The San Francisco call., 1898-03-31
" ARLIKE MOVE OF PANIARDS i hree Warships Sent to Join the Torpedo
 FlOtilla. Madrid Taking Advantage of the Time Still at Her
 Command.
American Flying Squadron May Be Ordered to Intercept the
 Fleet
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March. BOA Washing ton special to the Herald says: In df- rect contradiction of her promises to peacefully settle the question existing between herself and the United States Spain to-day took an action having as it's object the reinforcement of her fleet in Cuban waters and the protection of her torpedo-boat f1otilla.
 Minister Woodford informed the State Department early this mor--ing that the Spanish armored cruisers Cristobal Colon and Infanta -1aria Teresa and the torpedo boat destroyer Destructor had left Carthagena for an unknown destination but when last seen they were steaming to the yves ward. Min ister Woodford's information was ob- tained from the consular agent of the United States at Carthagena, who, in company with other consular officers of this Government in Spain had been in- structed to report to the Minister all movements of Spanish men-of-war.
 As an offset to the Spanish movement the strategic authorities of the Navy Department are seriously contemplat- ing the issuance of orders to Commo- dore w. s. Schley, commanding the fly
 
 with his command down the coast to Savannah or some other point which will place him several hundred miles nearer Porto Rico. It's first duty will be to dispose, if possible, of the Span ish .torpedo-boat fotilla, which will not arrive at Porto Rico, it is officially es- timated, before April ', and, when this has been destroyed, the squadron will turn it's attention to the vessels which left Spain to-day
 There is considerable speculation in official naval circles as to the first point at which the Cristobal Colon, the Infanta Maria Teresa and the De- structor will touch, and 1t was sug- gested that they might proceed to the Canaries and from that point sail for the United States. What is, how ever, considered more probable by na- val experts is that the Spanish Gov ernment, anticipating war, has sent these vessels at their highest rate of speed to join the torpedo boat flotilla, which, it is believed, is 1900 miles from the Canaries, and therefore has 1400 miles to cover before reaching Porto Rico.
 To comply with the plan of campaign prepared by the department 1t is first necessary to dispose of the f1otilla, and when this has been accomplished to have the flying squadron give battle to
 
 Teresa and the Destructor and the de- feat of these fortks will he much easier and safer providing they can be met separately. Combined they would make force which the flying squadron could hardly meet with safety. This fotilla consists of seven seagoing torpedo boats, and if re-enforced they would have a destroyer of 3S6 tons and two of the finest armored cruisers in the world to aid them against an attacking force.
 Comparing the Brooklyn and Texas with the Cristobal Colon and the h. fanta Maria Teresa, the authorities say that the American ships would have most difficult task to come off victors, but in view of the superiority of the American sailors over those of Spain, it is believed that an engagement be- tween the four ships would result in success for the ships flying the stars and stripes With the Cristobal Colon and Infanta Maria Teresa re-enforced by the Destructor and seven torpedo boats, the latter composing the fio- tilla, it is appreciated that Commodore Schley's squadron would have to be in- creased in order to gain victory with out any great difficulty.
 It is the question of these contingent cieS that has caused the authorities to discuss the advisability of having the flying squadron leave Hampton Roads anu uiOP dOWI lUc COdSL lO d nearer Porto Rico than their present anchorage. If the torpedo boat fiotilla is to be destroyed before the armored cruisers and the Destructor can re-en- force them this work will have to be done by the armored cruiser Brooklyn and the protected cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis, leaving the battle ship Massachusetts and the second class battle"ship Texas join these ves- sells later.
 The Brooklyn, Minneapolis and Co., lumbia could reach Porto Rico from Hampton Roads in about seventy five hours and could proceed on their way to meet the f1otilla in case it had not reached Porto Rico up to the time of their arrival. The Massachusetts and Texas would not be able to reach Porto Rico under five days
 On the other hand, the Spanish arm ored cruisers and destroyers, it is esti- mated by the officials, can overtake the torpedo-b boat fiotilla within six days and possibly in less time. Tn view of the belief of the authorities that the Spanish naval officials, anticipating trouble. directed tie torpedo boats to proceed with such deliberation that they could be easily overtaken by re- endorsements, it is appreciated that it would mean annihilation to the Brook lyn, Columbia and Minneapolis to at tack the combined force without sup port from the Texas and Massachu- setts. The move of Spain in this mat ter is, therefore, appreciated to have been the result of careful thought and every day of delay in bringing matters to an extreme issue will result in im- portant advantage to the Spanish navy
 The trouble is,'' said an official to me to-day, i've have delayed too long. We ought to have begun the war by March 1, at least, if we were to have it."