Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-26

~ 4tOciCIOS wv CSO 4lOt Cttl w ebbOi -
in Safety-Naval Officers Called
Upon the President Yesterday
and Urged Him to Send Fleet of
Vessels to Meet the Spaniards
and Turn Them Back or Sink
Them-Spanish Government Will
Not Listen to American Sugges-
tons That the Coming of the Tor
pedo Boats Is an Unfriendly and
Hostile Act.
Washington, March 25.-Nayal OIL
GERS were much less concerned to-day
by the semi-official admission that
the Maine court of inquiry reported
the battleship to have been destroyed
by floating submarine mine than they
were at the prospect Of the coming
Of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla.
Appeal after appeal was made to the
President to order flying squadron
of swift cruisers to intercept and de-
stroy the torpedo boats, four or flve
hundred miles out at sea, and he was
frankly told that if this was not done
he would regret it.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt, Fighting Bob Evans,
Commodore Schley and others of equal
standing, Joined in making these ap-
peals to the President. They told him
that SPANS course in sending her
torpedo boats to the West Indies
against our remonstrance was in it
self an act of war and we ought to
meet it by destroying the fotilla in
the open sea where our vessels would
not be at a disadvantage in dealing
with them.
But the President was obdurate in
his refusing to strike blow which
would be of a warlike character. 1t is
felt he may yet be brought to see the
mistake the naval officers claim he is
making. Naval officers predict that il
the Spanish torpedo fotilla is not de-
stroyed or captured before it reaches
Porto Rico, it will inflict great dam
age on our fleet in the war which they
feel reasonably. certain will speedily
come
The fotilla is
ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE
OF its kind afioat and the sending Of
1t to the West Indies at this time is
regarded as an indication of Spain's
endeavor to be prepared for any emer-
gency that may arise in or near Cuban
waters.
Naval experts are of opinion that
under ordinary circumstances it will
take the flotilla about ten days to
make the journey from the Canaries
to Porto Rico but it is exceedingly
likely that it will actually require sew
eral days LONGER. The liability of the
boats to accident is great, particularly
ii they should encounter rough wealth
er. Then, too, if they should be ac-
companied by collier the speed of
the fleet would be reduced to that Of
the coal boat.
Speaking of the movement Of the
f1otilla one of the naval officers COM
pared the torpedo boats to race horses
trained to a nicely. They are keyed
I'D to a high pitch for short. sharp
and decisive work, and if overtaxed
are liable to break down. While the
fotilla might make he trip to Porto
Rico in ten days, in order to do so
absolutely smooth water would have
to be insured them throughout the pas
sage.
1t is understood to-day that some
correspondence with Spain through
Minister Polo concerning the move
ments of the torpedo boat fotilla is not
unlikely. The statements made yes
terday to the effect that this govern
ment might regard the sending OF the
flotilla to West Indian waters
AS AN ACT UNFRIENDLY
to the United States, inasmuch as it
was evident that the boats were not
intended for use against the Cuban
insurgents and, as matter of fact,
could be employed only against a
hostile fleet of warships, were accen-
tuated to-day, but what representa-
lions, if any, will be made to Spain
cannot be aseertained, reserve being
maintained on this point.
In this connection, the announce
ment made last evening that the Navy
Department had under consid Grafton
and indeed had practically concluded
the purchase of several fast yachts
which it is proposed to transform into
torpedo boats. is not viewed with entire
favor by naval men. The vessels the
department has in view have a speed
rate ranging from sixteen to twenty
knots, while specially designed torpedo
boats have speed of from twenty-foul
to thirty knots. As against regular
torpedo boats the feet of make.
shifts as the proposed purchases OF
the government were termed by ma
val official. would cut a comparatively
small figure. In the absence OF any
thing better however, it was conceded
that the vessels. If acquired by The
government, would prove a distinct
value.
Information as 10 the names Of >the
vessels the Navy Department has III
view of purchase was refused to-day