The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-22

slant action but 1t was surmised that il
present function was rather to keep ar
eye on the Spanish movements and bt
| ready to defend quickly any point on the
coast that might be threatened by Span
| ish cruisers.
SPANISH FLEET RUMORS.
News came to the department that tend
| ed to confirm the newspaper reports that
the formidable Spanish naval force at st.
! Vincent. Cape Verde islands. had sailed
| last night for an unknown destination.
Naval experts said that, leaving out of
consideration the question Of the relative
strength OF personnel, the Spanish force
2 was at least equal and probably much
superior in some respects TO Commodore
Schley's feet. 1t was not believed by
any of the naval officers that the Span
ism feet would undertake to cross the At
lantic and attack Commodore Schley on
his own base, but It would seem to be
equally impracticable for the commodore
to take his flying squadron across to at
tack the Spaniards. unless he were rein
forced.
SPANS THREAT TO SURPRISE"
The threat of the Spanish newspapers
to give US surprise in the shape of
naval visitation was not causing any par
ticular uneasiness at the navy depart
ment and although nothing positive was
known as to the destination of the Span
ish squadron 1t was surmised that 1t had
started on It's return to Spain 1000 miles
distant from Cape Verde, thus indicat-
ing a purpose to await an enga cement
in their own waters. II was considered
likely that in this event the first port
made would be the Canary islands, dis
tant about S25 miles from ST. Vincent, and
a Spanish possession, partially fortified
and a fair base. 1t was not believed that
the Spanish naval commander would be
foolish enough to run the risk Of taking
his torpedo boat notiIla across the Allan
tic in the attempt to defend either Porto
Rico or Havana.
HOW TO FORCE THE ISSUE.
Naval officials refused most positively
to say whether they intended to force
an issue by sending supplies to the recon-
centradOs in Cuba on a merchant ship
conveyed by a man-of-war. It was known
that this plan had been under considera-
ton but suggestion had been made that
lIS Cpd1ldIuS hight 0tNOlA inc lSSU0 til
tirely by permitting the merchant ship
to land the stores without molestation
and then right afterwards seize the stores
for their own use.
UNEASY ABOUT THE OREGON.
Particular reticence was observed re-
garding the movements of the battIeship
Oregon and the gunboat Marietta, now on
their way around the Horn to join the
war fleets in the gulf of Mexico. The |
Oregon sailed from Calloa on the 9Th |
instant, since which time nothing had |
been heard from her. It was believed |
she passed Valparaiso and was now near |
ing the port of N1ontevideo, Uruguay. A |
formidable Spanish torpedo boat was |
to be somewhere in that vicin- |
ty awaiting the arrival of the big bat
tleship and some fear was expressed that |
she might creep up on her unawares and |
considerable relief will be |
felt when the arrival of the Oregon at |
some South American port is reported.
II is probable that when the Oregon
reaches Rio &c Janeiro or Bahia she may
De Joined by the Brazilian cruiser Meth
sroy, recently purchased for the United
States navy, and the two vessels will
,ome to the United States together.