The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-12
WHERE IS
THE FLEET?
Naval Battle Reported Off
San Juan, No COnfir-
alton Given Out.

ionuou, May ll.-luqulTles Inaue on
board ships which have recently arrived
of Madeira, Tenertfe and Gibraltar show
that nothing has been seen of the Spanish
fleet.
The British steamer Galicia, Captain
Bird, which left Cadiz on April 30, TO.
ports that the only Spanish war vessels
there were the auxiliary cruisers Norman
mia and Columbia, two torpedo boats and
an armed yacht, possibly the Glralda.
Old Point Comfort, Va, May 1l.--The
New Orleans finished coaling to-day and
Is ready for sea. The New Orleans tried
her big guns to-day and her officers re-
ported to Commodore Schlcy that they
were well pleased with the work of them.
Madrid May lin tho Chamber TO-
meron's attacks on the present regime, re.
torting that the state of anarchy which
existed in Spain during the short lived Re-
publican regime under Salmeron made
spain the laughing stock of tho world.
The Premier defended the policy of the
Government in doing its utmost to avoid
war, while the Yankees were PLAYING
foul game" He repeated his appeal for
union, adding that whoever sowed discoru
was not patriot. He concluded his speech
by declaring that the Government would
pFUSeClU0 inc war OllufalCe.
London, May 1l.--Speclal dispatches
from Madrid say it, officially declared
that the government of Spain has no in
tenton of allowing Rear Admiral Dewey
to rest on his laurels.
About 10000 men ofthe reserves OF the
Spanish aimy have been or
dered to rejoin tho colors. and it is added
that II formidable expedition is being or
gained for despatch to the Philippine Is
lands
ST. Thomas, West Indios, May 11.-Ac-
cording to reports from Porto Rico the
people arc panic stricken at the possible
prospect of the bombardment Of San Juan.
Two thousand seven hundred tons of
coal has arrived here from Philadelphia
rs u speculation.
Board Is carefully preparing its plans for
an assault upon Havana by sea in connect
ion with the regular army movement by
land the work being rather of II preparil-
tory nature and not committing the de-
partment in any way to final adoption
OF this plan. 1t has been represented that
the llcet with safety might assemble to the
extreme cast OF tho Spanish Qualifications
at the entrance of tho hurbor. In that pc.
sition 1t would BIO exposed to attack by
only one bal terry at the end OF tue line
The entire fleet could entilade this bat
terry and destroy it in short order
The attack would be followed down tho
limo of shore, taking one battery ut time
and thus reducing to u minimum the ex-
posuro Of the ships, while bringing N ter
riblc concen ration of fire uDon the bat.
terlesin turn. One naval officer who was
consulted upon The subject guaranteed
that he fleet could knock out all tho for
tl1lcations one after another within two
hours st wonld look like knocking
down q row of bricks" said he.
London, May IA dispatch to the
Times from Singapore says: Tho Philip
pine refugees here are preparing CON
gratulatory address to Rear Admiral
Dewey. They also express II desire for tho
Of a native government and
for American protection. They deprecate
the restoration of the Philippines to Spain
or the transfer of the islands to any Con.
Government.
GERMANY's PROTEST.
Washington, May l2.-1'he report that
Germany is preparing note TO the Flu.
roprun powers indicating Il desire to OBJ
tain possession of the Philippine Islands
was received unOtliCiaily at the Depart
nGnt of Safe, and was dismissed with in
difference. When it was referred to in
the war Department one of tho leading
officials, without relaxing his attention to
routine business quietly remarked:
Nv men this country Was in trouble once
before it was deemed good time to inter-
fero III Mexico After our war was over
our trained veteIans appeared on the Rio
lIrandc. We have no time to at end to
Iermhnv just now. LITTER on VIC will
havO dime, and We will have facilities 10
pay attention TO any and all corners who
tA i,,f il, Il
/ tLunl0n, May IA dispatch tn tho Globe
from Gibraltar says British steamer
which has jus5 arrived there reports Off
claily that She pissed yesterday evening -
Spanish tOIpciOboat destroyer, which was
hlgcciras Bay and tho straits.
shortly after the steamer pa spd her, all
the lights Of the destroyer were Suddenly
cxlinguiShud, u terrific explosion followed
ely aud tho destroyer Disappears
ed The disaster, the dispatch adds, was
apparently caused by the explosion Of the
boilers Of tho turpcdoboat desr oycrs. 1t is
feared that all on board Of her have perish
ri. Tho boat blown up Is probably the
ID lstructur.
The De-truCtor IL classel as a torpedo
gunDaat. She was built of steel at Clyde
Bank in 1887, and was 1872 feet inches
long. She was of i53 tons displacement,
had 20 feet beam and drew feet of water.
The Destructor was driven by Two propel-
lers, Lad 3,S . horse power and was esti-
mated &c have speed Of ~ u knots. Her
armament consisted OF one 8 ) inch gun,
four FOUNDERS, quick firers, and four
Maxim guns. She had 3 torpedo tubes,
carried over 100 ton of coal and had crew
Of IS men.
Cape Haytien. May lit was reported
here to-day that naval battle was in pro-
yreSS of San ,Juan. Ii is imDpssIlle to
,Jntirm the repor;. Admiral simpsons
lcct is known to be in tho vicinity Of the
Porto Rican capital and an engagement is
hourly pyDnctel