Show SPANISH FLOTILLA one of the most formidable afloat if Allowe fl to beach porto rico the american battleships at key west would be at the of the destroyers st much uneasiness created in naval circles key west aja march 20 it was not until today that the cewa of the spanish torpedo flotilla from the can islands became i known amors the naval officers here it created especially among the officers of the torpedo boats which are in this bar bor one of the mott prominent of these officers said today if atie united states allows the spanish boate to set to portorico Port oRico it will be the biggest mistake ever made they are a arreater menace to the safety of conr fleet than it all the reet of the navy was brought to these waters at porto alico they will be nearer key west than havana only two torpedo boats in our navy would have any chance of getting away from abo spanish torpedo boat destroyer the iowa new york and indiana lying out there six miles off the land would practically be at the deicy of dozen torpedo boats which could run over from porto rico in chort time debould war be declared we have no protected harbors here and we have not a eingle torpedo destroyer and unless a fleet powerful enowich to be proof cheso torpedo boats ii quickly concentrated ic these or the flotilla ie warned to keep further away I 1 debould judge thai it would be better to take every united states war ship aa far away as possible from this menacing dorco which spain intends lo 10 concentrate within such a convenient distance as porto rico it is all very well to talk of peace and to eay that there is no probability of war ant at the bame time while inter national relations are trained displays of force be met with alacrity and as a torpedo expert 1 must say that if every ship in the united states vas braueht into these waters it would be none too formidable display when the strength of the spanish flotilla is considered washington march 25 Interest bar pierine upon concern is manifest among clala ol 01 abo navy department oyer the movement of the spanish fleet of torpedo boats from abo canaries to porto rico the flotilla Is one of the moet formidable of its kind afloat naval experts are of the opinion that noder ordinary circumstances it will take the flotilla about ten days tj make the journey but it is exceedingly likely that it will actually several daas longer it is tood tody that correspondence with seln through minister polo concerning concern inz the of the torpedo boat flotilla is not unlikely the made yesterday to abo effect that this government might re kard the sending of the flotilla to west indian waters as an unfriendly act in as it was evident that the boats were not intended for use against the labane Ln bane and as a matter of fact could be employed only against a hostile fleet of warships wore accentuated today but what representations if any will be made to spain cannot be ascertained reserve being maintained |