Evening star., 1898-04-29
LEFT ST. VINCENT
Satisfaction at the Departure of the
Spanish Fleet.
INTENDED VISITATION OF Big LINERS
Transformed Into Destroyers Of
Commerce.
NEW ESSELS rem NAMED

NEW VESS ELS rem A M ED
The Navy Department early this morning
received news of the sailing from st. Vim
cent, Cape Verde, of the Spanish fleet and
when the additional information came
through the press dispatches initially that
Portugal had at last proclaimed neutrality,
there were many expressions of satisfaction
among the officials. However, almost from
the moment Of the departure of the fleet
anxiety arose as to it's destination. The
statement that the vessels when leaving St.
Vincent were headed in a southerly direc-
ton is valueless as an indication of the real
course OF the feet, for the veriest beginner
in the study Of naval strategy would real
ize the importance OF misleading an enemy
as to the intentions of fleet circrmstanced
as is that Of Spain. While the field for
speculation is very wide, still the majority
of the naval officers here feel confident that
the Spanish fleet will next appear at the
Canary Islands, about half way between
Cape Verde and Spain, and lying directly in
the homeward path Of the ships.
AS thu Canaries are Spanish islands and
sideration,, it may be that the fleet will be
allowed to- remain there for some time, as
the islands form good strategic base.
What most concerns the naval officers
just now is how to learn when the fleet
does arrive there. The cable to the Ca
naries being in Spanish hands, the arrival
of the fleet would without doubt be kept
secret, SO far as the public or our gov
ernment was concerned. The intended vis-.
itation of the converted American liners to
the coast Of Spain may have the effect to
hasten the return home Of the Cape Verde
squadron, for 1t is believed that that squad
ron comprises about all of the vessels in
the Spanish navy that are speedy and pow
erful enough to warrant an attack upon
Sessels of the st. Paul class. as
Big Liners to Look for Prizes.
1t Is entirely possible that the operations
of the American fleet in Cuban waters in
the matter of seizing Spanish vessels as
prizes will be soon completely eclipsed by
the performance Of the swift ocean grey
hounds recently obtained by the govern
mont from the American Line Steamship
Company, the ST. Louis and ST. Paul, Har-
ward and Yale 0ately New York and Paris).
1t was the intention of the department to
considerably supplement their present bat
teries at the navy yards. But owing, prob
ably to the receipt of information from
abroad of the movements of some very
richly-laden Spanish vessels en- route to or
about to depart from Spain, the depart
ment does not consider that time remains
to complete the work in the ordinary man
ner at the. navy yards, now overwhelmed
with other work. The transformed liners,
therefore, are to be rushed to sea, and 1t is
rumored that they carry in their holds
some guns OF heavy caliber. which will be
mounted when they are in blue water.
OF course, following the rule which has
been SO rigidly observed at the Navy De-
partment touching the movements of war
ships. no official statement can be secured
as to the destination of these splendid aux
iliary cruisers, but it is rumored that they
are to head directly for the coast of Spain,
where they will lie in wait for the Spanish
prizes. Unless the small observation force
OF the Spanish navy In the Mediterran-
ean, composed Of torpedo boats and de-
stroyers. is reinforced before the liners
reach those waters they are likely to fall
easy victims to the guns of the cruisers.
New Names for New Vessels.
The Secretary of the Navy today select
ed new names for several recent acquisi-
tions to the auxiliary navy. The cruiser
Nictheroy, formerly the Morgan liner Ell
ernment, has been renamed the Buffalo in
honor of the New York city OF that name.
This cruiser left Rio de Janeiro few days
ago under escort Of Brazilian warship
bound for New York. Her departure from
the Brazilian port was undoubtedly hasten
ed by the neutrality order issued by that
government giving vessels Of the bellig-
erent nations twenty-four hours to leave
Brazilian ports,
Other vessels renamed today are The fol-
lowing: The steam lighter John Dwight
was named the Pawnee, the tug Hesperia
was named the Apache, and the tug Justin
was named the Chickasaw.
Naval officers were very much concerned
this morning at the reported destruction
OF the powder factory at Dover and the
wires were put to work instantly with
result OF showing that the concern suffer-
ing from the explosion was not the one
supplying the government with powder,
but was the Atlantic works.
Contraband Goods.
Both the Navy and War Departments
are engaged in the preparation of q circu-
lar that will state in exact terms just
what constitute contraband goods. The
matter IL not easy Of definition because
the recent developments Of science and.
changes in the methods Of warfare. both
afioat and ashore, have made many ar
ticles useful or necessary to an army and
navy which were formerly quite exempt
from suspicion Of being oontraband The
lists when completed by the technical Of
ficers Of the two departments will be fur
nished to the State Department, which
will in turn add certain items to them and
promulgate the combined list.
Admiral Samps0n's Report.
Secretary Long has received a brief dis
patch from Admiral Sampson, reporting the
firing on Matanxas. The admiral says that
a few shots were thrown at the defenses.
He gives no details of the affair or its re-
suits.
Today's Naval Orders.
The following naval orders were issued
today: y
Passed Assistant Engineer n. N. T. Har-
ris, from the Naval Hospital at Pensacola
and be ready for sea duty.
Lieut.. e. Lloyd. jr., from the Naval
Academy to the Solace.
Acting Ensign T. L. Jenkins. to the.Leb-
M