Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-04
SPAIN'S
Grand Naval Coupe Inspires No Fear in
This Country.

GIaLo NaFa4 NOupe lnSp4I6S no rear III
This Country.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The officials
Of the Atlantic squadron are anx-
iously awaiting Spain's grand su-
preme naval attack. The anticipated
blow excites no fear 10 the American
navy.
On the contrary, there is a feeling
Of pleasant anticipation exhibited
throughout the department and the
welcome which awaits the arrival
of the saffron flag will be warmer than
the greeting which Dewey gave Mont
JOS squadron 10 Manila bay.
The officers in the Atlantic squad
ron are just little jealous of Dewey's
fame and they are aching TO demon
strate that the American navy is full
of Deweys.
Reports from Madrid late yesterday
announced that Spain proposes 10
mass her entire fleet and strike one
supreme tlow at the United States
That some such scheme as this has
been in contemplation by the Spanish
naval authorities has been suspected
for some time, and it has been the Oc-
casion of most Of the anxiety mani
tested in the navy department during
the past week or 10 days.
Thus far the bureau of naval in.
telligence, upon which devolves the
duty of securing data concerning
foreign naval movements, has been
unable to secure definite knowledge
Of the movements OF the principa
vessels Of Cadiz fleet. At last ad
vices at least two of the most form
ldable of the Spanish vessels were
reported as undergoing extensive re
pairs. 1t is not believed that thest
have been completed. Still the naval
tactical board has reason to believe
that pow erful fleet, sailing undeI
the Spanish flag, is headed TOR the di.
rection Of Porto Rico.
The reiterated statements to the
effect that movement is contem-
plated against the cities of the Nortl
Atlantic seaboard is not credited b!
the naval board. But Secretary Long
evidently takes some stock in thC
story, and this accounts for the moye,
ment Of the Columbia and Minneapo
lis, with several of the auxiliary
cruisers, to points along the New
England coast. This movement wat
due to the secretary alone, and wa!
ordered in response to the frantic ap-
peals for protection, which came from
Massachusetts particularly, but from
Maine, Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut IN lesser degree.
Scouts have been sent out quietly
all over the northern track of the
transatlantic steamer and reports re.
ceiYed from them are emphatic in de-
claring that not Spanish warship is
anywhere between the coast OF Ire.
land and the banks of Newfoundland,
A dispatch from Halifax reports
that heavy firing was heard in the
beighborhood of Cape Race Inquiry
at the navy department develops the
fact that the San Francisco aud one
or two other vessels of the navy are
supposed to be 10 that neighborhood,
but that there is certainly no
Spanish men.of war anywhere in
the Vicinity. Ii, therefore, the firing
was from American vessels it was
due to an attack upon a
Spanish merchantmen, but no infor-
matian whatever had been received of
an engagement of any character near
Cape Race.
1t was learned officially last even
log that at least five more auxiliary
cruisers will be fitted out with quick
iring guns of five and six ch cali
Dre by the end of the week. If Spain
grand naval coupe as
there, it, behoOYes her OIL
,ers TO place her fleet within gun fire
If the American coast as rapidly as
possible, as each days delay adds TO
he effectiveness of the American
leet.
Including battleships, armcred and
protected cruisers, gunboats, torpedo
'oats and torpedo boat destroyers, the
he effective strength of the Ameri-
an navy in and near the Atlantic at |
he present time is upwards OF l25
essels. While the most formidable |
ections of this great deet are massed
ear Havana, Key West and Hamp-
On Roads, many Of them are stretched
ut all along the coast between Port
md aud Miami.