Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-30


ands sailed Wednesday for destina
ton which was not made public. Every
body believed that the feet already was
nearly across the Atlantic and was
about to attack the United States ports.
1t had been announced officially ten
days. ago that the fleet had left for
America. Afterward Admiral Bermejo
the minister of marine, told the public
that the fleet was half way over the
ocean. The governments deception of
the people is resented bitterly.
Though nothing is known as to the
course the Cape Verde fleet is taking
if the governments story of its de-
parture is true this time-it is left to
be inferred that the ships have started
for America. The official announce
ment says that the first class armored
cruisers Cristobal Colon, Infanta Maria
Teresa, Almirante Oquendo and Viz
caya. the torpedo boat destroyers Furor,
Terror and Pluton and the transport
City of Cadiz 1t was added that the
torpedo boats Ariete, Rayo and Aver
would return to Cadiz. If the small,
unseaworthy torpedo boats are left be-
hind to come home, it is presumed that
the others intend to cross the sea.
The public indignation at being trifed
with in reference to the Cape Verde
fleet, of which great things are expected,
was intensified by the news that the bat
tleship Pelayo only left Cattegia last
Monday and reached Cadiz to-day. II was
supposed that the Pelayo and another
battleship. the Emperador Carlos v,
were on the other side of the ocean by
this time and perhaps preparing to bonn
bard New York. The same deception has
been discovered in the fitting ont Of other
vessels of war at the navy yards. due
partly to the scandalous deficiency of sup
plies at the royal arsenals.
The Spaniards are extremely angry
with their government. If the navy fails
TO come up to their extravagant expecta-
tions or meets with serious reverses there
will be an uprising of the people which
will be irresistible. The very least that
may be looked for then is the overthrow
of the Sagasta ministry, already much
weakened by the collapse of its protract-
cd negotiations with the United States
and the failure of its colonial home rule
policy. The fear of a popular outburst
keeps people uneasy and increases the
depression in financial circles. Finan-
ciers are deeply disguised with the finan-
cial minister's recommendations publish
cd in the Gazette They say he proposes
taxes it is in1nOcSjh1a n levy and pn
SPANS credit abroad by his strange plans
for increasing the bank note issue and
tampering with the payment of the cou-
pons of the foreign debt
Rumors are current again that Russia
and Germany will assist Spain.
A dispatch to the Herald from Cadiz
says: The Spanish government a little
while ago sent to Gibraltar to buy up all
possible coal. This amounted from three
firms to about 1900 tons. coal being very
scarce, owing to the Welsh strike The
price was AZ shilings instead Of as usual.
% shilings. The ships of the Campania
Transatlantic are now being rapidly got
mounting four cannon of Is. four of IS and
two of centimeters the Joanquin Piel-
ago, of 800 tons. mounting two cannon of
? centimeters and two maxims. The Gu
dad Cadiz, which is with the torpedo
squadron, is armed with four cannon of
II centimeters, two o. centimeters and
two quick-firing guns. The forts Rofa
S1d san Cataline are being strengthened
and new guns are being mounted there
Crowds of workmen are engaged upon one
of the principal forts in the center of the
town. At the edge of the sea they are
raising earthworks.
A dispatch to the Herald from Tangier
says: The Spanish Government has pur-
chased 500 tons of coal here from a
French company. The English are short
of coal for the arrival of their channel
fleet on Monday. Owing to the strike
they could only manage to get 800 tons.