The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-05

LISBON. May News has been re-
ceived here TO the effect that the Span
izh Cape Verde Squadron has returned
to join the Spanish fleet near Cadiz. which
is nearly ready for sea.
Il is added that the combined feet OF
Spain will shortly start for American
waters.
NEW YORK. May i.-The Spanish feet
which was at the Cape Verde Isla ads.
consisting OF the Yizcaya, Almr;snts
Oquendo Grstobal Colon and Maria
Theresa Cll first-class crulsers) accom-
panied by the torpedo boat ,destroyers
Furor, Terror ana Pluton, left St. Vim
cent Cape Verde Islands on April 2sth.
destination unknown.
ARRIVAL IN DOUBT.
The distance from the Cape Verde ISL
Gnds 10 the Canary Islands is about s5s
miles, and the distance from the Ca
nary Islands 10 Cadiz about 30 miles or
ll55 miles from the Cape Verde Islands
to Cadiz. The Spanish Squadron being
five days out from ST. Vi6cnt could have
made Cadiz by this time, stcomlng at the
rate OF about 900 miles day, or "A little
over twelve knots an hour. But the
Lisbon dispatch does not say distinctly
that the squadron has reached Cadiz.
lt is announced that the squadron has
returned 20 join the Spanish feet near
Cadiz," which may mean that It's news
comes possibly from the Canary Islands
or from some source at Madrid.
At Cadiz the Spanlards are understood
to be htting out the battieship Pelayo
and the frst-class cruisers Cardinal Cis~
neros Emperado Carlos v. Guiuseppe
Garabaldi and Alfonso Kill. besides the
warships Numanira, Vitoria. Destructcr
and several auxiliary cruisers and
number OF torpedo boats and torpedo
gunbOats.
PREPARING TO MOVE.
OLD POINT COMFORT. May ton
board the Flagship Brooklyn OF Fort
Monroe lit is the general expectation
here that the Flying Squadron viii so 10
sea within twenty-four hours. or as soon
as the cruiser New Orleans arrives.
Commodore schley has been notified that
the cruiser Columbia has been detached
from the squadron, and that the New
Orleans will take her place.
So far as hghtlng ability Is concerned
the New orleans Is superior TO the Co
lumbia. being more heavily armed and
without so much freeboard and upper
works 20 act as target.
\ FORMIDABLE SQUADRON.
The squadron as now cOnstltuted Will
battleshp: Texas. second-clGss battle
ship: Brooklyn arm0red cruiser; New
Orleans, OF the type OF the Raleigh and
Cincinnati: and the Scorpion. fast ar
mored yacht. with four 5-inch and four
6-pounder guns. The Minneapolis. has
not been officially detached and may yet
Join the squadron.
The squadron Is now accompanied by &
first-class tug. for dispatch and water
purposes and the collier sterling. ON
the ships to-day fire and collision drills
were gone through with in remarkable
shape on the Brooklyn the two score
OF hose connections were made and the
tarpaullns spread In less than a minute
and a quarter while water was ready
to be let into the magazines During
the collision drill. the water-tight COM
partments were closed and the mat to
cover a break In the hull prepared for
use In less than two minutes Lsieuten-
ant-Commander Daniel Delahanty, who
is 10 command the Suawanee. arrived
here this afternoon
NAVAL BATTLE EXPECTED.
KEY WEST. May a. A. M.-Thi4
harbor Is again empty. Rear-Admiral
Sampsons feet has sailed and the sftua3
ton Is one OF renewed expectancy.
There Is an impression prevailing that
the next news from the feet will tell oe
important engagement Of the same char
acter as that OF the Asiatic squadron ae
Mania.
No interesting DEVELOPMENTS are ex<
pected here except possibly the bringing
IN OF new prizes.