The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-04-03
THE SPANISH NAVY
Is Not 50 FoSsaidable as Has Been
Reported

| II MOI 90 CoFo11uap1e Us 0oS OooAA
Reported
| WASHINGTON. April Am interesting
compilation of the naval strength available
! by Spain In case of war has been issued
| by Col. Wagner, chief of the military IN
| formation division. It shows the total
number Of ships, including those now
| building, and such merchant vessels as
| may be impressed into service by Spain.
| to be over 100. The compilation. however,
| does not include coast defense vessels
proper, nor a number of small special craft
employed by the Spanish government IN
| special waters or under special circum-
stances. There are eleven armored SHIPS
| of an aggregate tonnage OF over Sl.OOO, all
Of which. except three. have speed OF
| twenty knots or more. There are thirty
eight cruising ships, which include cruis-
ers proper. gurboats, torpedo gunboats,
| gun vessels, dispatch vessels and sloops
OF war. All except eight of these are OF
| less than 5000 TONS About two-thirds are OF
| less than 1900 tons. None OF the cruising
ships have any armor, except two or three,
which have slight deck protection. Thir-
teen Of them have speed above eighteen
knots. There are three gun vessels and
four gunboats designed 'for service in
81.
and armament. There are also eighteen
small steel gunboats for service in Cuba,
carrying small and rap!d-fire guns. In the
torpedo boat destroyer class there are six
vessels with a speed of tweuty-e,ght knots
or over. There are sixteen torpedo boats
of light tonnage and speed ranging from
eight to twenty-five and half knots per
hour. The ships building include the fol-
lowing:
Battleship, unnamed, II 900 tons, designed
to make 10 knots; armored cruiser, I'M
named. 1880 tons, 81 knots; two protected
cruisers. the Reina Regente, of 1925 tons,
and the Rio de la Plata, Of IT'S tons, each
of 20 knots; the armored cruiser Pedro
d'Aragon, 6Si0 tons, 20 knots; the torpedo
gunboat Velos. $50 tons. 20 knots. and tors
pedo gunboats, the number of which is not
given.
| Thirteen vessels of the Companie Trans
atlantique of Cadiz are designated as being
available for arming as cruisers. They
average from 1884 to 6932 gross tons and
have a speed of from 13la to II knots.
EARTHQUAKE DOINGS
| WASHINGTON, April 2.-Reports have
been received at the navy department de-
failing the damage caused at the Mare is
land (Cal) navy yard by the recent earth
quake shock. The following kilograms
from the commanding officer explain the
condition of affairs:
IAN examination Of the buildings shows
that the creek ends Of the foundry and
boiler shops OF the steam-engineering build
ing are destroyed. The side walls are
badly cracked, and one of the machine
shops is in a dangerous condition. The
smokestack Of the construction shops is
broken through one-third from the top and
Is slightly shifted. The walls of the shop
are badly cracked.
Both ends of building 81 and south end
Of building II are badly wrecked, and must
be partially removed for safety.
"Eave directed necessary work in secur-
ing the walls in order to continue work
safely. All shops can be in running order
by Sunday. All brick quarters are Sc
riously damaged, some dangerously. Saw
mill and paint shop destroyed. Other
buildings somewhat damaged. Dock and
wharves in good order.
Thorough examination of brick
quarters by the board of survey
shows that all houses numbered to IA are
so badly wrecked by the earthquake shock
as to be dangerous to life without extern
sive repairs. The repairs will certainly
cost $1,000 for each house. The houses
then would not be safe against a recurrence
of the earthquake. 1 recommend that the
necessary work Of protecting government
property be done now, and the frame
houses be contracted at once'
A NEW MAXIM GUN
LEWISTON, Me-, April "A dispatch to
the Journal from Wayne, Me-, says: Hud-
son Maxim. a brother of the inventor of
the famous Maxim rapid-fire gun, has just
invented gun that, in its awful destruc-
tive force, goes far beyond Hiram
Maxims. 1t is called the Maxim aerial
torpedo, and is designed for coast defense
and naval work. AS its name implies, the
torpedo is fired into the air, instead OF be-
Ing shot along the surface of the water.
In fact, It Is used the same as any cannon
or mortar. The gun from which it is fired
has a bore of twenty-six inches. It will
throw ton of dynamite a distance of five
miles, and If the torpedo strikes within a
distance Of 200 feet Of warship it will
shver it to atoms.
Mr. Maxim has also invented a smokeless
powder to use with the torpedo.
EXCITEMENT AT HAVANA
HAVANA, via Key West, April 2.-Thc
strong persuasion put forth by men of good
judgment probably prevented uemOnStra-
ton here on Thursday night, when story
| was bruited about that war had been de-
clared Police precautions were doubled
| and Americans were advised to stay
around the central and best guarded por-
| tions of the city.
| Yesterday 1t was reported at the palace
| that three United States war vessels had
been seen patrolling the north coast Of
Cuba. Whether this is true or not, the cor
| respondents have no means of knowing,
but certainly it was believed at the palace.
| It may have had something to do with the
departure of the Vizcaya and Oquendo
from the harbor. though it has been known
| for some time that these vessels were
getting ready to sail at any moment.
| The lower classes here think that the
vessels which they deem invulnerable,
| have gone to Key West to destroy the
| United States fleet If war is declared.
| WASHINGTON, April 2. - Constant
movements of officials numberless con-
| ferences and large congressional con-
tingent that was on hand, made today a
busy one at the navy department There
were, however, no new or sensational de-
velopments in the situation.
Secretary Long said there had been no
orders as yet issued to the Flying tluad-
ron." now at Hampton Roads. The depart