Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-30
THE TRIP TO SPAIN.
Commodore Watson's Expedition to
the Spanish Coast Not a Bluff.
OUR PURPOSE TO PUSH The war.
An American Fleet At Present Would Find
No Formidable Enemy Afl0at In Span
bh Waters and Could Destroy
tho Chief POrts.


tho Chief Porta
WASHINGTON, June 29-All the mem
bers of the cabinet were present at
yesterdays meeting, with the excep-
tion Of Secretary Day, who is out 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 TO pre-
vail in some quarters that the
sending of this feet to Spain Is
intended solely TO prevent Admiral
Camara from going to the Philippines
is erroneous. There is no question
that this move has been under consider.
alton for some time, and 1t is the fixed
intention OF the government to send
the vessels to SPANS home waters
whether Camara's feet proceeds to the
Philippines or not. II 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 it will be crushed, thus ut.
terly destroying SPANS power on the
sea. Should 1t continue its course to
Manila, Admiral Dewey's squadron is
regarded as absolutely able to main
tain the honors it won on May |.
1t is said at the navy department
that 1t is the present intention to start
Commodore Watson's eastern squad
ron from Santiago. 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. II they need
no more than can be supplied from
SIMPSONS fleet, they will start, &C.
cording to orders from Santiago, but
If further supplies are needed, or ii
the vessels must be cleaned first, then
they probably will be sent north to
Hampton roads. Meanwhile, there is
no installing the earnestness Of the
navy department in preparing this
squadron for the European service.
PURPOSE TO PUSH THE WAR
New YORK, June GA special to
the Tribune from Washington says:
That the scope Of the war, already in
volving joint military and naval cam
paigns against Spain's colonies in the
far east and in the Caribbean, would
eventually be widened to embrace q
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 hostilities. Events
have conspired, however, in q
most unexpected manner, 10 clear
the way for offensive operations
in European waters, and what seemed
six weeks ago \ rather remote prob
lem Of reducing the Canarics or bonn.
harding the seaports d the peninsula
has forced itself to the front with a
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 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 of Santiago 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 fleet and with Spain's home re.
sources weakened by Camara's diver
sion to the east, an American feet
would find at present no formidable
enemy afoat in Spanish waters, and
could, without fear of attack by sea,
stfectually drive Spanish commerce to
cover and threaten the destruction by
oombardment of SPANS chief ports.
Even should Camara's squadron be
ordered back to Spain from Port
Said, its fighting strength is not
sufficient to check the
operations of the naval force which
The United States could easily
'end across the Atlantic, and, Santiago
having once fallen, there would re-
main no reason why the fleet chosen
Is an advance guard in the proposed
stack on Spain should not be rein
orced by second detachment of
quail power Its prospective depar.
ure is regarded here as significant of
he purpose Of the administration to
lush the war against Spain with the
Utmost energy and to bring the Span
sh people IS quickly and sharply as
'ossible to realization Of the futility
nd costliness OF q protracted resist