Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-10

Official information has been received
that four Spanish cruisers and three
torpedo boat destroyers have returned
to Cadiz.
a special from London says a cipher
dispatch from Cadiz reports that the
return to that place of four cruisers.
one torpedo boat and three torpedo
boat destroyers comprising. 1t Is al
legged, part of the Cape Verde Islands
fleet.
Washington, d. c., May TO-
Up to the time Secretary Long start
ed for the cabinet meeting at IL o'clock
today. he was without information from
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet or concerning
any action. All inquiries about the
navy department were directed to-
wards the whereabouts of the fleet, and
It's prospect OF u speedy engagement
with the enemy. While there is little
doubt the officials know the APP
proximate locality OF the fleet. 1t is
quite certain that nothing has been
received as to the cruising and search
for the Spanish ships. 1t is felt that
the next few hours will determine be-
yond further question whether the
Spanish fleet which left the Cape Verde
islands, did In fact come to Porto Rico
Or diverge northward back to Cadiz for
n formidable concentration of the
strongest ships of the Spanish navy.
In the latter event Admiral Samp
son will have no Spanish fleet to fight
save the smaller craft in Cuban wa
tiers. This will leave the course free
to the Oregon to make n juncture with
the fleet and also will leave Admiral
SIMPSONS hands free for attention to
Porto Rico or Cuba.
The cabinet meeting today was short
er than usual, and the business trans
acted was not of an important charac-
ter Although the government has n
number of swift vessels on the Allan
tic doing scout duty, no reports up to
noon today had been received as to the
whereabouts of the Spanish fleet. and
on that point the officials were quite
as much in the dark rs were outsiders.
Published reports that the President
is considering the appointment OF n
military governor of the Philippines
when our forces shall have taken pos
session, is denied by members of the
cabinet. Inc question pl IL government
for the islands is regarded as n serious
one, and no action will be taken re-
garding 1t until after the matter has Ie-
ceived much consideration.
Secretary Long ana Secretary Alger
had large numbcr of callers before
they went TO the cSbinet meeting.
Gen. Woodford, our minister at
Madrid, spent some time with Mr..
Long. Afterward he was asked to
| broak the strict reticence he has
maintained by giving his views of
| Commodore Dewey's accomplishment
at Manila. to which he replied that "it
would be gliding refined gold"
A party of prominent New Workers.
including O. II. =. Belmont. Schuyler
! Crosby and Charles II. Moore had IA
talk with Mr.. Long for the purpose
II was understood. of making a gift of
! considerable importance TO the gov
ernment 1t probably will be in tho
| line of a ship, although whether a
yacht or large craft was not dis
senator Tillman offered the services
OF Il number of expert electricians, now
students at Clemson College, South
! Carolina.
Al the war department 1t was under
stood that the assignments as corps
| commanders to the volunteers army
| will be made very soon.
| President Palma, head of the Cuban
delegation, arrived here this morning
from New York and Is expecting i'm
| portant advices direct from Gen. Co
meg. He received u dispatch last night
| stating that courier from Gen
Gomez's camp had passed through Key
| West and was now on his way tC
| Washington with letters from Gomez
The courier probably viii not reach
here before tomorrow at the earliest
is just back from heading party
which made juncture with Gomez
| will arrive this afternoon 10 confer
In the meantime Brig. Gen. Nunez, who
with Mr.. Palma, II is probable that tbs
advices direct from the Cuban com
mander in the field viii bring about
further conferences between the Cubar
authorities here, and the officials OF
the war department
Mr. Palma today expressed hii
views on the battle at Manila, saying
1t was important In that 1t furnished
conclusive proof OF fact he had lont
! known, that the Spanish navy was {
paper navy and utterly incapable Of
conducting n modern naval warfare.
In the first place Admiral Montejo'!
fleet was taken by SURPRISE" said he
THAT IL a whole lesson In itself. w,
have heard much from Spanish sourcei
as to the lack OF discipline and crude
ness In the American navy, but here a
the very first practical test. the Span
ish feet committed the very worst anC
most inexcusable offense OF allowing
itself to be taken by surprise. Ant
this occurred not only when war wa,
in progress, but when Admiral Mon
tejo knew the American fleet wal
nearing him. In the face of this thu
surprise and defeat OF the Spanish
fleet showed complete lack of dsciplin,
and OF that keen alertness which IL
the first essential OF a discipline which
insured defense"
| NJ No IN oil
| CATION added the statement that tn,
wiping out of the Spanish ships lk'
so many cookie shells made plain tn,
fact, well known to those familial
with Spain's naval resources, thai
she had a lot OF old wooden craft
which would suffice for dress parad,
In times Of peace. and would give al