The herald., 1898-04-03
SPANS TORPEDO FLEET
NoW LYING OFF CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS
TEN DAYS MORE TINE NEEDED
For the Formidable Squadron to Reach
American Waters-The Spanish
Cruisers Have Left Havana
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
MADRID, April 1.-The statement cabled
last night to the effect that the torpedo
fiotilla from Spain has arrived at Porte
Rico was taken from O newspaper mere
An investigation shows 1t TO be erroneous
The Spanish fiotilla has arrived at Cape
Dc Verde islands, however, and Will prob
ably proceed after coaling.
The Cape de Verde Islands lie on Africa
some hundreds Of miles southwark from
the Canaries and presumably the hotilla
approaches America in this indirect way
In order to avail itself of the great north
equatorial current, and avoid the great
'Saragosso sea-" or collection OF seaweed
The torpedo boats have a voyage OF at
least 1000 miles yet to make. and as thei'
oceanic speed cannot exceed ten Knots
under the most favorable conditions, IT Is
Impossible for them to sight the head
lands of Porto Rico before more than
week, and the probabilities are that this
ominous moment will be deferred days
later.
ALONG WAY OFF
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The Associa-
ted Press bulletin announcing that the
Spanish torpedo fotilla was at the Cape
Verde Islands, on the west coast OF
Africa, instead of Porto Rico. was received
with a good deal of satisfaction at the
Navy Department, which was without in
formation as to the whereabouts of the
notilla. The islands are more than 2OOO
miles from Porto Rico, and 1t is the 'opin-
lon Of naval experts that at the very best
ten or twelve days would be the least
nm
across.
STRANGE MANEUVERS
NEW YORK, April 2-The Evening
World prints copyrighted dispatch dated
April 1, on board the Worlds dispatch
boat Triton, via Key West, which says:
The Spanish warships Vizcaya and
OQuendo no longer lie like big watch dogs
across Havana harbor. They are on their
way to Porto Rico. The Worlds dispatch
boat followed them until this was made
certain.
They left their moorings at 3 o'clock this
afternoon and started eastward along the
north coast Of Cuba. For days both big
Spanish cruisers have been ready to sail
at an hours notice. Their coal bunkers
were filled almost two weeks ago.
Late last night package of sealed or.
ders were sent out to the two warships
from the office Of the Almirante on La
Machina wharf. Early this morning prep
arations for their departure were begun.
Boat after boat. loaded down to the gun
wales with provisions of every kind start
ed out from Havana wharyes to the Viz
caya. The Evening World correspondent
boarded the Vizcaya at 10 O'Clock. He was
received courteously by CAPTAIN Eulate.
"Ail l know about II !" saws he. ais tina
I'VE are going AWAY. hut where 7 have not
the faintest idea. Orr orders are sealed
and I shall not omen them until 7 am sew
eral miles out at sea"
corresnondent was put IN hoord the
Triton with orders to follow the cruisers.
The corre.nondenrs narrative continues.
"As soon as the two sh,ps reached the
omen gulf thew turned To the westward and
ran three or four miles down the coast In
that direction. After thew had Reached n
no,nt IN tho coast about five MILES wect-
ward from uavan. +boy +,,rnea oor,r,eta-
iv around and headed for Movie ogoin
."rha watchers IN tho Triton uere aston
l.hed. Could n he that tho warsh,ns had
changed their MANS and were return,ng
to Havana? Under q sneed of about clever
knots an hour. thew nassed Moro for the
second time. the Vizcava leading the
Opuendo by half a mile. Down the Goa at
to the eastward of Havana the two mem
of-war passed in procession. At a dis
lance of seven miles from land the Triton
paralleled their course. sailing at about
the same rate of speed. AS the sun drop-
ped down below the horizon the yizcaya
ana Oquendo became lost to view in the
shadow Of the long green hills of the shore.
"The two ships had increased their speed
a little by this time and were logging
along at about fifteen knots. They kept
well within the five-mile limit. Most of the
time they were not more than a mile from
shore. Soon the Triton followed the Viz
caya and Oquendo until they rounded
Point 0uanos.
Point Guanos is twenty-eight miles to
the eastward of Havana Had either of
the two men-of-war had any idea Of going
to United States ports, they certainly
would have turned north at Point Guanos.
But they did not.
AT speed OF sixteen knots an hour
they kept on eastward. The course they
followed 10 the one indicated on charts as
being tho most direct route to Porto Rico"
WAR TALK AT HAVANA
NEW YORK. April a. spain's official