The record-union., 1898-07-08
Watson's Fleet to at Once Proceed
to the Spanish Coast.
General Miles and Staff Leave Washington
for Charleston, Where the Party
VIII Embark for the Scene
OF Action at Santiago.

WASHINGTON, July THE Presi-
dent called a council of war to-day to
meet at the White House, the purpose
being to review the situation and learn
exactly what the present conditions are,
and what changes, if any, should be
made in the plans for the future con-
dust of the war. According - one OF
the members present, it was decided to
abide by the plans already laid. at least
as to the general conduct of the cam
paign. Confirmation seemed to have
been given to the statement later in the
day, when, after conference with the
members of the War Board, Secretary
paper men that he had ordered Admiral
Sampson to detach from his own COM
mand Immediately the vessels to be
embraced in Commodore Watson's east
ern squadron. and to direct the Com
modore to proceed on hiy mission
The vessels of the squadron will not
be the same as those originally selected,
for the reason probably that the recent
engagement with Cervera's squadron
necessitated some changes. The Ley
eastern squadr VIII consist of the
battleships Iowa and Oregon, the pro-
tected cruiser Newark and the auxiliary
cruisers carrying side armor) Dixie,
Yankee and Yosemite; the golfers Ave
renda Cassius, Caesar Leonidas and
Justine, and the supply boat Delmon-
leo. The Iowa, Oregon and Newark are
all in the south with Sampson. So is
the Yosemite. The Dixie is at Newport
and the Yankee is at Tompkinsville
The colliers are at Hampton Roads
with the Delmonico. The ships are to
set sail as soon as they take on coal
and supplies 1t will not be required
in the case of the southern vessels, to
come north, which would mean the loss
OF several days, but they will start di-
rectly from the points where they are
now located
The order provides that each ship
shall make her way across the Allan
tic to marine rendezvous, which will
be designated in sealed orders, to pre-
vent it's exposure to the slightest pos
sible danger from the enemy, and the
most that is known is that it viii be at
some point off the Spanish coast It
probably will not be long after that be-
fore the American squadron will be in
full pursuit of Camara. with his rem
nant of the Spanish navy.
Meanwhile. the gathering of the
Anfrican fleet off the Spanish ports is
expected to have a SOLDERING effect upon
the infiamed people. The number of
colliers accompanying the expedition IS
evidence that a long cruise lies anead,
and that our naval authorities propose
to be caught in no such position as was
Camara a Port Said-oblged to sub
NIT TO refusal of coaling privileges.
A telegram received at the State De
partment this afternoon announced
that Camara was still lying with his
squadron at Suez the southern and
eastern entrance to the canal The tor
pedo boats Osada. Prosperina and Au-
daz which We're yesterday reported at
Pharo Portugal, arrived to-day at Ca
diz their home port. Admiral Dewey
has been notified of all these move
ments.
The very first care of the officials will
be for the wounded men, who are to be
brought north as rapidly as their con-
dition will permit There was some idea
of taking one of the big hotels at For
tress Monroe. standing on the Govern
ment reservation. for the purpose of a
hospital. but it is said to be the pres
ent plan to substitute a number of
large tents. which. when properly
pitched and placed, are said to be hy-
chemically better than the inclosed
structures for the treatment OF wounds
at this season of the year Meanwhile
all is being done in the neighbornood OF
Santiago TO alleviate the suffering.
This afternoon came telegram from
General Shafter to the War Depart
ment as follows:
I'm the name of the sick and wound
ed officers under my command, l thank
j. w Mackay for the ice sent u.s."
Much of the difficulty of supplying
the troops on the battlefield still lies
in the transportation department. Cen
eral Shafter has reported that in spite
of his appeals he has received yet only
one lighter. the Laura. and this Is
able. under the best conditions to car
rv ashore from the transports supplies
for only one day for the army. Whai
might happen in the event of ba6
weather can be conjectured.
The necessary orders were given dur
ing the day to start the Philadelphis
for Hawaii, carrying Admiral Miller
with a. notice of the action of the
United States Government, and direct