The record-union., 1898-03-31
SPANISH VESSELS COMING.
A Formidable Fleet Headed for
Cuban Waters


WASHINGTON, March 80. = There
was the usual number of callers at
the State, War and Navy Departments
to-day to interview the officials regard
ing developments in the Cuban situa-
ton, and for the transaction of numer-
Gus items of business which have been
brought to the fore, as a result Of the
preparations for war that are rapidly
going on.
A matter that caused a good deal Of
excitement around the corridors and
IamOng the officials was the information
IOf the departure westward of a formid-
able Spanish fleet of three vessels. Nat
urally there was a disposition to criti-
else the action of Spain in this par
ticular, in view of the many peace
pr0testations that have been made by
that country, and such action was re-
garded as anything but a friendly
| movement.
The information of the sailing of the
Spanish fleet was contained in a dis
patch to the State Department from
United States Minister Woodford, at
Madrid. The ships sailed from Car
thegena, Spanish naval station on
the Mediterranean, and according to
the Minister'S dispatch they were head
ed westward This, it is said is
undoubtedly the most formidable ar
ray OF vessels that has departed from
Spain in this direction during the pres
ent crisis and the presumption gener-
ally held by the Navy Department Of
clals is that they are headed ultimately
for Havana, and will be first heard
of at the Canaries The fleet is com
posed of two armored cruisers of the
second class under the convoy of a
formidable torpedo boat destroyer
The names of the cruisers are In
fanta Maria Teresa, a sister ship to
the Vizcaya, which visited New York
preliminary to her trip to Havana
where she now is, and the Cristobal
Colon. The former is built of steel, is
3G4 feet over all, 60 beam. and has
displacement Of G,S90 tons. with a
mean draft of 21.6. Her speed is put
down as slightly over twenty knots an
hour. The Cristobal Colon is 32S feet
long and 59.S beam. She is of G.S40
tons displacement. and has a speed Of
twenty knots. Both cruisers are heovi-
ly armored. The torpedo boat DESTROYER
tDestructor is formidable specimen
of about 400 tons displacement. ana
COALING STATION IN WEST
INDIES
AS stated in these dispatches. the
Navy Department has had in view the
acquisition of q cOaling station in the
| West Indies. The Government is now
| without any coaling station in anv
foreign country of any Importance
matter of considerable regret among
naval officers. Ever since the trouble
with Spain has been threatened. Can
tain Bradford, Chief of the Bureau of
/ Equipment, has been looking over the
held very carefully and has indicated
J to Secretary ssl4ong several desirable
! places in the West Indies, where excel
! lent harbOrs exist which. in his iudg-
ment, might be acquired by the Gov
ernment. One of these locations was
| the Island of ST. Thomas. a Danish
possession where it is said the faciE-
ties for the establishment of a coaling
station are admirable
Secretary Long has recognized the
force of Captain Bradford's arguments
and representa- tiOns, and has laid the
matter before the State Department Of
| fcialS, with a view to the ACQUISITION
of St Thomas. 1t is said at the NAVY
| Department that no purchase of tho
island has yet been consummated. but
| that negotiations are under wav The
! Associated Press announced last week.
| that the Island of Navassa wouId NOT
| be selected, but that the tendencies
were toward the Danish island. which
could be purchased for q cOnsidera he
sum.
GENERAL SCHOFIELD
One of the most prominent visitors
at Secretary Algers office was Ger,
eral John M. Scofield. who formerly
commanded the army, and who is now
on his way to New York. General
| Schofeld is President of the National
| Volunteer Reserve Association of the
| United States which is seeking to en-
roll in its ranks from ,OO0G0O to :
! 00G,C00 men who will respond to anv
call that will be made upon them bv
the Government in case of war. Other
persons who saw the Secretary were
Senators Mason. Proctor and HawIev
and General Sichler
! COMMANDERS FOR AUXILIARY
TORPEDO BOATS.
In execution of his policy of prepar-
ing the navy for possible hostile con-
| tngency, secretary Long to-day de-
| tailed officers to command all the aux
| lli9ry torpedo boats recently added TO
/ the navy service. These details are as
| follows: Lieutenant James Hellman.
| to command the Hornet: Lieutenant
! ". II. Switzerland. to command the
Eagle: Lieutenant John Hood. late Of
the Maine, to command the Hawk.
Lieutenant Roger Wells, Jr.. to COM
mand the Tccumseh; Lieutenant F. p
Brainard, to command the JTncas:
/. Lieutenant PARCEL. to command the
! OSceola; Ensign w. r. Gerhardi 10
command the Sioux; Ensign w. 5.
C1ossley, to command the Algonquin.
All of these officers have been in
structed to report for duty without de-
lay The vessels under their command
viii form a part of the MOSQUITO fleet.
| the main purpose of which is to act
as a second line of defense to the prin-
/ cipal harbors on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts The whole fleet will be under
| command of Commander Horace FL
mer. who is now in New York arranp-
ing for its organization and distribu-
| tion into squads at sea-Doard cities
WOODFORD HEARD FROM.
Spanish Cabinet Expected to Reach
Conclusion To-day.