The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-01
THE Ships OF SPAIN
Many of Them Pointing Their
Guns This Way.
ANOTHER FLEET Is FORMING
The Spaniards Take Precautions
That the Torpedo FIotilia shall
Not he Molested-A Comparison al
the War Craft of the Two Nations.
Work on the Carlos Y.

T-nleSs checked by America Spain VIII
soon add more formidable re-enforce-
meuts TO her squadron in Cuban waters
Besides the torpedo boat fiotilla. which
is slowly making its way to Porto Rico
and ultimately to Cuba, Spain proposes
TO dispatch TO this side of the Atlantic
one second-class battleshin. two armor-
I'd cruisers one protected cruiser, one
tarnedo boat destroyer. several torpedo
boats and an auxiliary dispatch boat
Information in regard to this program
has been received I'm a dispatch from
Minister Woodford. The message was at
once referred to the Navy Department
and its contents caused iu-concealed anN-
icty among naval officials and officers on
duty i'm the department.
In the formation OF such a formidable
squadron as that gathering at Cadiz. At
is evident to naval officials that Spain
does not propose To divide her forces ih
such "A manner as to permit them 4" Toe
come "a comparatively easy prey 10 Com
inodore Schley's flying squadron
The departure yesterday from Cartha-
a,sua of the almured cruisers Cristuhal
colon and Infanta Maria Teresa with the
folnp,io boat destroyer DcStructor, CuuS-
ed th, officials to then incline 10 the ht-
lief that the vessels have been ordered
10 overtake the torpedo boat notiia 10
proNide them with protection an case an
attempt should be- made by the American
vessels TO destroy them.
The arrival of these three vessels to-
l;y at CadiZ as reported by Minister
Noodford together with the iuiorma-
tian n, wired that when they next went
d, SEA which ne expected momeniaTllN,
they would he accompanied hN the Sec
oud-class battleship Nittoria. The pro-
tacted cruiser Alfonso XIII the con-
Nerted Yacht Giralda and several tor
rado boats showed 10 the official mind
that Spain did not propose TO he caught
mapping by the Americans and that she
Intended TO have a squadron sufficiently
strong to defeat the flying squadron
Which Commodore Schlcy has AT Hamp-
lon Roads.
n is appreciated by the officials that
Spain has some plan for the pr"te, e,tion
of the fotilla. and 10 their mind il Is a
logical conclusion 10 reach that the tor
l.do boats are moving slowly along a
certain degree Of latitude and that ii
would be an easy matter for them L" pt
found 10y re-euforc.n"utS.
In view Of the new and formidahl. YES
,..ls ,bmprisiul The newly formed Span
iSh suuadrOn ia would be necessary luI
the fixing SQUADRON 10 20 at a rate 81
speed which viii euahl' The hattleship
Na~achusotts 20 keen up with the other
vessels The Massachusetts, has an eN-
trDlue speed OF something more than SIX
teen kuots. hut her bottom is in an eN
rrcmplV foul condition. and h is not toe
f.N,d that she cam UuW go at q hlEhe
speed than twoIv, knots. With view
70 increasing Hrr Sprod the department
has directed that divers bee employed &
remove tn marine growth both ON he
bottom and on her ur1pellar blades.
Admitting. however that the squadron
,au proceed al a mgsimUm speed o
fourteen knots IL would not bee able &,
reach Porto Rico under eighty-SiN hours
bv which time the fotilla may reach tina
port or the Spanish aIrnurrd cruisers
al Of high speed except The Nitto~ia. and
having direct knowledge OF the where
abouts of the torpedo boats might p.
able 10 rc-cufDrce them before au attack
could bc made.
Commodore Schley-~ command IT,
composed Of the Massachusetts. second
class hattlcship Texas. which viii re
rurn to Hampton Roads within the ueNl
few DAYS: the almorpd cruiser Brook.
lyn and the pro cctod cruisers Minneap-
oils and Columbia Opposed jo these
vessels Spain would have the second
class battlcship Nit,oria. almored cruis
"rS Cristobal Colon and mfauta Maus
Teresa. and the protected cruiser Alfols,
MIL besides the horne like destroyer
and torpedo boats.
u is expected by the department OIL
.ciJis that the squadron viii proceed l.
the tanaries. unless war should brral
uu. or the Sagasta ministry. intenaln.
70 decline the Mckinley propositions 10
the ending Of the war in cuba. should