The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-31
Minister WoOdfOrd Cabled the De-
parture of Invaders.
FORMIDABLE SQUADRON
LARGEST THAT DEPARTED FROM
SPAIN THIS WAY.
Description of Spanish Cruisers and
Torpedo Boat-Schofield a Visitor
AT the War Department-Forpedo
Boat COMMUNICATIVE Bancroft
Days Developments.

Washington, March SO.-There wa:
the usual number of callers at the
state, war and navy departments today
TO interview the officials regarding de-
velopments in the Cuban situation, and
for the transaction of numerous other
items of business which have beer
brought forth as a result of the prepar-
atoms for war. A matter that caused
a good deal of excitement around the
corridors and among the officials was
the information of the departure west
ward of a formidable Spanish fleet of
! three vessels. Naturally. there was a
! disposition to criticise the action of
Spain in this particular. in view of the
many peace protestations that have
been made by that country, and such
action was regarded as anything but a
| friendly movement.
HEADED WESTWARD.
The information, of the sailing of the
| Spanish fleet was contained in a dis
I patch to the state department from
United States Minister Woodford at
Madrid. The ships sailed for Cartha-
gena. Spanish naval station on the
Mediterranean. and. according to the
| minister's dispatch, they were headed
L j
doubtedly the most formidable array
of vessels that has departed from
Spain in this direction during the
present crisis, and the presumption
generally held by the navy department
officials is that they are headed uIti-
mately for Havana and will be first
heard of at the Canaries. The fleet is
composed of two armored cruisers Of
the second class. under the convoy of
a
FORMIDABLE CRUISERS.
The names of the cruisers are the
Infanta Maria Teresa. sister ship to
the Vizcaya, which visited New York
preliminary to her trip to Havana.
where she now is, and the Christobal
Colon. The former is built of steel. is
S64 feet over all, 56.7 feet beam and has
a displacement of $3.50 tons, with a
mean draft of PIG feet. Her speed is
put down at slightly over 20 knots an
hour. The Christobal Colon is 32S feet
long and 59S feet beam. She is of $50
tons displacement, and has a speed of
20 knots. Both cruisers are heavily ar
mored.
The torpedo destroyer is formid-
aple specimen of about 400 tons dis
placement and capable of excellent
service.
SCHOFIELD A VISITOR.
One of the most prominent visitors
at Secretary Ayers office was General
John a. Schofield. formerly commander
of the army, and who is now on his
way TO New York
General Schofield is president of the
National Volunteer Reserve association
of the United States. which is seeking
to enroll in its ranks from 1000. 600 to
1000 600 men who Will respond to any
call that would be made upon them by
the government in case OF war Other
persons who saw the secretary were
Senator's Mason, Proctor and Hawley
and General Sichler.
TORPEDO BOAT COMMANDERS.
In explanation of his policy OF pre-
pairing the navy for a possible hostile
Secretary Long today de-
tailed officers TO command all the aux
iliary torpedo boats recently added to
the naval service. These details are as
follows:
Lieutenant James NJ. Helm, to COM
mand the Hornet; Lieutenant w. II. /
to command the Eagle; |
Lieutenant John Hood, late of the |
Maine, to command the Hawk; Lieu /
tenant Roger WeAes, jr.. TO command /
the Tecumseh: Lieutenant f. Il. Brain /
ard, to command the Uncas; Lieutenant /
PARCEL. to command the Oscoola; En- |
sign w. r. Gerhardi, To command the /
Sioux; Ensign w. S. Grossley, to COM
mand the Algonquin.
All these officers have been instructed /
to report for duty without delay. The /
vessels under their command will form .
part of the mosquito fleet, the main /
purpose of which is to act as a second /
line Of defense to the principal harbors
on the Atlantic and gulf coasts. The
whole fleet will be under command of
Horace Elmer, who is now
n New York arranging for its organ
cation and distribution into squads at
cities.
OUR GERMAN PURCHASE.
Information has reached the navy de-
oartment that the Somers, the new
yacht recently acquired by purchase by
he United States, had left Elbing, Ger
many, for Pillau.
The latter place is below Elbing, and
he superstition is that the vessel is
getting toward the sea, pre-
iminary to her start for the United
-tates.
THE BANCROFT.
The officials of the navy department
we're greatly gratified by the receipt of
| telegram announcing the arrival of
he Eunboat Bancroft at Bermuda, on
N view of the great amount of work
n progress at the Norfolk navy yard,
I was decided to. serd the Bancroft to
Boston, and an order to that effect was
tent to her commanding officer today.
The Bancroft is In need of extensive re-
airs. They will be made at the Bos-
or navy yard. and the vessel probably
will be detained in that harbor as part
# rs defense.
The gunboat Helena. which was for
neriy attached to the European station.
lsO arrived at the BermUdas today. S lie
s bound for Key West and will be
Gded to Captain Simpsons fleet.
Information was also received of the
departure of the cruiser Montgomery
rom Key West for Norfolk.
1t is said the vessel is in need of
light repairs, which can be made at