Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-06
SPANS TORPEDO FLOTILLA.
Our Naval Officers Alarmed at Its Ap-
proach.

Our Naval Officers Alarmed at Its Ap-
proach.
President Mckinley has conferred
with his constitutional advisers with
regard to the coming of the Spanish
torpedo fotilla, says a Washington
dispatch. Grave apprehension is felt
concerning this hostile movement Of
the government at Madrid !; and there
is disposition to promptly interfere
with the progress Of that feet.
The president has heen advised to
send Commodore Schley with the fly
ing squadron to meet the Spanish flo
tilla, take possession of the coal car
rier and inform the commander of the
flotilla that this country desires, in the
interest of peace, that the torpedo
boats return TO their own waters.
This advice has been seriously consid-
cred. If followed, the president will
want the world TO understand that the
Unprecedented course is taken solely
in the interest of peace, and not for
the purpose of interfering with Span
ish vessels on the high seas.
Secretary of the Navy Long is ex-
ceedingly apprehensive of the ap-
proach of the Spanish torpedo fotilla.
He has represented to the president
and to the cabinet that this flotilla
is capable of doing infinite damage 10
our fleet at Key West if it is permit
ted 10 come within striking distance.
Secretary Long has been advised by
naval officers that the torpedo flotilla,
acting at night, with typical Spanish
methods, selecting some night when
there is a foggy atmosphere, might
practically wipe out our fleet. That
might be done as Spain's first declara-
ton of war.
A naval officer, who has talked with
Secretary Long on this point, this at.
lernoon said to the writes: "On fog.
gy night, when search lights cannot
penetrate the atmosphere brilliantly
for more than mile the torpedo boals
of Spain, the best in the world, might
come at the fleet under a full head OF
steam. They would probably select
the monitors and battleships US their
prey. Under such circumstances it
would be difficult to strike and sink
them. If one of them succeeds in de-
stroying a monitor or u battleship, all
our search lights might inadvisedly he
concentrated on the exploded ship,
while the torpedo boats would be
speeding from opposite directions with
deadly energy against other vessels.
"It is apprehended by naval officers
that this would likely be done by Spain
unawares and without declaration of
war. OF course, it is well for the ad-
ministration to assume that Spain
means no harm but naval officers all
believe that the Maine was destroyed
by Spaniards without declaration OF
war, precedent or subsequent. All OF
us are apprehensive, and we have con-
vinced the secretary that our feet is in
great danger from this torpedo folilla." ."
President Mckinley, hoping for
peace, using every honorable method
to maintain peace, is confronted with
this menace "a menace which naval
officers declare cannot be overestima'
ted. They all say that to permit the
torpedo fotilla to come within striking
distance of our fleet would be almost
objectionable. President Mckinley
fully realizes the gravity of the situa-
ton, and he also understands that the
destruction of our North Atlantic
squadron would leave this country at
the mercy of merciless foe.
The question is, Would not such a
course be regarded by the nations OF
the world as a declaration of war on
the part of this country. The repre-
sentatives of foreign governments are
tonight being interrogated by our off
cials of the department of state.
Concerning a possible danger to our
flying squadron when meeting the
fotilla on the high seas with such a
request, naval officer says: "There
would be no danger. The commander
of the torpedo fotilla would be noti-
fed by one of our officers going on
board the flagship that single dem
onstration would be followed by the
sinking of the coal carrier. That
alone would leave the fotilla helpless
| in midocean. The commander OF the
holilla would realize that fact. No,
there would be no danger to the flying