Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1898 — MAY CROSS THE SEA [ARTICLE]

MAY CROSS THE SEA

Fleet of American Warships May Attack Spanish Ports. SUCH A MOVE IS IN CONTEMPLATION. If the Cadiz Squadron Goca to the Philippines to Attack Dewey, a Fleet Will Be Sent at Once to Bombard Spanish Coast. Washington, June 25. —The state department has just received advices confirming the report that the Spanish Cadiz squadron is in the Mediterranean moving eastward. The dispatch came from an agent of the department in Algiers as follows: “Capt. Moon, of the English steamer Hampton, informs me that he passed on •the 22d, at three p. m., oft Pampelleria. the Spanish squadron bound east, 15 ships Including transports laden with troops and three torpedo boats.” Will Bombard Spanish Ports. Washington, June 25,—The war is to be carried into Africa, metaphorically speaking, if Spain is foolhardy enough to send the Cadiz fleet through the Suez canal to attack Dewey in the Philippines. It is announced on good authority that before the last Spanish vessel has passed through the canal an American squadron will be steaming at full speed across the Atlantic, straight for the coast of Spain, to bring the war home to the Spanish people. There is no doubt that Dewey can take care of himself against this Cadiz fleet, since his own squadron will be reinforced by ironclads long before Camara’s ships sight the Bay of Manila, and he will

have the shore batteries with him instead of against him in the struggle. But it has been conducted by the administration that nothing save the most severe measures will suffioe to bring the Spanish people to a realizing sense of the hopelessness of the continuance of the present war, and eYen kindness, it is held, will dictate such a blow as that it is proposed to administer if the Spanish persist in this last project. Speculation ia to Plans. After the fall of Santiago and the capture and destruction of Cervera’s squadron Sampson will bav6 an abundance of vessels to for the task set for him. Probably he will constitute the attacking fleet tn two squadrons, the first a flying squadron, to be composed of the swiftest vessels of the fleet, such as the Columbia, Minneapolis, Harvard, Yale, St. Louie, St. Paul, New Orleans and such craft. This will be followed under another command, either Sampson or Schley. by the battleships, which Capt. Clark’s experience with the Oregon has shown can easily be counted on for the voyage across the Atlantic. With the lowa, Oregon, Indiana, Massachusetts and Texas, all battleships, supplementing the New York and Brooklyn, armored cruisers, and the less powerful but speedy vessels of the flying squadron, the Spanish coast would be speedily swept clear of all commeroe, all Spanish shipping would be deatroyed and some of the best ports blockaded or bombarded. Shatter Is Sllont, No official news came {o the war department during office hours from our army near Santiago. This was a cause for mild surprise at the deportment, as Gen. Sbafter has a cable at bis command, and it was expected he would report the measure of success he has attained in the debarkatMn of his army on Cuban sojl and the beginning of operations against Santiago. However, the general has the reputation here of not being given to over many official reports.' Not hearing fxam him, the officials were obliged to rely for information entirely upon press reports. They found these highly satisfactory, and Secretary Alger expressed particular gratification at the oews that the troops had reached a poiDt within seven miles of Morro castle without encountering serious resistance. ' * *> May Attack Morro. The direction taken by the troops after their landing at Bafquiri—trending generally westward—ia taken in some quarters here to indicate a purpose to unite with Sampson’s fleet in an attack on Morro castle and the other forts at the entrance of Santiago harbor before turning their attention to the town itself. Once the fort is captured Sampson with small boat* could remove the mines, and if. ns reported, the Merrimac does uot completely ob-

I | struct the channel, some of the battle*- ! ships may be sent In to deal with Cer- . vera’s squadron in its last resort. Somej thing of this kind is believed to be nec- | essary in order to relieve our troops ! from the fire of the Spanish fleet when I they atack Santiago directly. One or two of the battleships supplemented by ! a few torpedo boats could be relied upon I to keep Cervera’s squadron so fully oc- * cupied that he would have no time to get I to the troops attacking Santiago from j the rear. Miles to Go to Cuba. I For the first time there was a reliable ; announcement of the intention of Gen. Miles to go to Cuba to participate in the j operations there before the campaign | Is extended to Puerto Kico. The time of j hie departure is as yet unsettled. Gratifylagt -Hews. | With great satisfaction the navy de- : partment published Sampson’s statement that Hobson and his men are well and are not in the line of fire. It was | also noted that Sampson finds no diffi- | eulty in hav.ng his flag of truce respecti ed, which is gratifying in view- of the statement coming from Havana some j days ago, that there w-as to be a lapse ! into barbarism through the refusal of the Spaniards to recognize flags of truce.