The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-31

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squadron on its way to Western waters?
This is a question which naval officers in
taken means to obtain a solution of 1t by
dispatching the auxiliary cruiser st. Louis to
ascertain the fleets whereabouts and cable
the results of her search to Washington.
The suspicion entertained by the authors
ties that tho Spanish reserve squadron Is
bound for Western waters has developed from
information they received on Friday last an
nouncing the departure of the armorclads OF
the Spanish fleet from Cadiz. The dispatch
for target practice, their commanding officers
being directed to await at rendezvous for
further instructions as to the course they
should take. 1t is probable that the Yale and
Harvard will be relieved from duty near
Santiago dc Cuba and resume their stations
to the westward of the Windward Islands. on
the lookout for Spanish reinforcements.
So far as the officials know spains avail
able Cadiz force consists of the hattleship
protected cruiser Alfonso KILL and four tor
pedo boat destrovers Shortly before Lieu
tenant G. l.. Dyer, the naval attache OF the
United States, left Madrid, he said that work
was being pushed on the armored cruisers
Cardinal Cisneros, Catalina, Princess de AS
turias and Pedro dAragona and on the tor.
pedo gun vessels Donna Maria de Molina.
Marquis de la Victoria and Don Alyaro do
Bazan.
The officers are absolutely in the dark as to
whether these vessels are ready for service;
but If they are, there is more reason thcy
believe. for crushing the Cervera SQUADRON
at the earliest practicable moment 1t has
been known that the armored cruisers were
to be ready some time during the summer
and that two of the torpedo vessels were
to be placed in commission during the pres
ent month. With these vessels in commission
spain VIII have, even without the Cervera
squ"uruh, BIN armorclads, one Of which Is
battleship and the other five armored cruisers.
The Junction of these vessels with Admiral
Cerveras forces would make snain sun,r,or
10 the United States on the sea, at least
with respect to the number of armorclads.
against SPANS ten armored shins. tho
United States would have but seven. four of
which are battleships one being second
class battleship, and two armored cruisers.
To prevent the possibility of such superiority.
the authorities propose to crush Admiral Ger
vera with all possible dispatch.
New York. May sO.-The auxiliary cruiser
ST. Louis sailed from tho American line pier
today. Just the ship was drawing out
from the dock and about a huu<,ed feet from
shore messenger boy rushed up to the
officer of the harbor and handed him sealed
message to be delivered to Captain Randall
OF the st. Louis. 1t could not be learned
| what 1t was or where It came from.
| Especial Cable to The Post and New YorN
Herald. Copyright. 1898, by James Gordon
Bennett)
Madrid, May 3o--I have just had CONVEX
satior with friend who has been visiting
Cadiz He tells me that the reserve squadron,
consisting of the Pelayo the Carlos V, the
Alfonso NH, cruisers, and the torpedo boat
des;revers Audaz. Prosperipa and De-
structor and the auxiliary cruisers Rapido,
the Patricia, the Alfonso MI, the Antonio
Lopez, the Cludad de Cadiz, the Leon XIII
aud the Buenos Aires. will be ready to put
to sea in a few days.
Admiral Camara is pushing the work with
all sreed and my informant says he be-
ileved they w sail in the first place for
the Canares and then set out under .e,lea
orders. thus repeating Admiral Cervera's tao
tics
As soon as this squadron is off. another
VIII be formed. 1t will comprise the Cardinal
cisneros. the Numancia. the Lepanto, III.
Dona Maria dc Molina, tho Don Alyaro do
bazan and the Marques de La vitoria. These
sn's'' however can not possibly be ready for
some weeks.
Wednesday last the following vessels were
at caaiz' The Pelayo the Carlos V. the Gen.
erh valdez two torpedo boats two torpedo
o0a' destroyers and the Destructor, which, he
says goes in and out of port almost every
o'her day.
The vessels lying in dock unfinished were
'he Alfonso XIII. the Rapido the Patricia.
th' Vitoria, the Princessa de Asturias, the
Alfonso XIII and four Transatlantic liners.
Which were being transformed
Inc Giraida was nearly sunk at her dock
few days before my informant left through