Evening journal., 1898-07-18
A POWERFUL FLEET.
All the Battleships May Go
With Watson.
TO MAKE SPAIN SUE FOR PEACE
The Navy Department Thinks the Appear.
ance of the Eastern Squadron on
the Spanish Coast WIN Bring
the Enemy to Terms.

the Enemy to Terms.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-The presi-
dent and his cabinet are determined to
make Spain sue for peace. II the victo-
ries OF our navy and army up 10 date
are not enough. then the war will be
carried into other Spanish territory and
perhaps into Spain itself
Important instructions relative to the
organization of the eastern squadron
and its plan of operations against Spain
were intrusted Saturday afternoon to
Commander w. II. Brownson, COM
mander of the auxiliary cruSer Yankee,
for delivery to Commodore Watson, his
commander in chief These instructions
were considered and approved yesterday
afternoon by Secretary Long during a
conference he had with the naval war
board.
The question Of increasing the eastern
squadron was definitely determined. 1t
was said positively by an official In a
position to know that orders viii be is
sued within the next few days assign
ing all OF the battleshlps to the eastern
squadron provided Rear Admiral Samp-
son makes no objection. Should orders
be issued in accordance with the infor-
nation of this official Commodore Wat
son will have at his disposal these men
of-war:
Battleships Oregon. Massachusetts,,
Iowa, Indiana and Texas.
Protected cruisers Newark and proba-
bly, New Orleans, Minneapolis and Co
lumbia.
Auxiliary cruisers Yankee, Yosemite
and Dixie.
This will leave armored and protect
ed cruisers TO conduct operations against
Porto Rico and to defend the American
coast
Secretary Long thoroughly appre-
ciates that no great amount of damage
can be done 10 Spanish cities by the
American warships and that the only
result Of bombardments win be of a
moral character, designed to influence
the Madrid government to sue for peace.
But the bombardment OF forti1cations
viii result in return fire from Spanish
guns. and it is deemed desirable to have
we'll protected ships participate in the
attack. Therefore the desire of the
board to attach additional battleships to
Commodore Watson's squadron.
There can be no question of the effect
Of the appearance Of such n force on
the Spanish coast. Admiral Camara,
with only one second class battleship,
the Pelayo, and the first class armored
cruiser the Carlos V, which may be
ranked as a second class battleship. be-
sides four torpedo boat destroyers, a
dozen torpedo boats and half a dozen
auxiliary cruisers. will be in a much
worse plight than was Admiral Cervera.
His force is so vastly inferior to Com
modore WatsOn's command that its an
Inhalation would be complete even If it
fought under the guns of the Cadiz
fortihcatlons. from which every effort
win be made by Commodore Watson to
draw II.
The great disadvantage under which
the battleships Massachusetts,, Iowa and
Indiana will labor Will be their slow
speed, due to the foulness OF their bot
toms. 1t is possible that before their
departure divers viii be sent down to
clean their hulls as much as possible.
but It is not believed that sufficient time
is at their disposal to even undergo this
operation, as 1t is desired they shall
leave Immediately after American
troops take possession Of Santiago.
This prospective increase Of the fight
ing ships will necessitate the addition Of
eolliers to the auxiliary squadron. Com
AiiihAeA ~ ID A'A4ALoi u NAAtA VI AAlc bu-
reau Of equipment. is being consulted
on this point, and he IS confident Of his
ability TO have an ample. number OF
ships at Hampton Roads probably the
latter part of this week under convoy
Of the cruiser Newark or some other
ship to be sent north by Commodore
Watson and win join the fighting force
at n point not far distant from the
J Spanish coast.
There the vessels will recoal and pro-
ceed on their mission against the ene-
my's ports. SRould the fighting ships
arrive ahead Of the colliers they will
| leave one man-of-war to convoy the
| colliers to a second rendezvous, while
the remainder Of the squadron continues
/ on It's mission.