The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-07-07
ACROSS TO SPAIN
A Mighty American
Squadron About
to Sail.
MAY LEAVE ON JULY FOURTH
Magnificent Opportunity 10 Strike .
Crushing Blow-Carrying tho War
Into Africa apd Thus Securing =
Naval Base at COuta.

Naval Base At Ceuta.
Washington, June 29.-The admin
lstration finally came to decision to
send an American squadron to the
Spanish coast and into the Mediterra-
bean. Several times since the war
broke out. rumors to this effect have
been circulated, but the project had
not materialized-it required the Span
ish movement toward the Philippines
by Camara's squadron to decide the
navy department to adopt this bold
stroke. This FIRST announcement to.
day through bulletin posted at the
war department of the governments
intention was received with incredul-
ity. There was suspicion that the
story was given out to deceive the
Spanish government. However, when
later in the day, the detail of the yes
sells selected to constitute Commodore
Watson's eastern squadron was an
nounoed, 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. It will require a week to
get them down to SIMPSONS feet, 80
that If the start is to be made from
that point, it will be impossible for
Commodore Watson to get away before
the Fourth of July. This would seem
to be an suspicious date for the begin
ming Of an expedition that will for the
first time in the worlds history start
from the New World to attack Cont
mental Europe. Nonttempt is made
to deny that the government Is influ-
enced In ordering this movement by .
desire to check the progress eastward
of the Cadiz feet. It was not believed
that the Spanish admiral could be
guilty of the folly of uncovering his
home ports in this fashion, but mas
much as he seems determined to do so,
the naval startegists could not do less
than take advantage OF the magnificent
ortunity thus afforded them to strike
crushing blow at Spain. and thereby
perhaps save much time and loss OF life
and money in the conduct of the tedi-
GUS campaign In Cuba.
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. These advioes give list
Of the Spanish ships now nearing the
Suez canal, which differs somewhat
from the list given in the press dis
patches and by Lloyd's. The official
list is as follows:
Pelavo, Carlos v. Audaz, Osada.
Prosperina, Patriota, Rapido, Buenos
Ayres, Isla de Pane y Colon, Covan.
donga and San francisco.
The additional information comes
from official sources that this squadron
is at Port Said, and expects to take on
board 10, 600 tons of coal before enter
Ing the Suez canal. Such heavy coal
ing will take some time. 1t discloses
also that the admiral expects to make
q long sail, and is doubtless headed for
the Philippines, point which the
officials here doubted at first.
The squadron is the most formidable
Spain has afloat, in total tonnage,
strength Of individual ships, armor
and gums. The Pelayo is the strongest
Of the ships and is the only battle-ahip
in the Spanish navy. She is 5000 tons.
with speed OF 1871 knots. She car
ries So guns Of various caliber and has
seven torpedo tubes. The largest guns
are the l2-inch Hontorias, one forward
and one aft, and 1l-inch Hontoriass
one on each beam. The Carlos v 10
of {, 1850 tons, with speed OF 10 knots.
She has 28 guns, the largest being IL
inch Hontorias, worked electrically.
one forward and one aft. She has six
torpedo tubes. The Audas and Osado
are torpedo boat destroyers, finished in
England just before the war began.
They are 400 tons each and are so knot.
Each carries six guns and two torpedo
tubes.
The Eastern squadron which tho
United States will send against Spain
far outranks the Spanish squadron. the
Iowa and Oregon exceeding the Pelayo
end Carlna y At ezvarv u0ink while the