3-086-285 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Spanish-American War: the harbour of Las Palmas, the capital of Grand Canary, now being fortified by Spain, 1898. 'Last week, owing to some interruption of telegraph news communications, but also to some cunning temporary advantage taken of that condition of the world by interested parties, was remarkable for the publication of false reports. It was believed on Wednesday, May 11, when we noticed the latest news then current, that the Spanish naval squadron, which left Port St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, at the end of the preceding week, had gone to Cadiz instead of crossing the Atlantic. Information to that effect had been sent to Colonel John Hay, the American Ambassador in London, and had by him been transmitted to the United States Government at Washington, which had thereupon instantly ordered great military preparations for a descent on Cuba, and the landing of troops there. Telegrams from Spain concerning war operations being strictly controlled by the Madrid Government, it was not until Friday that either Europe or America knew the truth. The Spanish squadron was actually speeding across the ocean to the West Indies, and on Thursday evening reached Martinique!' From "Illustrated London News", 1898.