Evening star., 1898-04-21
SPAIN'S SHIPS SAIL
Reported at Madrid They Are Steam
ing This Way.
NAVAL OFFICERS DISCREDIT STORY
Think They Have Sailed for the
Canary Islands.
d E CL A r TION OF WAR

MADRID. April 21. 800 pm.-A SEMI
official note, issued this afternoon saws:
| The Spanish government, having received
the ultimatum of the President OF the
United States. considers that the docu-
ment constitutes declaration OF war
against Spain. and that the proper form TO
be adopted is not TO make any further re-
ply, but to await the expiration OF tho
time mentioned in the ultimatum before
opening hostilities.
In the meantime the Spanish authorities
have placed their possessions in a state OF
defense. and their fleet is already on its
| way tO'meet that of the United States.
MADRID. April 81. 800 p.m.-A semi
official note just issued says the Spanish
government considers the ultimatum OF
the United States constitutes a declaration
of war.
The semi-ofticial note adds that Spanish
| fleet is already on its way to meet the
fleet Of the United States.
Confirmed at Navy Department
News came to the Navy Department to-
day that tended to confirm the newspaper
reports that the 70: midable Spanish naval
force at St. Vincent, Cape de Verde Island,
had sailed last night for an unknown des-
| tination. Naval experts say that leaving
out CT consideration the question of the
| relative strength OF personnel, the Spanish
force is at least equal and probably super
ior in some respects to Commodore Schley's
fleet.
While the latter has one battle Ship tho
remainder Of his force is made up of un-
armored ships, like the Columbia and Min
| neapolis, or only partially protected, like
the Brooklyn. AS against these the Span
ish force has four armored cruisers. the
Oquendo, Viscaya, Cristobal Colon and In
fanta Maria. Teresa, almost equal in each
case to battle ships. and all OF vastly su-
perior speed. Then there are the three tor
pedo boat destroyers Furor, Terror and Plu-
ton. 2s and 3O-knotters. and the small tor
pedo boats Ariete. Azor ard Rayo.
Would Scarcely Attack Schley
1t is not believed by any of the naval Of
foers that this feet will undertake to
cross the Atlantic ard attack Commodore
| Schley on his own base. but IT would seem
| TO be equally ir1practicable for the COM
mcdore to take his flyirg squadron across
| to attack the Spaniards, unless he is rein
forced. The threat Of the Spanish news
papers to give us a surprise in the shape OF
| a naval visitation does not cause any
particular uneasiness at the Navy Depart
| ment. Although nothirg positive is known
as to the destination OF the Spanish squad
dron, It is surmised that IT has started on
fits return to Spain, 1.600 miles distant
from Cape Verde, thus Indicating the pur-
| pose is to await an engagement in their
own waters.
1t is likely that in this event the first
| pert made will be the Canary Islands, dis
tant about S25 miles from St. Vincent. and
a Spanish possession, partially fortified and
a fair base
a Dangerous Undertaking.
1t Is not believed that the Spanish naval
| commander would be foolish enough to run
the risk of taking his torpedo fotila across
the Atlantic in the attempt to defend eth
er Porto Rico or Havana. 1t is about $500
miles from Cape Verde to Porto Rico. and
| in the present stormy season on the North
Atlantic the torpedo boat flotilla would
have all 1t could do to keep aloat, and
would be exposed to destruction at the
hands OF the smallest swift cruiser sent 10
;,.+a,