The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-06-28

Increduilty and With Suspicion That
 the Story Was FIoated to Deceive
 Spanish Government-An Doubt Dis-
 pe11ed-CoIIiers Already on Their Way
 to Sampson's Fleet and Commodore
 Watson May Sail by July4.
 Washington, June 27-The adminis- tration to-day finally came to decision to send an American squadron to the Spanish coast and into the Mediterra- mean. The Spanish movement toward the Philippines by Camara's squadron impelled the navy department to adopt this bold stroke. The first announce ment to-day through bulletin posted at the navy department of the govern ment's intention was received with in- credulity. There was suspicion that the story was being floated to deceive the Spanish government. However, when later in the day the detail of the vessels selected to constitute Commo- dore Watson's eastern squadron was announced and official orders were giv- en to provision the fleet fort four months it became apparent to the last doubter that the government was in earnest in this purpose to dispatch the fleet to Eu- rope.
 Inc Jc tod have already started for Newport News to take on a large supply of coal. It will require about week to get this down to Sampson's fleet, so if the start is to be made from that point it will be impossible for Commodore Watson to get away before July f. This would seem to be an suspicious date for the beginning of an expedition which will, for the first time in the worlds history, start from the new world to attack con- tinentaI Europe No attempt is made to deny that the government is influ- enced in ordering this movement by a desire to check the progress eastward of the Cadiz fleet. It was not believed that the Spanish admiral could be gull ty of the folly of uncovering his home ports in this fashion, but as he seems determined to do so the naval strate- gists could not do less than take advan- tage of the magnificent opportunity af- forded to strike crushing blow at Spain and thereby perhaps save much conduct of the tedious campaign in Cu- ba.
 The determination to send this squadron against Spain was the out come of direct official advices reaching the state and navy departments as to the progress of Admiral Camara's squadron. 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 Lloyds. The official list is as fol- lows: Pelayo, Carlos ", Audaz, Osada, ETOSpeI1lds oIAiOteis Aeebpidc, 1dCllOo Ayres, Isla de Fancy, Colon, Covandon- ga and San Francisco. The additional information comes from official sources that this squadron is at Port Said and expects to take on board ten thousand tons of coal before entering the Suez canal. Such a heavy coaling will take some time. It discloses also that the fn a coil and is doubtless headed for the Philip pines.
 The squadron is the most formidable Spain has afloat, in total tonnage, strength of individual ships, armor and guns. The Pelayo is the strongest of the ships and is the only battleship in the Spanish navy. She is $500 tons, with a speed of 16.7 knots. She carries thirty-five guns of various calibre and has seven torpedo tubes The largest guns are twelve-inch, one forward and one aft, and eleven-inch, one in each beam.
 The Carlos V is of 9,090 tons with speed of 19 knots. She has twenty eight guns, the largest being 11-inch worked electrically, one forward and one aft. She has also six torpedo tubes. The Audaz and Osado are torpedo boat destroyers, recently finished in England just before the war began. They are 400 tons each and are 30-knotters. Each carries six guns and two torpedo tubes. The Buenos Ayres belongs to the trans Atlantic company of Cadiz and has been transformed into cruiser. She is 5,200 tons, with fl knots speed. The Prosperina, Patriota and Rapido are merchant vessels recently reconstruct ed and armed. The Colon, Cavonganda and San Francisco are colliers. It is apparent from this that the main re- liance of his fleet is on the battieshlp Pelayo and the armored cruiser Carlos V an dthe two new torpedo boat de- stroyers. The others are auxiliaries and colliers. AS there are only two ar mored ships in the lot Admiral DeWey's