The herald., 1898-05-01
SPAlHSTORPfDOBOATS
REDUCED TO THE NECESSITY OF
TAKING A TOW
CRUISERS COMING WESTWARD
Spanish Strategy Looks So Much Like
Suicide as to Puzzle the Naval
Authorities
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, April 30.-A cablegram
was received here this morning stating that
the Spanish torpedo boats Azor, Rayon and
Article had sailed this morning from st.
Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, for the Ca
naries. The Azor and the Rayon, the
cable said, were towed by the transports
San Francisco and Ciudad Cadiz. The fact
that the two torpedo boats were in tow OF
transports, naval officers regarded as a
sign that in the collision which these YES
sci, are reported to have had yeasterday,
the machinery of the boats was disabled
beyond the possibility of repair at st. Vim
cent. 1t is by no means safe undertake
ing to tow torpedo boat that long dis
lance between Cape Verde and the Cana
ries and 1t would not surprise naval OIL
GERS if one or more of the little boats were
missing when the remainder of the small
feet arrives at the Canaries.
Anxiety is felt as to the destination OF
the more formidable part of the Spanish
fleet 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
the arrival at Spanish ports would be maze
public by the Spanish authorities control
ling the cable, and supposing that they are
not detected by any of the United states
naval vessels which will probably pc
thrown out as scouts, the first news or the
arrival Of the fleet on this side is likely TO
be conveyed by some neutral vessel trad
Ing between Porto Rico and an outside
port. The strategy involved in the Span
ish movements is rather puzzling to the
naval officers. Assuming that the four
cruisers have actually started to Cuba IT
would seem that If they arrive at Porto
Rico they would be in imminent danger OF
capture or destruction at the hands OF Ad-
miral SIMPSONS squadron, which is I'M
uuestionably superior in the offensive In
other words, the cruisers would be STU
ated as were the Oquendo and Vizcaya be-
fore the outbreak of hostilities, when they
prudently fled from the port of Havana.
It was reported in department circles
today that the Flying Squadr on was about
to sail from Fortress Monr oe The OFF,
Gals refused to affirm or deny the cor
rectness of the statement, hut 1t is as
sumed that If the report is true the vessels
are to be used as scouts to detect the ap-
proach of the Spanish vessels. 1t is no,
expected that in case the ar mored ships
were sighted by Commodore Schley all
engagement would be attempted unless the
circumstances were particula rly favored
for he has but two armored ships in his
SQUADRON to pit against the four heavily ar
mored Spanish vessels. He would, how
ever, be able to hang on the flank of the
Spanish squadron and annoy them great
ly while rushing ahead one of his flyers,
IL
miral Sampson and secure reinfprcements
in the shape of battleship that would
insure victory in action.
No word has yet come from the Phil
ippines and, as already explained, even il
there has been an action between Commo-
dore Dewey and the Spanish naval force
there, the Navy Department is scarcely
in a way to hear of it for several days
even If the Commodore should manage t.
land at Manila, as he will probably be un-
able to operate the cable owing to the lack
of skilled operators and perhaps the ap-
raratus itself may be disabled before II
falls into his hands. There is good reason
to believe that the Commodore will not
directly attack Manila in the be-
ginning. The report that he took
aboard before leaving Hong Kong one
of the most popular of the leaders of the
Philippine insurgents is regarded as evil
dence that the Commodore relies largely
upon insurgent support to maintain his
footing in the islands. If this be so he
would very likely avoid Manila, the capt.
tai, and seize first another port where the
insurgents are in greater strength and
where there are no Notifications to over
come While there is no doubt that one
of the objects of Commodore Dewey is to
crush the Spanish squadron in the East In
dies as the most effective method of pYo-
tecting our important trade interests in
that quarter it is beyond doubt part of
his purpose to seize and hold port suit
able for use as a coaling station. The coal
ing station is not only desirable, but it
is absolutely necessary from naval poin.
of view unless the United States is pre-
pared to surrender all commerce in Amer
lean bottoms with Asia, and fully real
izing this the naval officers will proceed
with their campaign. Whether the station
will be retained after the war by United
States will not now be determined. 1t Is
positively asserted that up to this mo-
ment, the European menaces have taken
no official form and so far no protests
have been lodged with the Department of