Evening journal., 1898-06-28
American WarShlpS VIII
Attack the Spanish
Coast.
WATSON In COMMAND.
He Will Have an InVincible Fleet o.
Cruisers and BattleShipS.
CONDITION OF SPANS DEFENSES
Navy Department Has Fuii War Maps OF
Harbors and Coast cities--Colliers
Start For Newport News 60
Load Up For the Voyage.

Harbors and Coast cities-Colliers
Start For Newport News 60
Load Up For the Voyage.
WASHINGTON. June 2s-The admin
istration hes finally come 20 decision
to send an American squadron TO the
Spanish coast and into the Mediterra-
mean. Several times since the war broke
out rumors to this effect have circu-
lated. but the project had not matured.
II required the Spanish movement to-
ward the Philippines by Camara's
squadron to decide the navy depart
ment to adopt this bold stroke. The
first announcement yesterday through
a bulletin posted at the navy depart
ment Of the governments intention was
received with incredullty. There was a
suspicion that the story was being float
ed TO deceive the Spanish government.
However. when later In the day the de-
tail OF the vessels selected TO constitute
Commodore Watson's eastern squadron
was announced and official orders were
given to provision the fleet for four
months, IT, became apparent to the last
doubter that the government was In
earnest In this purpose to dispatch the
feet to Europe. The three vessels Sc
iected as colliers have started already
on their way TO Newport News to take
on a large supply OF coal. II viii re-
quire about n week TO get this down TO
Simpsons feet, so II the start is 20 be
made from that point it will be impos-
slble for Commodore Watson TO get
away before the 4th Of July. This would
seem to be an ausplclous date for the
beginning OF an expedition that VIII for
the first time in the worlds history
start from the new world TO attack con-
tinental Europe. No attempt is made
70 deny that the government IS lnfu-
enced In ordering this movement by
desire TO check the progress eastward
OF the Cadiz fleet 1t was not believed
that the Spanish admiral could be gull
~ OF the folly OF uncovering his home
ports In this fashion, but inasmuch as
he seems determined TO do so. the naval
strategists could not do less than take
advantage of the magnificent opportu-
nifty afforded "a strike 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.
The determination 20 send this squad
ron against Spain was the outcome OF
difect official advces reaching the state
and navy departments as TO the prog
ress OF Admiral Camaras squadron.
These advices give 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: Pelayo,
Carlos V. Audaz, Osado, Proserpina,
Patriota Rnpido, Buenos Ayres. Isla de
Panay, Colon, Covandonga and San
Francisco. The additional information
comes from official sources that this
squadron Is at Port Said and expects 10
take on 10000 tons Of coal before enter
ing the Suez canal. Such a heavy coal
ing will take some time. II discloses
also that the admiral expects to make
long sail and is doubtless headed foI
the Philippines, a point which the off,
cials here doubted at first.
The squadron Is the most formidable
Spain has ahoat 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 1861 knots. She carries 81
guns OF various caliber and has sever
torpedo tubes The largest guns are tn,
- inch Hontorias, one forward and on,
aft. and IL inch Hontorias, one on eacl
beam.
The Carlos V is OF 5000 tons. with 1
speed OF 10 knots. She has 2S guns. tn
largest being II inch Hontorias worke,
electrically. one forward and one aft
She has also six torpedo tubes. Tn
Audaz and Osado are torpedo boat de
stroyers recently finished in England
They are OF 400 tons each and are 3
knotters Each carries six guns ant
two torpedo tubes The Buenos Ayre
belongs TO the Transatlantic company O
nj ~, 80, ,al fr,t,
cruiser. She is $500 tons, with IA knot
speed. The Proserpina. Patricia an
Rapido are merchant vessels recent
reconstructed and armed. The Color
Covandonga and San Francisco are col
Hers. II is apparent from this that m
main reliance OF this feet is on the bat
sleship Pelayo the armored cruiser Car
los v and the two new torpedo boa
destroyers Audaz and Osado. The other
are auxiliaries and colliers. As sther
are only two armored ships in the Il
Admiral Dewey's fleet OF protected bl
unarmored ships probably will take car
of this Spanish squadron. With II
Monterey added he could certainly d
50.
The eastern squadron which Il
United States will now send again
Spain FAR outranks this Spanish squa'
ron, the Iowa and the Oregon excee,
ing the Pelayo and Carlos V at evei
point, while the other United Stat
vessels are far superior. ship for shi
20 those OF the Spanish squadron. wi
the single exception OF the two Spa
ish torpedo boat destroyers.
When the American fleet sails Z
Spain, x will take with It complete 4
formation as TO the entire stretch
Spanish coast. with detail maps Of e
cry harbor and its fortihcations. T.
war board had a mass Of this inform
tion before Il yesterday and spent
good part of the day studying Spani
charts and fortihcations. with VII
TO outlining the series OF blows whi
are 10 be delivered TO Spain at hon
The Spanish coast line is 2.122 kiion
ters long. OF which 769 Edlometers Q