Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-30
ORDERED TO SPAIN.
An American Squadron to Harass
the Spanish Coast.
COMMODORE WATSON IN COMMAND.
Tho Washington Governments Idea 10
Ordering the Movement Ii . Desire to
Check the Progress Eastward
Of the .Cadiz Fleet

OF the .Cadiz Fleet.
WASHINGTON, June 9S-The admin.
istration yesterday finally came to a
decision to send an American squad
ron to the Spanish coast and into the
Mediterranean. Several times since
the war broke out rumors to this effect
have circulated, but the project had
not materializsd. 1t required the
Spanish movement toward the Philip
pines by Camara's squadron to decide
the navy department to adopt this bold
stroke. The first announcement yes
terday, through bulletin posted at
the war department, Of the govern.
menfs intention, was received with in.
credulity. There was suspicion that
the story was Aoated to deceive the
Spanish government However, when,
later in the day. the detail OF the ves-
sells selected to constitute Commodore
Watsons eastern squadron was an
nounced, and official orders were given
to provision the feet 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 selected as colliers
have started already on their way to
Newport News to take on large sup.
ply Of coal. 1t will require nearly
week to get them down to SIMPSONS
fleet, so that, If the start is to be made
from that point, 1t will be impossible
for Commodore Watson to get away
before the Fourth Of July. This would
seem to be an suspicious date for the
beginning Of an expedition that will,
for the first time in the worlds his
tory, start from the New World to at
tack continental Europe.
No attempt is made to deny that the
government is influenced in ordering
this movement by a desire to check
the progress eastward of the Cadiz
fleet. 1t was not believed that the
Spanish admiral could be guilty Of the
folly Of uncovering his own 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 OPP
portunity thus afforded to strike
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 navy department gave the first
intimation Of its decision to send q
feet to Spain by posting, at ll:l5 yes.
terday, the following bulletin: Com
modore Watson sails to-day in the
Newark to join Sampson, where he
will take under his command an ar.
mored squadron with cruisers and pro-
coed at once off the Spanish coast"
Later the navy department issued
second bulletin, showing the ships to
be placed under Commodore Watson's
command. The ships named are as
follows: Flagship Newark, battle.
ships Iowa and Oregon, cruisers Yo-
semitic, Yankee and Dixie and the col.
Tiers Scandal, Abarenda and Alexander.
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. The squadron is the most
formidable Spain has aAoat, in total
tonnage, strength Of individual ships,
armor and guns.
When the American fleet sails for
Spain it will take with it complete in
formation as to the entire stretch OF
Spanish coast, with detail maps of
every harbor and its Notifications. The
war board had a mass of this infor.
nation before it, and spent part of the
day studying Spanish charts and for
tifcations with view to outlining the
series of blows which are to be de-
livered to Spain at home. The start
will be made from off Santiago just as
soon as the squadron can be gotten
ready, and this, fortunately, owing to
the completeness of the naval mobi-
lzation, will be in very short time.
There is no intention of weakening
the Havana blockade by the with
drawal of Commodore Watson with
his flagship To prevent this Secre-
tary Long has ordered Commodore
Howell to proceed Immediately to the
American fleet off Havana TO take
command Of the post vacated by Com
modore Watson. Commodore Howell
Is at present in command OF the coast
patrol fleet, and he will take the on.
tire fleet with him, that is, all Of the
larger vessels, to reinforce the block
ade of the Cuban countries. He is al
ready on his way south from the New
England coast and should reach Gu
ban waters by the end OF the week.