The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-30
SPANISH FLEET SAILS AT LAST

Washington, April 29.-The navy depart
ment received this morning news of The
sailing from st. Vincent, Cape Verde is
lands, of the Spanish fleet and when the
information came that Portugal had al
last proclaimed neutrality there were
many expressions of satisfaction among
the officials. The statement that the ves-
sells when leaving St Vincent were head
ed in a southerly direction is valueless
as an indication as to the real course OF
the feet. The majority of the naval Off
GERS here feel confident that the Spanish
feet will next appear at the Canary
islands, about half way between Cape
Verde and Spain, and lying directly in
the homeward path of the ships. AS the
Canaries are Spanish islands and possess
some Notifications worthy of considera-
ton it may be that the fleet will be al
lowed to remain there some time as the
islands form a good strategic base. What
most concerns the navy officers just now
is how to learn when the feet does arrive
there. The cable to the Canaries being in
Spanish hands the arrival OF the fleet
would be kept stcret. The intended visi-
tation of the converted American liners
to the coast of Spain, may hasten home
the return of the Cape Verde squadron for
1t is believed that that squadron COM
prses about all Of the vessels in the
Spanish navy that are speedy and power
full enough to warrant an attack upon
vessels of the st. Paul class.
London. April 29-The Evening News
this afternoon published a dispatch from
St. Vincent, Cape Verde islands saying
the Spanish cruisers Maria Teresa. Almi
rante Oquendo, Vizcaya ana Cristobal
Colon accompanied by the Spanish torpedo
boat destroyers PlutOn, Terror and Furor
had, at the hour the dispatch was filed
e o'clock this morning.. just sailed in
westerly direction, presumably going to-
wards Cuba
The dispatch adds that the Spanish tor
pedo boats Azores, Rayo and Ariete and
the Spanish transports San Francisco and
Ciudad de cadiz sailed at the same time
in a northern, probably going TO the
Canary islands.
The Evening News commenting on its
dispatch from St. Vincent says:
The import of the cablegram is that
the whole effective fighting force of the
squadron has been dispatched west. while
the non-enectives and the non-combatants
are proceeding 10 another anchorage,
We'll informed naval authorities are
aware that the torpedo boats could not
traverse the Atlantic at the present time.
as they have not sufficient capacity for
voyage to Cuba and the risk Of coaling in
mid-ocean is too great
This long-delayed move is most sig
nihcant Its significance is in the fact
which can hardly be over-emphasized,
that it is practically SPANS first real
move since the outbreak OF hosunties.
New York. April 2s-The published
statement today that the steamship Havel
had sighted a Spanish fleet off the Azores
on her voyage TO New York which ended
yesterday is positively denied at the office
of the North German Lloyd company
which owns the vessel 1t is added that
the HaveIs course is nowhere near the
Azores.
St. Vincent, April 29.-7 p. m.-Two Span (
ish transports probably the San Fran
cisco and the Ciudad de CadJz) have Just
returned here with three Spanish torpedo
boats Cnost likely the Azor. Rayo and
Ariete) owing to collision. The Span +.
iards say two of the torpedo boats have +
been slightly damaged. They claim the /
boats wiz be able TO put 10 sea again .
tomorrow.