The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-01
Is NOT A BLUFF.
Commodore Watson VIII Leave FOR
the Spanish, Coast Within a Week.
An American Fleet at Present Wo11d Find
No Formidable Enemy AfOat In span
Ish Waters and Could Destroy
the chief Ports.

WASHINGTON, June 2a.-All the mem
bers OF the cabinet were present at
yesterdays meeting, with the excep-
ton Of Secretary Day, who Is ont Of
the city. at its conclusion It was
stated that the work Of supplying
Commodore WatsOn's squadron with
ammunition, coal and provisions, pre-
paratory to its departure for Spain,
was progressing satisfactorily and
that, in all probability, the squadron
would be ready to sail in the course Of
the next four or five days The
impression which seems 20 pre-
vail in some quarters that the
sending of this fleet to Spain is
intended solely to prevent Admiral
Camara from going 10 the Philippines
is erroneous. There is no question
that this move has been under consider
alton for some time, and it is the fixed
intention Of the government TO send
the vessels to SPANS home waters
whether Camara's fleet proceeds to the
Philippines or not If It returns and
comes within striking distance Of
Commodore Watson's powerful squad
ron, it is confidently expected by the
president and the members of the cab
met that 1t viii be crushed, thus ut
terly destroying SPANS power on the
sea Should IL continue its course to
Manila. Admiral Dewey's squadron is
regarded as absolutely able to main
tain the honors it won on May L
1t is said at the navy department.
that il is the present in item ton 70 start
Commodore WatsOn's eastern squad
ron from antiago. This, however, is
subject to Admiral SIMPSONS report
upon the condition of the vessels Sc
lected and their needs in the matter of
supplies and equipment for the long
voyage ahead Of them. If they need
no more than can be supplied from
SIMPSONS fleet, they viii start, &C
cording to orders from Santiago, but
if further supplies are needed, or il
the vessels must be cleaned first, then
they probably viii be sent north to
Hampton roads. Meanwhile, there is
no installing the earnestuess of the
navy department IN preparing this
squadron for the European service.
PURPOSE TO PUSH TIE WAR
New YORK, June ga special to
the Tribune from Washington says;
( That the scope of the war, already in
! fOAFAuk lOlAb ulALALdAg anu nav a Ne-lAA-
! paigns against SPANS colonies in the
/ far east and in the Carib bean, would
eventually be widened to embrace a
demonstration in force against the Ca
naries and the coast towns Of the
Spanish peninsula itself has been
more or less apparent even from
the beginning Of hOstiities. Events
have couspired, however, in q
/ - -.
the way for offensive operations
in European waters, and what seemed
six weeks ago a rather remote prob
lem Of reducing the Canaries or bonn
/ harding the seaports Of the peninsula
has forced itself to the front with
rush which, except for the foresight
and sagacity shown in the enormous
expansion Of its naval resources,
might seriously have embarrassed the
development Of the governments war
plans. The two unforeseen chances
which have made a campaign in Eu-
ropean waters at this time not only
feasible but highly tempting have
been the blockade Of SPANS most for.
midable feet under Admiral Cervera in
the harbOr OfSantiagO de Cuba and the
! departure of Admiral Camara's squad
ron. ranking next in strength, on
its wild goose chase toward Manila.
With no escape probable for the San
tiago feet, aud with SPANS home re-
sources weakened by Camara's diver
sion to the east, an American feet
would find at present no formidable
lenemy aioat in Spanish waters, and
could, without fear Of attack by sea-
leffectually drive Spanish commerce to
cover and threaten the destruction by
Commandment of SpaiG's chief ports
Even should Camara's squadron be
lordered back to Spain from Port
Said, its lighting strength is not
considered sufficient 70 check the
operations Of the naval force which
the United States could easily
send across the Atlantic, and, Santiago
having once fallen, there would re-
main no reason why the feet chosen
as an advance guard in the proposed
attack on Spain should not be rein
. forced BY a second detachment Of
equal power. It's prospective depsr-
ture is regarded here as significant Of
the purpose Of the administration 70
. push the war against Spain with the
utmost energy and to bring the Span
/ fsh people as quickly and sharply Is
possible to q realization Of the futility
and costliness Of protracted resist
ance.