Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-06
FLOTILLA ARRIVES
THE SPANISH TORPEDO FLOTILLA
NOW AT PORTO RICO.
Naval Men Regard II with Consider.
able Apprehension. Comment In
Naval Circles.


Madrid, April 3. = The Spanish
torpedo flotilla has arrived at Porto
Rico.
Washington, April 3.-The Madrid
dispatch announcing the arrival of
the Spanish torpedo f1otilla at Porto
Rico was quite unexpected in Wash
ingto and created considerable COM
ment in naval circles. So far as could
be learned no information on this
point has been received by either the
state or navy departments. The ar
rival of the fiotilla surpasses all fore
casts as to the time necessary to make
the trip and indicates that high rate
of speed was maintained across the
ocean. President Mckinley manifest
ed much interest in the report from
Madrid that the Spanish f1otil1a had
arrived at Porto Rico. About the
White house good deal of surprise
was expressed that the flotilla had
made so swift passage from the Ca
naries, and there was a disposition
among some, to whom the information
was given, not to credit it, the opinion
being that it had been given out by
the Madrid officials to prevent the fly
ing squadron from sailing.
The flying squadron is to remain in
Hampton Roads for the present at
least. This announcement was made
late this afternoon by Secretary Long
and set at rest the reports which have
been current through the day that
movement of the squadron was immin-
ent. The Secretary stated that the de-
partment believed that the present
rendezous of the squadron was the
most available one from which the
ships under Commodore Schley could
operate in carrying out the purpose of
what is formed, that in the protection
OF the North Atlantic seaboard. He
added that no orders had been issued
TO Commodore Sch1ey and that none
were in immediate contemplation.
1t was pointed out the sending of the
squadron in the direction of the West
Indies, even though its mission were
not to intercept the foti1la, would be
regarded as hostile act not warrant
ed by the present condition of affairs
1t is also understood that it was deem
ed wise uot to permit any movement
nf fha MI,
at present, as public interest is so
largely centered upon it that such a
movement would be liable to miscon-
| struction and might give rise to ru-
mors that would tend only to aggra-
vate the situation. The flying squad
ron will be completed tomorrow with
the arrival of the Minneapolis at
Hampton Roads, and then the swift
est group of warships ever gathered
in one command will be assembled
under Commodore Sch1ey's flag.
The Navy department received in
formation today that the cruisers
Vizcaya and Oquendo, the two fine
Spanish cruisers which have been
saying at Havana, had left that port.
Their destination il not known, but
there is reason to believe that they
have gone to join the torpedo f1otillo.
The naval officials continue reticent
regarding the acquisition of new yes
sells for the auxiliary fleet and the me-
gotiations for the purchase of ships of
war abroad. No confirmation of the
cable dispatch from Denmark that ne
gotiations were under way for the pur-
chase of two Danish cruisers could be
obtained, but at the same time it was
not denied. Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt, when asked the question direct,
replied that he could not answer.
Key West, Fla, April 3.-The news
that the Vizcaya and the A1mirante
Oquendo had sailed from Havana was
conveyed to Captain Sampson by the
correspondent of the Associated press.
Captain Sampson appeared much in
terested and was anxious for further
details. The general feelings in the
fleet is that the Spanish war ships
have come to meet the Spanish torpe-
do f1otilla.
A strict pa troll is maintained in the
harbor by the Cincinnati and two
torpedo boats.
The Italian training ship Amerigo
Vespucci sailed today for New York.
TIME TO ACT.