New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-30
TO MEET A SPANISH RAID.
A SQUADRON OF FAST CRUISERS WILL
PATROL THE ATLANTIC COAST.
THE NAVAL AUTHORITIES DO NOT FEAR AN
ATTACK FROM THE SPANISH FLEET WHICH
HAS LEFT ST VINCENT BUT INTEND
TO TAKE NO CHANCES.

ATTACK FROM THE SPANISH FLEET WHICH
HAS LEFT ST. VINCENT. BUT INTEND
TO TAKE NO CHANCES.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1DuSEl
Washington. April 29-The naval strategists
tonight thoroughly convinced that the Cape
Nerd Spanish squadron. which has been the OBJ
ject OF so much sollctude for the last few weeks
and which left St. Vincent this morning. Is now
on its way to the Canaries SO miles distant.
where II will probably arrive next Tuesday or
Wednesday, The War Board Is also satisfied
that no Spanish vessels OF any account are
within 300 miles OF the American coast the
sole exceptions being the insignificant little
gunboats hidden away and effectually sealed up
in Cuban ports.
The only effective vessels Of the Cape Verd
feet are the four armored cruisers. Cristobal
Colon. Infanta Maria Teresa Vizcaya and Almi-
rante Oquendo. The three torpedo destroyers
accompanying them would he useful only in
opposition to a torpedo notilla. for whose de-
struction they were especially designed. and
they would be piteously impotent II met Mt sea
by such cruisers the Columbia or the Mime
apolis The remainlng three torpedo boats. 1t Is
firmly believed. could not make tho Atlantic
passage. even in times OF peace. and are there
fore not permitted 10 enter the calculations.
The main fleet Of four cruisers would scarcely
be a match for Commodore Schlcys armored
vessels. the Brooklyn the Massachusetts, and
the Texas. which might be readily reinforced
by the San Francisco. the New-Orleans. the
Newark and the ram Katahdin.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST A SURPRISE
The fastening Of the vizcaya and the Oquendo
homeward from Porto Rico. and the persistence
displayed by Spain in keeping her strongest YES
sells within easy reach Of home ports. are not
the sole reasons which impei the officials OF the
War Board to predict confidently compare
tive assurance Of no hostile attack on the At
lantic Coast line. hut such other reasons as they
have they decline to dvuge. nor do they in
tend TO trust entirely to the unquestloned
veracity Of the information they possess.
In order 10 make assurance doubly sure that
no sudden raid shall surprise Boston. New-York
and Hampton Roads. the six twenty-five knot
cruisers the Columbia the Minneapolis. the st
Louis. the ST Paul the Harvard and the Yale
will be kept continuously at sea. beginning early
next week at distances varying from 800 20
800 miles from the coast. scouting missions
These splendid vessels. which remain AZ
for twelve days at a time. each patroIing
beats Of 300 10 400 miles. are not apt 70 permit
Spanish vessels 70 escaoe their notice ana IN
case they detected enemy in force holding a
westerly course they could he relied upon to
strain every mechanism they possess 10 oring
the warning 70 the nearest American port. or 10
the most readily reached cable station AZ -
Thomas Bermuda Halifax. or even the Azores
The auxiliary cruisers. the Yankee. the DiAle.
the Yosemite and the Prairie. Will also be on
scouting duty in day or two. and the mosquito
feet nearer shore Will be alert week hence. In
plenty OF time 10 give an alarm. for the four
Spanish cruisers could not under the most
favorable conditions run 1900 miles In less than
eight days For that period at least New-fork
and Boston may breathe easy.