The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-20

known to be in the harbor of San Juan
DC Puerto Rico, and that craft is small
French steamer which hurried away af-
frighted after the warships had departed.
Washington, D. c., May 13.-The navy
department was an excitement this morn
ing on the receipt of the news that Ad-
miral SIMPSONS squadron had begun the
bombardment of San Juan de Puerto Ri
co, and fuel was added to the flames when
the news came later that the Spanish fly
Ing squadron had been sighted off Martin
ique, giving promise of heavy fighting to
notice of his intention to lombard San
Juan was not suddenly-eonceived prof.
ect, but part of well.1natured plan.
Whether or not the orders to the admiral
included q .bombardment is not disclosed
ut the navy department.
Indeed there is nothing In SIMPSONS
report to indicate that he really did hom.
bard the place. He merely attacked the
forts at the: entrance of the harbor, and if
| any shells struck within the town itself,
they were stray shots. It is surmised
that Admiral SIMPSONS object in making
the attack in this fashion without land
ing force OF troops in reserve to occupy
the town if it were captured, was to de-
stroy the Notifications and make the har-
Dor useless to the Spanish flying squad
ron as place of refuge. The reports so
far received show that he did not COM
plete that undertaking yesterday and the
question now is whether he will resume
his work today, or will be diverted from
it by the report of the presence of the
Spanish flying squadron in the neighbor
hood of Martinique.
department that 1.-THE Spanish squadron is
| now hull down to the westward of Mar
| Unique" could not be supplemented by ad-
ditional information as to the time the
dispatch was sent, but it is supposed that
the squadron was seen yesterday.
ments, for the United States scout Har-
yard, which put into Martinique yester-
day, is said to have found there one of
the tOrpedo-destroyers composing the
Spanish feet and certainly would report
the fact to Sampson via St: Thomas if
f a e the e. f hsrs i Sps
been treated with perfect fairness in the
matter of the use of the cable from Mar
Unique and that messages of the ut
most Importance, such, for instance, as
those reporting the movements of Spanish
ships, have been delayed an unconsciona-
BILE length of time, to the great embar-
one that Will be investigated in the fl-
ture, as we'll as other facts connected with
the treatment; of the Spanish ships in
West Indian. ports which are nominally
operating strictly under the neutrality
lays; 80 :, ill.,. a.
been lying In wait for the Oregon, which,
with the Marietta and Nichteroy sailed
on the 18th from Bahia to Join Sampson,
and the reported activity of the Spanish
torpedo-boat destroyers in running in and
out of Martinique seems to show that
they are being used as scouts to give the
rest Of the squadron notice Of the APP
the mission will be fruitless, for, having
discovered the whereabouts of the Span
ish force, Admiral Sampson will carry
out his orders to destroy their ships if
he can reach them.
The fact that the spaniards were head
ed Yesterday towards the westward on
the surface would indicate that they were
bound for the: south coast of Cuba. but
warships in these circumstances try to
mislead observers ashore.
The information that the Spanish squad
ron has been sighted off Martinique
caused a decided sensation throughout
naval circles, as this brings close to Ad-
miral SIMPSONS squadron the Formidable
collection of SPANS strongest and most
modern vessels. 1t is the feet which was
reported to be lying at Caliz. Evidently
the latter report was inspired by Spanish
strategy. -
Martinique is French island lying 500
miles east Of Porto Rico and 200 miles
west of the West Indies and is the natu-
raj point at which the Spanish fleet COM
ing from Cape Verde would first make
landing.
1t must now pass the French island of
Guadaloupe to the west, the Danish island
of st. Thomas, little farther east, then
its course, is open to Porto Rico unless
fore that move is made. AS they stand
| now, the two fleets are about 500 miles
apart, which by hard sailing of both fleets
would cover one day, or by the sailing of
one feet would bring them together in
two days.
The Spanish squadron is made up of
seven first-class ships, of which four are
armored cruisers and three destroycrs.
This is as near the exact strength as can
pc stated, for the reports. FROM Cape
Verde and from Cadiz have caused much
doubt as to the exact strength of the
Spanish squadron. But allowing for the
torpedo boats or other craft which re-
turned to Cadiz, there is little doubt that
the Spanish squadron off Martinique has
at least seven warships of formidable d.
mansions. These are: =.
~, x.i,zcayasEArmored cruiser, built OF steel,
WIZ with double screws, two turrets, two fun
ensh ns se4 feet asts Ta tops
sTmor belt q steel FEET inches as n Ssoa a.
90 Aeet lonG ana ~ or IL inches thick.
ming towers 12Inch armor. Her protected
deck Is from 2 to inches Of steel. Her
armament Is two 11-inch 1Iontoria guns,
mounted singly. in turrets, one forward and
beam. the forward and aft ones being
eight Nordenfeldt machine guns. two
Maxim machine guns, six torpedo tubes,
and two submerged torpedo tubes. She
carries 40 mcIi. -.@.-
Almirante Oquendo-Armored cruiser,
QUILT OF steel. double screws, two turrets,
etc. Her tonnage, RrmOr and armament
n every respect are similar to that of the
Infanta Marie Teresa--Armored cruiser,
built Of steel; $500 tons displacement. This
! cruiser Is also indentical with the vizcaya.
Cristob0l COlOn-ArmOred cruiser, built of
steel; twin screws; two covered barbettes,
fore ana aft, two tunnels. one military
tons, speed 20 knots. Her armor consists
Of II complete nickel steel belt feet 8
inches wide, inches thick. The armor
Of the barbettes Is 8 inches thick. The
Coming tower s inches All the ' guns 'h have
shields. Her armament is two 1O-inch guns,
ten 6.inch guns, SIX 4.7.inch, ten 8-pounders.
ten 1-pounders, two Maxim machine guns,
four torpedo tubes. She has compile.
Terror and Fpror-T orpeslo.bo destroyers
lately added 70 the Spanish navy. having
been built at Clyde bank In 1895 They are
Of steel with three tunnels and one mast; :
length J; 20 g fee, displaeement $40 tons.
quick fires; two six-pounder Quick fires; two
mounts Two l1lnsh torpedo tubes ' 81 dsck
y. P|s.se IL !. another nod