The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-01
THE NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
Movement Of the Cape Verde Fleet
the Chief Incident.
THE VESSELS WERE IN COLLISION.
Nampson's Fleet May he Taken North
to he Prepared to Meet
the Enemy.

Washington, April So.-(special to The
Post)-The naval board OF strategy re-
cetved additional advices this morning
concerning the departure from st. Vincent
Of the Spanish fleet. The torpedo boats
Azor. Rayo and Arlete collided off Cane
Verde islands. AS a result, the Rayo
4 and the Ariete are being towed to the
Canaries by the transports San Francisco
and Ctudad dc Cadz. The rest Of of the
h Mect, which includes the vizcaya. AL
mirante oQuendo, Infanta Maria Teresa
and Cristobal Colon. followed by three
4 torpedo boat destroyers, sailed in wester-
ly direction. The above is the sum toto,
OF INFORMATION In the possession OF the
navy department but the strategists ara
n skepticai They are figuring on the NOS
4 hlbility that they are headed for this sido
j of the Atlantic for the purpose Of c,tch,n,,
4 the Oregon and the gunboat Marietto
WHICH VIII pass through the channel be- |
tween the island OF Trinidad and South |
america. and plans are being perfected |
that Will amply meet any emergency that |
may arise
~ the meantime, It is the purpose OF
inc strategy board, providing nothing Is
iliiheoiateiy heard from the Spaniards IN
uetach number OF the ships under Rear
AoHural sampson and permit them In ta,.o |
cruise in northern waters for the health
OF the crews. The blockading su,aaro,
VIII be reinforced by several auxiliary
ui'eis mat have been armed. as 1t is
'ueu' they VIII prove effective enough
10 maintain the blockade. Most q, tho
vessels composing SIMPSONS fleet have
peeh In southern waters for two months
and 1t Is thought the cool northern hrsa,o.
Will brace the sailors for hard work Later
on. e'
washington April 3o.-About The on,v
Item Of news that came to the navy do
partment this morning from any onl,ia,
source told of the departure Of tho sror-
ish Cape Verde fleet, which consisted :, I
torpedo boats and transports for rho
Sanaries' The fact that two of the tor-
'Pedo boats were in tow Of the big trans.
PORTS, naval Officers regarded as s,rp
fnat IN the collision which these vessal,
pre- reported as having had YESTERDAY ,ho
fnachinery OF the boats is damaged bevonJ
cue possioiilty oil repair at st. Vincent # | /
rs py no means safe Undertaking to tow 5
Y torpedo boat the long distance between
Cape verde and the Canaries and it woulo
pot surprise naval officers if one or moro {
pr the little boats were missing when the .
remainder OF the fleet arrives at the C,- \
naries. {
Anxiety is felt as to the destination NJ !
the more formidable part of the Spanish +
fleet that has sailed westward from Carr y
VERDE IL they are headed for Cuba tho n
E&Vy department calculates that thew ore 9
'tAeV 70 reach Porto Rico about Nav 7 4
~ Is not TO fse expected. however, that
lHeT ARRIVAL at a Spanish port will be |
lAAue pubic by the Spanish authorities 1;
controlling the cable. and supposing that :,
Lhey are not detected by one of the Unitsd :,
states naval vessels, which will possibly
pc thrown out as scout. the first news M
p the arrival Of the fleet on this side Is 8
likely TO be conveyed by some OF the neu- n
|ral vessels trading between Porto Rico -
Ind an outside port. :,
The strategy involved in the Spanish r.
movements is rather pulling 10 the naval "a.
'hlce. Assuming that the four cruisers :,
AVE actually started on their way to Cuba -
! would seem that II they arrive at Porto b
sico 'ney would be in imminent danger Ii
n capture or destruction ut the hands of -
dmiral SIMPSONS squadron which is I'M :,
|uestlonabiy superior in offensive power. "
p other words the four cruisers would
le situated just as were the Oauendo and
he Nizcaya before the outbreak of hostili 1
les. when they prudently fled from the
'ort of Havana.
1t was reported in departmental circles ,,
oday that the flying squadron was about -
o sail from Fortress Monroe. The Officials u
efused to affirm or deny the correctness st
Z this statement: but !. Is assumed that of