The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-01-29
NEWS FROM THE NAVY.

The North Atlantic squadron at Dry A0fs
tugas-The Torpedo Boats Near Key
West-The Formidable Marine Engine
of Destruction that Spain Intends to
Send to American Ports-WiII be Well
coined with Pleasure.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2T.-Secretary
Long, yesterday morning, received a
telegram from Admiral Sicard saying
hal tho North Atlantic squadron had
gone into the inner anchorage at Dry
Tortugas. The telegram was brought
% Key West by the Fern, which is
serving as a dispatch and supply boat
for the fleet. The torpedo boats in the
vicinity of Key West are under Adj
miral Sicard's orders, while near the
squadron, to serve also as dispatch YES
sells and to give the vessels some
practice in the drills for repelling tor
pedo attacks. This does not, however,
interfere with the standing orders to
Kimball, the
commanding officer of the torpedo
boat ~flotilla, and the little craft will
continue on their cruise along the
coast as far west as Galveston, and
then returning, go up the Mississippi
river in the early spring. h Porter,
one of the fleet, sailed Tuesday from
Port Tampa for Mobile, in company
with the Ericsson, to be present at a
local celebration there, but they will
return to the squadron before resum-
ing their 'longShore cruise.
A substantial addition to the relief
fund being collected for the Cuban SUI
fers at the state department was re-
ceived yesterday, through Senator
Hoar, who handed to Secretary Sher-
man a check for ST, Ola senthim by Geo.
Ii. Lyman, of Boston, the trustee for 3
public collection in that city.
Secretary Long said yesterday that
he had received no notice from the
Spanish minister or from any other
source that Spanish men-of-war have
been ordered to visit United States
ports. They were perfectly welcome
to come and go as they pleased. he
said, and, as far as he was concerned,
he would be delighted to have them
come. Spanish war ships have fire.
quently visited the United States since
the insurrectionary movement broke
u IL NuOo, JCoiS hSO,
without having excited the least I'M
friendly comment, and there was no
reason why any significance should be
attached to their coming again when
eve they felt disposed to do 50. The
Spanish flagship on this station. took
part in the ceremonies connected with
the dedication OF the Grant monument
in New York, about a year ago., and
also at the subsequent celebration in
Philadelphia, last summer, after which
the Spanish admiral and his staff Wis
tied Washington and paid their re-
spects to the president and the mem
bers of his cabinet.
Secretary Long said he recalled with
pleasure the visit of the party to the
navy department.
Secretary Sherman also said he saw
no reason why the Spanish war ships
should not visit the United States; in
fact, he would be glad if they did come.
They would be welcome. All the ad-
vices received by the state department,
and navy department from Cuba yes
terday were satisfactory. Gen. Lee, at
o'clock, reported hat all was quiet
and order prevailed in Havana
At about the same hour a ~cablegram
to the navy department from
Sigsbee of the Maine saying that
general interest was manifested on the
of the Maine in Hayana harbor,
but there had beer no demonstration.
He had been ashore himself several
officially and had been received
with the greatest courtesy. lie eX-
to visit the palace to-day.
The information from Madrid that
the Spanish government had decided
to send the war ship VIzcaya on a visit
American ports caused no comment
in official circles. She is a formidable
craft, larger, faster and more power
full than the Maine. Her points as re-
corded here are as follows: Length
$40 feet, beam 65 feet, draught
81 feet 6 inches, two propellers Ii, 900
with a II inch
belt and barbettes 1O%
and an armored deck varying
in thickness from two to three inches.
Her battery is made of two 2S-centi-
meter, ten 14-centimcter, one ~9-centi-
HonOria guns, all made in
Spain eight 57-millimeter, four-37
guns and two machine guns.
There are six torpedo tubes. The
was launched in 1891, cost S., OOO,-
900. and is capable of II knots speed,
while the Maine is but III knots.
the Vizcaya is a formidable
ship.