The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-23

at her navy yards and on all sources where
information concerning them might come,
the Washington authorities have had great
difficulty In obtaining satisfactory lnfor
nation concerning the Spanish ships re-
naming al home The stringent censor
ship in Srain has kept news dispatches
practically barren of all naval information
except such as the Madrid authorities de-
sired to be known. The Post Herald has.
however with the greatest difficulty and
expense. obtained an authentic account Of
Spanish warships at Cadiz and Ferrol,
their condition and in what way they are
10 be employed, which is presented here.)
especial Cable to Tho Pos. ald New York
Herald Copyright 1925. by James Cor
don BenncttD
Madrid, May 22--With the incoming of
the new government the greatest impetus
yards and, it may be added. to home de-
lenses. Torpedoes have been laid at the
entrances of all important harbors. The
new ministry has determined to send out
at once what is known as the reserve
squadron-that is TO say, the armored
warship Peleyo, the protected cruisers
Carlos and Alfonso XIII. the coast defense
ship Victoria the torpedo boat destroyers
Audaz, Prosperina and Destructor the dis
patch beat Girada, the dispatch boat Ra
pido and Patria and tho armed Transatlan-
pido and patria and the rmed Trnsatlantic
tic liners joaquin de pelayo Alfonzo XIII,
Antonio Lopez, Cuidad de Cadz and Bue-
nos Ayres To the above will be added the
Reina Christina which is being armed at
Ferrol. and the Leon XII, which has al
ready started from Barcelona for Cadz
This fleet is likely to start at once and 1t
-.,- ,'i-'-. -A-i~s -.has ~ &c onug to Ma
Significant suggestions are mace as 10
the possibility of the Pelayn getting through
| the suez canal owing to her draught, but 1t
may be readily understood that the admit
raty is not giving its secrets away, and that
the feet will sail under sealed orders, and
that 1t Is quite as likely to go west as to 80
east
Cadiz, May 2a.-It is stated very nosi-
lively that the Pelayo, Carlos and three
of the Transatlantic and two torpedo boats
are about to sail for the Philippines The
Pelayo is well armed armored and manned
The Carlos V is well manned and has good
guns. but her heavy ones forward will not
swing owing to defects in the machinery
and can be only fired directly ahead
The captains of these boats are good men
and experienced. but Admiral Carmara is
regarded by naval men as difficult TO work
under, giving orders and contradicting
them almost in the same breath. He is
from Malaga.
hear that the Spanish fleet left St VIM
cent without instructions from the govern
ment at Madrid. ard that Admiral Cervera
wired; The state OF my country compvls
me TO go to meet the enemy" The cap.
tans of Vizcays. Almirante Ocuendo and
the MEfld Teresa are excellent command
ers. These ships are all in good shape and
powerful, being heavily armored and well
ht INDEED. The Cristibal Colon has no heavy
guns and therefore is not formidable, but
all four OF them are OF seven thousand tons
each and can steam twenty to twenty-one
knots. They are the ships our navy has
NEST to fear.
The Spaniards are preparing the two
steamers Normannia and Columbia, the
Rapido and the Unytar. to take hoavy guns
II they strengthen the ships properly the
work will require several months.
The cruiser Alfonso XIII will remain in
Cadlz as a guard ship. but as her boilers are
insufficient, she cannot steam more than
six to seven knots. and therefore is not of
much use. it lis felt certain there are at
least fifty mines well laid in the bay of
Cails.
WHALING FLEET LOST.