The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-30
MUST CRUSH The SPANISH FLEET

WASHINGTON. April 30. 1sss-About
the only item of news that came to the
Navy Department this morning from any
official source told Of the departure of
part of the Spanish Cape Verde fleet
which consisted of torpedo boats and
transports for the Canaries. The fact that
two of the torpedo boats were in tow of
the big transports, naval officers regard
ed as a sign that in the collision which
these vessels are reported to have had
yesterday, the machinery of the boats
was disabled beyond the possibility of re-.
pair at st Vincent. 1t Is by no means a
safe undertaking to tow torpedo boat
the long distance between Cape Verde and
the Canaries, and it would not surprise ma
val officers if one or more of the little
boats were missing when the remainder
of the small feet arrived at the Canaries.
Anxiety is felt here as to the destina-
tion of the more formidable part of the
Spanish feet that has sailed westward
from Cape Verde. If they are headed for
Cuba the Navy Department calculates
that they are likely to reach Porto Rico
about May T. 1t Is not to be expected,
however. that their arrival at Spanish
ports would be made public by the Span
ISM authorities 4cOItlfO3flItS Tue cdUies anu
supposing that they are not detected by
one of the United States naval vessels
which will possibly be thrown out as
scout, the first news of the arrival of the
feet on this side is likely to be conveyed
by some neutral vessel trading between
Porto Rico and an outside port.
The strategy involved in the Spanish
movement is rather puzzling to the naval
80
ers have actually started on their way
to Cuba it would seem that if they ar
rived at Parto Rico they would be in inn
minent danger Of capture or destruction
at the hands of Admiral Simpsons s
squadron, which is unques tionably SUI
perior in offensive power. In other words
the four cruisers would be situated just
as were the Oquendo and yizcaya just
before the outbreak of hostilities, when
they prudently fed from the port Of Ha-
vana.
1t was reported in department circles
today that the flying squadron was about
to sail from Fortress Monroe. The OIL
cials refused to affirm or deny the COR
rectness of this statement, but it is as
sumed that if the report is true the
vessels are to be used as scouts to de-
tect the approach Of the Spanish vessels
1t is not expected that in case the ar
mored ships were sighted by Commodore
Schley an engagement would be attempt
ed unless the circumstances were pecul-
iarly favorablbeb, for he has but two or
mored ships In his squadron to pit
against the four heavily armored Span
ish vessels He would, however, be able
to hang on the flank of the Spanish
squadron and annoy them greatly while
rushing ahead one of his flyers, the Co
lunoia or Minneapolis, to warn Admiral
Sampson and secure reinforcements in
the shape of battleshfp that would in
sure victory in action
No word has yet come from the Philip
pines, and, as already explained, even If
there has been an action between Admiral
Dewey and the Spanish naval force there
the Navy Department is scarcely in way
to hear of it for several days. Even If the
Admiral should manage to land at Manila
he probably would be unable TO operate
the cable owing to lack of skilled oper-
ators, and, perhaps the apparatus itself
may be disabled before it falls into his
hands
There is good reason to believe that the
admiral will not directly attack Manila in
the beginning. The report chat he took
) aboard befose leaving Hong Kong one of