Oquendo, which left Havana last Fri day to escape being bottled up by Cap tain Simpsons fleet. The authorities expected, if these vessels had gone to Porto Rico, to have heard of their arrival at San Juan to-day, but no an- nouncement that they had reached this point came to the State Department this afternoon. The report that the vessels are to be ordered back to Hav- ana is not believed by naval experts, for by such action, they say Spain would stand an excellent chance of los ing two of the best cruisers of her navy. If they should return to Havana it will be an easy matter for Captain Sampson's fleet to blockade them in the harbor, and thus reduce the fighting strength of the Spanish navy by two formidable vessels. There seems to be a general impression in naval circles that in the event of war the ViZcaya and Ouuendo will re -eiv, orders to proceed to some northern port of the United States and do as much damage to prop erty as possible. afterward going abroad to join the Cadiz squadron.