Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02
It is Believed That Plans Have AL.
ready Been Made.
HOLDING THE FLYING SQUADRON
Vexation at Report About the
Spanish FIotiIa.
VIEWS OF THE CABINET

The most interesting as well as the moSl
Cnwelcome developments in the situation
today was the reported arrival of the for
nifdable Spanish torpedo fotilla at Porto
Rico last night and the departure of the
Spanish cruisers Vizcaya and Oquendo
fIom Havana yesterday for Porto Rico tc
convoy the torpedo boats to Havana. This
report gave an entirely new aspect to the
situation, and showed that the United
States navy has a tougher problem to solve
than was anticipated. The torpedo fiotilla
consists of the following vessels:
The Torpedo FlotfIIa.
Torpedo boat destroyer Furor, 4O6 tons
Commander d. earlier. She has a crew
OF seventy-two.
Torpedo boat destroyer Pluton, $50 tons
Commander P. Vasquoz; has a crew OF
seventy-two.
Torpedo boat destroyer Terror, 406 tons
Commander F. de LaRocha; has a crew OF
seventy-two.
Torpedo boat Rayo, 10 tons, Commander
SeRor Rizo; has a crew of seventy-two.
Torpedo boat Azor. 120 tons Commander
r. de Egguino; has crew of twenty-six.
Torpedo boat Ariete, 40 tons, Commander
M Somoza; has crew of twenty-six.
There was open vexation among naval
officers, but press dispatch subsequently
located the fleet at the Cape Verde Islands.
That Spain still fears that this fleet may
yet be made the object of attack by Amer
lean warship5 before their arrival at Hav-
ana is evidenced by the orders which have
sent the Fizcaya and Oquendo to Porto
Rico to guard the torpedo boats on the
trip to Havana.
1t is said that the naval strategic board
nd
day that the junction of these two fleets
should be prevented at all hazards The
beard recommended the immediate dispatch
of the flying squadron at Hampton Roads
to intercept the fiotilia before 1t was
strengthened by the two cruisers at Ha-
vana by blockading that harbor so that the
fleets be kept separate.
DisapprOved by the Cabinet.
The cabinet disapproved these suggestions
as too warlike in view of present conditions
and held that such movements would be
justified only in the event of an actual
outbreak of war. 1t was decided that moth
ing whatever should be, done to further
complicate the situation. already strained
to its utmost. pending final action by Con-
greSs.
This decision of the cabinet was an
Eounced by Secretary Long last evening
He said positively that the flying squadron
is tc remain in Hampton Roads for the
present at least. This statement sets at
rest the reports which had been current
throughout the day that a movement of
the squadron was imminent. The Secre-
tary stated that the department believed
that the present rendezvous of the squad
ron was the most available enc from which
the ships under Commodore Schley could;
operate in carrying out the purpose for
which it was forned-that is, the protec-
ton of the North Atlantic seaboara. He
added that no orders had been issued to
Commodore Schley and that none were in
immediate contemplation.
Attack On Havana.
In spite of these pacific assurances, there
IL reason to believe that plans have been
already made for an attack On Havana i'm
Elediasely following the expected deciara-
ton of war. According to one authority
the first duty Of the flying squadron will
be to endaavor to dispose of the Oquendo
and Vizcaya and the torpedo fiotilla.
Captain Sampscns fleet, it is said, will
at once make an attack on Havana The
captain has been advised of the movements
OF the Vizcaya and Oquendo. and the same
iniormatlon was transmitted to Commo-
dcre Schley. The Alfonso XII is the
largest vessel in Havana harbor She is a
small protected cruiser, about the size of
the Cincinnati.
If successful in disposing of the vessels
at Porto Rico. Commodore Schley's COM
mand will probably be ordered to the coast
or Spain to harass the enemy's commerce
and to make such demonstrations upon the
Spanish seaports that SPAN, of necessity,
Will have to divide her force for the pro.
lection of the peninsula and her island DOS.
sessions.
Admiral Walker Reports.
Admiral Walker arrived in Washington
at U O'Clock this morning and shortly after
ward reported to Secretary Long. The
admiral has been at the head of the Mica
raguan commission surveying the route
of the proposed Nicaraguan canal
HIS return revived the gossip as to
his possible choice for taking supreme
command Of all the naval forces on
the Atlantic. While he is on the re-
tiled list, he Is none the less subject to
duty in case of need. and there is reason
to believe that, aside from duty, the ad-
mtral would regard it as privilege to re-
new his active service. Beyond comment,
however, the proposed assignment has
taken no definite form. In case of such
consideration there are naval officers ON
the active list-Admiral Bunce and Com
modore Watson-who would enter into the
question.
Admiral Walker looked rugged and hardy
after his trip along the Nicaraguan canal
route. He would not discuss what the COM
mission had accomplished, nor refer to his
future plans in regard to the navy. It Is