New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
SPANISH SPIES HERE.
WORK OF SECRET NAVAL COMMITS
SION
INFORMATION OBTAINED THOUGH A PRISONER
RECENTLY cAPrURED-rHE BUREAU IN

CHARGE OF CAPTAIN LLoPIs
According 10 information received hy Trio-
une reporter yesterday. it would seem that Spain
has a secret naval commission or bureau in this
city which is furnishing her expert information
as 10 the condition and wherea bouts Of Ameri-
can warshps and other desirable news. That
she had such = commission in active service
hero I'D 70 April % there is no doubt. as the
officers in charge were we'll known ~ the Span
sh colony in the city. on April %. however,
tho commission was apparently dissolved. and
the officer in charge ostensibly left the city TO
60 70 Canada But some Spaniards who knew
him we'll when he was at the head or the COM
mission here say that he was in New-fork as
recently as last Saturday
Tha, Spain has maintained a spy system here
ever since the first sign Of war Is we'll known;
but that she should actually keep officers or ner
navy in NewYork the present time furnishing
EXPERT naval information seems daring indeed.
The authority, however. for the statement is
Standard. formerly one Of the officers Of the
Spanish steamer which was captured recently
with arms and ammunition on board and is now
on It's way 70 this port 10 be sold. He is DR..
Alfredo g. Dominguez. who remained at Key
West
DR. Dominguez in a letter written TO a friend.
saws that Captain Arturo Llopis, Of the Spanish
Navy ia still IN New-York and is secretly con-
Quoting a Spanish naval bureau The doctor
adds that for several months this work has
been carried by Captain Llopis. who did not
leave the United States when Minister Polo and
his staff departed. but quietly remained in hid
ing in this city
The Spanish naval bureau organized here
FOR two purposes-one 10 purchase supplies for
the Spanish Navy and the other to furnish in
formation TO Spain as 10 American vessels. etc.
This work has been carried on ever since last
November The office Of the bureau vas at the
home Of DIT Llopis. and was in no way connect
ed with the local Spanish Consulate
According 20 DR.. Dominguez. the existence Of
the bureau was we'll known TO Captain Jesus
Vidal. inspector for the Compania Trasatantica.
or Spanish line ~ steamers. A Tribune reporter
called at the office Of Captain Vidal yesterday,
and found that the captain knew Llopis we'll
According 70 Captain Vidal. Llopis. with Lieu
tenant Manuel Espa constituted the commission.
which was assisted by one clerk. Captain Vidal
said that he had not seen Llopis since April Il.
when he understood that he had gone TO Canada,
and was now either at Montreal or Toronto.
ARRIVED NEARLY A YEAR AGO.
From other sources the history OF the Com
70 New-York nearly year ago and established
hirnsel, az the Hotel Fenix. at No. 200 West
Fourteenth-st He lived there some time. and
then rented apartments at One-hundred- and
,ou-teenth-st and Fifth-ave. where he trans
acted his business with such persons as he de-
sired 20 receive To those who were not In his
confidence he posed as retired captain or the
Spanish line and made no reference TO his con-
nection with the navy He became compare
lively we'll known to a number OF dealers here,
from whom he bought supplies FOR spain prior
70 the declaration Of war. In fact, one or MS
last open business transactions was that OF
purchasing some OF the supplies which were sent
ou, on the Panama 70 Havana, but never
reached their destination.
Another man connected with the Naval bu-
reau was Lieutenant RemigiO Zaporte Jiminez
who was taken or the steamer Panama at Key
West as n spy but who could not be helc' as
the act with which he was charged had been
committed before the declaration OF war
Lieutenant Jirnlnez had IN his possession re-
CENT FOR charts OF American harbors which he
had transferred 20 the Naval Bureau in charge
OF Captain Llopis.
In speaking OF this combination for the pur-
nose n, obtaining news OF the American naval
mans a business man who. while born OF
cuar,sh parents and supposed by many 10 ne
g. snanlsh citizen IS really American. said:
II know Ilopis and should not be surprised !,
ne was still in the city. although It is reported
that he has gone 70 Canada. am wen &C,
oualn.ed With nearly all the Spanards mere ana
must say that | believe they would 90 ,hei
host 70 conc al him II he IN the city ana AID
him In obtaining Information that would De Val
"ahla ~ his Government. OF course, In speak
ing thus or the Spaniards, do not inctude those
Who are actual citizens Of the United states, but
-eeer only - those who still have allegiance 70
spain Il IS natural FOR them 70 aid their own
country. and believe they are DONG 50.
KNOWN BY SENIOR sUAREz
A, the Office Of J. NJ Ceballos & Co., agents
,o- tho snarish Line at No - wlllam-st..
Sehor Suarez a son ~ the secretary or the re-
cant Snanish Consulate in this city. said that
ha knew Ilopls as n Spanish naval officer VINO
uas here or business FOR his country. He was
askad ~ Llopis was still in the city. ana ne
uncovered that he was not certain, but he
thought Ilopis might be- here. senior ouarez, III
spealing OF Or. Dominique. who mad rurn'sneu
m Information as 10 the Spanish Naval bu-
,nou said that the doctor had been surgeon OF
,ho Panama for about six months and that ne
was a native OF Havana. A letter from .. pr.
rnrninRuez to one OF the clerks in the office was
shown 10 the reporter. In this letter the doctOf
cor7nlatns OF not receiving his salary Tor tnrer
months and asks that II be sent 70 MN NJ Ne'
West at once. . .-a,r0
Cantain iIopls denying all knowledge or MN
AT frat but finally admitting that they nad seen
him or twice. $500, - A,-.,
While II is impossible 70 obtain any direct
evidence OF the actual work done ny these men,
circumstances show that the naval bureau was
q, an organiZod The head Of the nav ! spy sys-
tenn IL appears. was Lieutenant-e mmander
Snbral who first gained notoriety through MS
efforts last fall 10 obtain Information as 70
American defences on the southern ana Gun
coasts His visits 10 Mobile. Charleston FER
nandlna and Pensacola attracted consderapic
attention. He then came to the front after the
Ins,ruction Of the Maine. and result or MS
ohnovious criticisms OF the American navy, ne
ros withdrawn as Naval Attache AT Nashlis-
tcn lie was later promoted for MS active work
T., Snaln and is now supposed 70 be al MADRID
HE successor, Lieutenant Carranza, TOOK up
Ia, had laff and Is now ON