The record-union., 1898-05-14
THE SPANISH FLEET.
Vessels Which Admiral Sampson is
Expected to Encounter.

WASHINGTON, May 13-The state
ment given out at the Navy Depart
ment to-day that 'the Spanish squad
ron is now hull down to the westward
of Martinique" could not be supple
mented by additional information as to
the time the dispatch was sent, but it
is supposed that the squadron was seen
yesterday. Sampson already knows of
its movements, for the United States
scout Harvard, which put into Mar
Unique yesterday, is said to have found
there one of the torpedo destroyerS
composing the Spanish fleet, and GER
| tainly would report the fact to Samp-
son via st. Thomas, if possible to do so.
There is a suspicion, however, that
the United States has not been treated
with perfect fairness in the matter of
the use of the cable at Martinique,
and that messages of the utmost i'm
portance, such for instance as those re-
porting the arrivals of the Spanish
ships, have been delayed an unreason-
able length of time, to the great en-
barrassment of our forces. The sub
ject is one that will be investigated in
the future, as we'll as other facts con-
nected with the treatment Of the Span
ish ships in West Indian ports, which
are nominally operating strictly under
the neutrality laws. 1t is said that
the Spanish squadron has been lying
in wait for the Oregon, which, with the
Marietta and Nictheroy. sailed on the
1lth from Bahia to join Sampson, and
the reported activity of the Spanish
torpedo boat destroyers in running in
and out of Martinique seems to show
give the rest of the squadron notice of
the approach of the American battle
ship. If so. the mission will be fruit
less, for, having discovered the where
abouts of the Spanish force, Admiral
Sampson will carry out his orders to
destroy the ships if he can reach them.
The TACT that the Spaniards were head
ed yesterday towards the westward on
the surface would indicate that they
were bound for the south coast of
Cuba, but warships in these circum-
stances try to mislead observers ashore
The information that the Spanish
squadron has been sighted off Marti-
nlque caused decided sensation
throughout naval circles, as this brings
close to Admiral Simpsons squadron
the formidable collection of Spains
strongest and most modern vessels 1t
is this fleet which was reported to be
lying at Cadiz. Evidently the latter
report was inspired by Spanish STRAIT
egy. Martinique is French island ly-
ing about 500 miles east of Porto Rico
and 700 miles from the eastern coast
of Cuba. 1t is one of the outposts of
the West Indies, and is the natural
point at which the Spanish fleet coming
CO.
landing. 1t must now pass the French
island of Guadalupe to the west, the
Danish island of ST. Thomas. a little
further west, on its course to Porto
Rico, unless Simpsons fleet engages
them before that move is made AS
they stand now the two fleets are about
800 miles apart, which, by hard sailing.
both fleets would cover in one day The
sailing of one fleet would bring them
together in two days, if the other re-
mained stationary.
| The Spanish squadron is made up of
seven first-class ships, of which four
are armored cruisers and three de-
stroyers. This is as near the exact
strength as can be stated, for the re-
ports from Cape Verde have caused
much doubt. The seven warships of
formidable dimensions are:
Armored cruiser Vizcaya-Built with
double screws: two turrets, two fun
nels and two military masts with tops;
| length 364 feet, displacement $500
tons; maximum speed 20.2 knots She
| has an armor belt of steel ) feet. 6
| inches broad. 315 feet long and 10 or
Il inches thick. Her turrets have o.
inch armor. coming towers pinch ar
NOR. Her protected deck is from to
3 inches of steel. Her armament is two
11-inch Hontoria guns, mounted singly
| in turrets. one forward and one aft;
ten 5.5-inch guns, five on each side, the
| forward and aft ones being sponsored: !:
eight 6-pounders, ten 5-pounders, eight
Nordenfeldt machine guns, two Max
| i'm machine guns; six torpedo tubes
and two submerged torpedo tubes She
carries 4Si men,
/ Armored cruiser AlInirante Oquendo-
Built of steel double screws, two tur-
rets, etc. Her tonnage, armor and ar
mament in every respect is similar to
that of the Vizcaya.
Armored cruiser Infanta Maria Te-
resa is also Identical to the Vizcaya.
Her arnor consists Of complete nickel