The evening times., 1898-06-06
DICTATE T[RNsAT MADRID
america May Send q Force into
the Eneny's Land.
NAY SHELL SPANISH CITES
Reliable Reports on fhe Condition
of the Vessels at Cadix Have Re-
lieved the Authorities From Any
Fears I'm Ressrd to the Spanish
Fleet.


Spain's offensive naval power has been
ing of the net round Admiral Cervera and
his men-of-war. and naval officers are
sure another week will witness the capt
ure or destruction OF the fleet now await
ing the inevitable in the harbor of San
tiago de Cuba.
In anticipation of the release of the ar
morclads blockading that port the Naval
War Board is collecting valuable informa-
tion of the condition Of the Spanish re-
serve squadron and is employing it in the
preparation of an elaborate plan OF cam
paign. which may extend to the Canary
Islands and to Spain herself.
Much to the qualification of the officials.
it has been definitely ascertained that the
Cardenal Cisneros. Catalina and Princess
de Asturias, armored CRUISERS. each
slightly heavier than any OF the vessels
cooped up in the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba. cannot be completed for some
months. Hitherto the officials have been
proceeding on the assumption that these
vessels were ready for service. but the
Information received within the last day
or so Is so Thoroughly reliable that they
have accepted 1t without a hesitation.
Furthermore 1t has been definitely
learned that the machinery of the battle
ship Pelayo. The armored cruiser Carlos
is in bad condition. and that. although
every effort is being made to get the
ships away from Cadiz. 1t will be some
time before they can put to sea and re-
main there. This Information came to-
day. and set at rest the minds OF the Off
cials. who, were disturbed by previous
reports that the Spanish feet at Cadiz
had left. and that Its destination Is the
Philippines.
With Cervera's fleet effectualiy dispos-
ed of. and with the knowledge that the
three armored cruisers cannot be got
ready for service for some time. naval
officers say that there need be no furth
er apprehension of danger from Spain's
navy. The Information contained in Lieut..
Carranza's letter that the Cadiz squad
ron was intended to "bombard Boston.
Portland and Long Island" win doubt
less cause rearrangement of plans on
the part of the Spanish government, de-
partment officials say, as it reveals
Spains secret. and furthermore gave the
United States warning. which would have
been taken advantage of had not Admi-
raj Cervera been so effectually trapped.
Even supposing that the machinery Of
the squadron is shortly placed in salts
factory order. the American fleet in the
Atlantic will not have much trouble in
disposing of it. Spain's armored force.
as result of the bottling up of Cerve-
ras fleet. is reduced to two vessels. both
inferior to the American baftleships. one
protected cruiser. some small antiQuated
cruisers. two torpedo gun vessels. and
four torpedo boat destroyers.
Against this force Rear Admiral Samp-
son can pit his entire fleet of five battle
ships and two armored cruisers, besides
protected cruisers. gunboats and auxilia-
ry torpedo boat destroyers. The advant-
age is so palpably with the American Ma
Wy and the prospect of its triumph in
both the Canaries and even in Spanish
waters themselves that naval officials do
not believe that Spain will be so eager to
continue the war.
In view of the condition of the Spanish
fleets there is renewed talk in naval cir
cles of the advisability of forming a fly
ing squadron Immediately after the de-
struction or capture of Cervera's men-of-
war and of dispatching 1t to the eastward
for the purpose of carrying the war into
Spanish waters.
1t will be recalled that before hostili-
ties were actually declared the Naval War
Board planned the formation of such a
squadron. consisting of the armored cruis-
ers New York and Brooklyn. protected
cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia. and
the auxiliary cruisers st. Paul. st. Louis.
Harvard and Yale. On account of the ac-
ton Of the Spanish government In dis
patching Cervera's fleet to this side of the
Atlantic. the project was abandoned. In
any event 1t Is doubtful II the Harvard
and Yale could be placed in such a squad
ron at this time. as neither has any Of
fensive armament. The ST. Paul. howev-
er. has an excellent battery and the st.
Louis has twelve 6-pounders. which could
be added to 1t in short order.
The departure of such a feet would not
embarrass the operations of the cam
paign against Cuba and Porto Rico, as
the battleships and monitors could be de-
pended upon to protect the blockade and
the coast and to lombard Havana and
San Juan whenever the Army attempted
10 occupy them.