The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-07-02
A RAID ON SPAIN.
Unforeseen Events Make Cam
paign in European Wa
terS Feasible.


the Caribbean, would eventually be wild
ened to embrace a demonstration in force
against tie CanarieS and the coast towns
of the SPANISH peninsula itself has been
more or less apparent even from the be
ginning of hOStilitieS. Events have con
Splred, however, III most unexpected
manner. to clear the way for offensive
operations in European waters and wha,
seemed six weeks ago a rather remotC
problem of reducing the Canaries ,r bonn
harding the SeapOrtS of the peninsula mas
forced itself TO the front with 4 rush
which, except for the foresight and sa-
gacity shown i'll the enormous expansion
of It's naval resources, might seriously
have embarraSSe the development of the
governments war plans.
Leaves the Way Clear.
Tho two unforeseen chances whicn
have made a campaign in European WA
tcrs at this time not only feasible but
hi ghly tempting have been the blockade
of Spain's most formidable fleet under
Admiral Cervera i'll the harhor of Santi-
ago de Cuba and the departure of Ad-
miral Camara squadron, ranking next
in strength. on lis wild goose chase to-
ward Manila. With no escape probable
for the Santiago feet, and with Spain ;
home resources weakened by tamara :
diversion to the East an American fleet
would find at present no fOrmida BILE enc
my afloat in Spanish waters. and could
without fear of attack 10y sea cffectually
drive Spanish commerce to cover and
threaten the destruction by bombardmenr
of SPAN chief ports.
Even should Camara' : squadron be or.
dcred back to Spain from Port Said it,
fighting strength is not considered suf
ticient to check the operations of the
naval force which the United States
could easily send across the Atlantic
and, Santiago having once fallen. there
would remain no reason why III" fleet
chosen today as an advance guard in
the proposed attack on Spain should 10,
he reinforced by second detachment OF
equal power.
Its prospective departure is regarded
here as significant of the purpose of the
administration To push the war against
Spain with the utmost energy and tn
bring the Spanish people as quickly and
sharply as possible to a realization of the
futility and COstliness of Il protracted re-
siStance.
Naval Raid Not Bluff.
The naval raid against Spain. although
for some time under consideration. prom
ises to be attended with all the sudden
ness that marked DCWcy'S descent upun
the Philippines, and the landing of Gen.
Shafter near Santiago. If the Spaniards
are disposed TO regard the announcement
made today of Commodore Watsou'S de
parturc i'll the Newark as anything in
the nature of a bluff designed to hurry
Admiral Camara back from Sucz they
are doomed to quick and bitter diSaT-
pointmcnt. for the raiding squadron will
he fairly on the way across tn" Atlantic
before the end of this week. and before
the middle of July tn" cities ana shipping
of the Spanish coast will be painfully
8
last the plan which the President has had
under consideration for several weeks in
volved tn" formation of Il fleet distinctly
more Formidable and speedy than the one
now under orders. IT includcd the ar
morcd cruisers Brooklyn and New York
If y knots speed, the Columbia and the
of % knots. the Cincinnati
and the Newark of 20 knots. the auXil-
iary cruisers st. Paul and ST. Louis Of
% knots, with the Iowa and the Oregon
of l6 knots to follow as quickly as pos
sihc behind the flying cruisers.
II would nave been necessary ~ bring
several of these vessels north and clean
them in drydock before starting them
on their long crniSe away from an mex
haustiblc base OF supplies involving a de-
lay Of several weeks
Give Them an Object Lesson.
The news of the American losses in the
skirmish at La Quasina. however,
caused the President to call Secretaries
Long and Algcr into consultation regard
ing the best way to convince the Span
iardS Of the hopolessncss of their stub
born resistance to the inevitable. and
within a few hours Capt. Ma han Of the
naval war board. had convinced tn" au-
thuritics that a thoroughly effective feet
involving all the elements essential to in
sure success, could at once be dispatched
to give the SpaniardS at home an object
lesson of the stern realities Of war.
Capt. Mahan readily drew up the plan
providing for the immediate assembling
of the first-casS hattleShips Iowa and Ore
gOn. the recently moderniZei protected
cruiser Newark with the auxiliary cruisers
Yankee. Yosemite and Dixie, accompa-
MED by three "ullIers. which would not
only compel an abrupt cessation OF
Spain'S commerce and lombard her eN-
posed Seacodst cities. hut would prove
more than a match for any feet that could
hastily concentrate for offensive or de
fensive purposes.
The plan was promptly approved by th'
President, and Geographic orders were
sent to Commodore John Crittenicn Wat
son. until last week commanding the
North Cuban hlockadimg squadron. to pro,
cced at once to carry the plans into effect
The collers are the Scaudia. Commander
t. w. w tlN''ii- liib Etl'dl f'lltit. Lit III e.
Commander c. H. RufOrd. and the Alex
ander, Commander w. Il. Rurwell. They
are fine cargo steamers. the Scandia oI
her last Transatlantic voyage before deiiv
cry TO the government having brought L
this country in a single trip 1900 emi
grants and 1000 tons of cargo. with
speed of II knots These vessels are now
fully loaded with Pocahontas coal. the
Scandia carrying 5000 tons and the Other
two 1000 tons each.
Necessarily a Slow Trip.
Unfortunately the Aharrnda and The
Alexander cannot exceed 4 speed of It
knots an hour. or 1850 knots a week, an
this rate fixes the maximum speed If tn,
squadron. although the scouts viii 10 { u
siderable additional cruising. especially
after the tanarieS are reached. Ih'
most economical speed of the Newark J.
10 knots and ut that rate with full bunk
er capacity she can run $500 miles. lh'
most economic speed Of tn" Iowa 9u,
Oregon is 12l2 knots, productiv" of
radius Of action appToXimating Han
miles and as the distance from Sdnt.'@'
to Gibraltar barely exceeds 3H'H Knots
all the vessels of Commodore Watson
squadron can make the run without th'
necessity O. CoalIng at sea, the three aEN
iliaricS. the Yankee. the Dixie and lo
semitic each being capable Of 5000 mile
Strai9htaWay. Al 10 knots m hour. o
30 a day. it will take tn" squadron q
least two weeks steady cruising lh TIL
open ocean ~ cover the distance hrtWrel
81. Thomas and tadlz.
Naval officers do not believe that any
sustained attack viii hc made on TIT
canarios. hut that the vessels of the ticc
will lie under the lee Of these i>land
10 rcplrni~h their hunkers. and then pro
coed directly To- Cadiz. 10 lombard th'
Qualifications in the manner that she'll
were thrown into III" outer dctens"s @
San Juan and Santiago. SHhScqucu
events. II is believed viii depend alto
2cther on the attitud" of tho Snauiard
and on their success or faIlur" III con
centrating ary cnuSidarah'. nayat force
In all pr"hah hility 4 sally into III, Me-
iterranean 10y the Americans VIII b" nee
eSsary in the hope of inducing Admira
Camara to risk an engage m'nt. If TIN
can hc brought about confidence i cy
pressed that the Iowa AMI the oregon vii
destroy the last remnant uf Spain So
rower and offectually CXtingUISh any de
fusion that the SpauiarlS have of be
ing able Ia regain their colonies.