Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1898 — COAST OF SPAIN. [ARTICLE]

COAST OF SPAIN.

Decision Reached to Send a Fleet of Warships to Begin an Attack. Commodore Watson Plaoed in Command with Orders to Sail at Earliest Moment. Flagship Newark, Battleships Oregon and lowa, and Three Cruisers Chosen for the Work. It Is Thought the Canary Islands Win Be the First Point of Attack. ► ■Expedition Will Probably Be Ready to Sail on Fourth of July, AddIns Slßullleance to the Day. Washington, June 28. —The adminis- > tration on Monday finally came to a decision to send an American squadron \ to the Spanish coast and into the Mediterranean. Sevei’al times since the war broke out, rumors to this effect have circulated, but the project,had not matured; it required the Spanish movement toward the Philippines by Camara's squadron to decide the navy department to adopt this bold stroke. The i first announcement througn a bulletin ; posted at the war department of the t intention was received with incredulity. There was a suspicion that the story was being floated to deceive the Spanish government, j However, when later in the day. the detail of the vessels selected to constitute j Commodort Watson’s eastern squadron was announced and officiul erders were j given to provision the fleet for four months it became apparent to the last doubter that the government was ii:, earnest in this purpose to dispateh thefleet to Europe. Ray Start on (he Fourth. The three vessels selected as colliers have started already on their way tc | Newport News to take on a large Supply j of coal. It will require about a week to get .this down to Sampson’s fleet, sc If the start is to be made from that point it will be impossible for Commo- j dore Watson to get away before the 4th j of July. This would seem to be an auspicious date ( for the beginning of ar. expedition that will, for the first time in the world’s history, start from the new world to attack continental Europe. i No attempt is made to deny that the government is influenced In orderiug [ this movement by a desire to check the ! progress eastward of the Cadiz fleet. It I was not believed that the Spanish ad-1 miral could be guilty of the folly of uncovering his own home ports in this j fashion, but inasmuch as he seems de- j termined to do so, the naval strategists ! could not do less than take advantage of the magnificent opportunity thus as- | forded to Btrike a crushing blow at Spain and thereby perhaps save much time and loss of life and money in the conduct of the tedious campaign in Cuba. Camara’s Squadron. The determination to send this aquadron against Spain was the outcome of direct official advices reaching the state and navy departments as to the progress of Adtnirnl Cnmara’s aquadron. These advices give a list of the Spanish ships now nearing the Suez canal, which differs somewhat from the list given in the press dispatches and by Lloyd’s. The official list is as follows: I'elayo, Carlos V., Audaz Osada, Proserpina, Patriota, Rapido. Puenos Ayres, Isla de Paney, Colon, Covaudonga and San Francisco. The additional information comes from official sources that this squadron is at Port Baid and expects to take on board 10,000 tons of coal before entering the Suez canal. Such a heavy coaling will take some time. It discloses also that the admiral expects to make a long sail and is doubtless headed for the Philippines, a point which the officials here doubted at first. This squadron is the most formidable Spain has afloat, in total tonnage, strength of individual fthips, armor and gunl. Our Flrrt tbe Bent. *• The eastern squadron, which the United States will now' send against Spain, far outranks the Spanish squadron, the lowa and Oregon exceeding the Pelayo and Carlos V. at every point, while the other United States vessels are far superior, ship for ship, to those of the Spanish squadron, with the single exception of the two Spanish torpedo boat destroyers. When the American fleet sails for Spain it will take with it complete information as to the entire stretch of Spanish coast, with detail maps of every harbor and its fortifications. May Attack Canaries Flrat. With this full information at hand, the nature of the assault upon the coast of Spain will be pretty well outlined before the American squadron Mails. At the same time much will be left to the commander in chief of this squadron. Borne naval authorities believe that the Canary islands will be the'fi-r.t point of attack, and that the next move will be to establish a naval base at Ceuta, a point in the African coast, owned by Bpain and opposite Gibraltar. Watson Selected. Washington, June 28. —The navy department at 11:16 o’clock posted the following bulletin: "Commodore Watson sails to-day In the Newark to Join Sampson, when he will take under hts command an armored aquadron with cruisers and proceed at anoe off the Spanish coast.” _ The navy department haa posted the

following bulletin, shpwing Commodore Watson’s squadron. It is designated the eastern squadron, and is as follow*: Flagship Newark, battleships lowa and Oregon, cruisers Yosemite, Yankee and Dixie and the colliers Scandia, Abarenda and Alexander. The advance will be made at once from Santiago. Thebulletin also showed the following changes in designation of the division of our war vessels: North Atlantic fleet. Rear Admiral Sampson, commandingr—Flrst squadron, Commodore J. A. Howell, commanding. Second squadron. Commodore W. S. Schley, commanding. „ Naval base, Key West, Fia-x-Commodore Remey, commanding. The Feeling In Madrid. London, June 28. —The Madrid correspondent of the Times says: The threats to send a squadron to Spain, as reported from the United States, is regarded here as a proof that the American government is seriously*, alarmed at the prospect of Admiral Cadipra appearing in the neighborhood of Manila. It is argued that if the United States were to show so little regard foi the j usages of civilized warfare as to bom- : bard small, open towns, America j might kill a few peaceful inhabitants | .and injure private property, but the 1 practical effect of such a flagrant infraction of the laws of warw’ould merely be to inflame the war spirit rs the Spaniards. Plans of the Spaniards. London, June 28.—The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail telegraphing Monday, says: The minister of war, Gen. Correa, expects the first Spanish 1 reenforcements to reach Santiago today. The report is confirmed that the Spanish troops at Guantanamo are . marching to attack the American rear I guard there. There is also a movement of other troops throughout the whole of eastern Cuba in ordesr to carry out a

concerted plan of action. It seems also to be the general belief that Admiral Cervera’s squadron will act on the aggressive during the coming attack on Santiago. The governor of Santiago, it is asserted, has an ample supply of provisions, munitions and coal. Admiral Camara, it is supposed, is now traversing the Suez canal without difficulty, as he haa sent no dispatch to the contrary. The announcement that an .American squadron is coming to Spain attracts very little attention. All the available meu-of-war have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness. The harbors are mostly protected by torpedoes. and the various garrison* have been reviewed as to iheir efficiency. * A Theatrical Announcement. London, June 28. —The Washington correspondent of the Daily Chronicle saj’s: Spain is to be frightened into making peace. That is the meaning of the theatrical announcement that an American squadron is going to S]>ain — an announcement for which the navy department, contrary to ts custom, has sought the w'ulest publicity. President McKinley sincerely hopes the fleet will never sail.