The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-07

era. the Spanish squadron bound for the
Philippines seem destined to go to sure
destruction, as did Cervera's unlucky ships
front the Cape Verde islands The Span
iards aye without doubt fully aware Of the
inferlority of their fleet. and why they per-
sist in sending It to be sunk In the Philip
pines is mystery. The department was
advised today that the squadron was pass
ing through the Suez canal, and as the YES
sells must have paid the heavy toll required
In advance the indications are now regarded
as conclusive that the ships are actually
bound for the Philippines. This belief slim
ulates the preparations here for Watson
sailing He viii strike straight after Cam
ara. who In the end is doomed to be caught
between Watson and Dewey.
No Yellow Fever
The report that the tine ship Yankee, ~
ing at Tompkinsville, just from Cuba, mad
yellow fever on board caused good deal OF
worry at the department until Captain
Brownsou teegraphed during the day that
there was absolutely no fever on the snip
and that she was not In quarantine.
Secretary Long regarded the report tnat
the Alfonso XIII. had been destroyed wnlle
trying to run the Havana blockade as the
best news Of the day. 1t had not come TO
him in any direct official way, bat through
Q report from General Greeiy, chief sig
nal officer, who had received a message
stating briefly that the Spanish snip hao
been overhauled near Mariel, while trying
to get through the blockade. and was TO-
tai loss as result of the fire upon her Both
the secretary and General Greedy regarded
the report as authentic, but there was de-
sire to get more details. as this has been
something of spectral ship.
To Save Cervera's Ships
The Alfonso Kill is an iron gunboat with
one screw one funnel and one military
mast. bark rugged. $50 feet long, forty-four
feet beam and fifteen feet draught. She
has a displacement of 2090 tons. She had a
speed of seventeen konts for short distances
and an average speed Of fourteen knots;
carried eighteen large guns, I'VE machine
guns and five torpedo tubes. Her Officers
and crew numbered $40.
Secretary Long is quite hopeful that sew
eral of the Spanish ships of the Cervera
squadron can be saved, in part at least. and
possibly as whole Assistant Secretary
Allen shares in this belief and thinks that
the Cristobal Colon can be got off the rocks
as an entirety and that the hull. upper
works and guns can be mdae available She
was the best armored cruiser in the Spanish
navy, and if she can be floated and repaired
will make a valua BILE acquisition to the
American navy. Mr.. Allen is hopeful also
that the Vizcaya and Oquendo can be saved
In part. Information has reached the de-
partment that the hulls are not badly dam
aged The contract with the Merritt
Wrecking company is by the day and may
be Cancelled at any time If the government
finds the salvage is not progressing salts
factoriy.
Two large wreckng vessels left Norfolk
today to begin work upon the Colon, Viz
caya and Oquendo.
The First Bale Of Cotton
Quartermaster General Ludlngton is going
to sell the first bale of cotton grown in the
United States this year for the benefit of the
United States hospital service, nova so SEA
y<Verely taxed by the war. A day or two ago
President Mckinley received from H. and
B. Beer of New Orleans the following let
ter:
I'VE express today to you the first bale of
cotton of the new crop, to be disposed of
in such manner you see fit for the bene-
fit of the hospital fund"
The president sent this note to the war
department with instructions to accept the
cotton. The cotton will be forwarded to
New York, where it will be auctioned off
toward the end of the week. The expecta-
ton is that the cotton will bring fancy
figure, in view Of the use to which the
money is destined.