The herald., 1898-06-28
THE FLEET ORDERED TO SPAIN
WILL 60 THERE
OFFICIALS FULLY INFORMED
OF the Lay Of the Land-The Number
Of Ships and Forts and Their
Armament Are Known
Associated Press Special Wire


send an American squadron to the Spanish
coast and into the Mediterranean. Several
times since the war broke out rumors to
this effect have been circulated, but the
project had not materialized-it required
the Spanish movement toward the Philip
pines by Camara's squadron to decide the
navy department to adopt this bold stroke.
This first announcement today, through
bulletin posted at the war department, Of
the governments intention was received
with incredulity. There was a suspicion
that the story was floated to deceive the
Spanish government.
No Spanish Bluff
However, when, later in the day, the de-
tail of vessels selected to constitute Com
modore Watson's eastern squadron was
announced and official orders were given II
provision the fleet for four months it be-
came apparent to the last doubter that the
government was in earnest in this purpose
to dispatch the fleet to Europe. The three
vessels selected as collier have started al.
ready on their way to Newport News to
take on large supply of coal. 1t will re-
quire a week to get them down to Samp-
sons fleet, so that, if the start is 10 be made
from that point, twill be impossible for
Commodore Watson to get away before the
Fourth of July.
Sail on July Fourth
This would seem to be an auspicious date
for The beginning of an expedition that will.
for the first time in the worlds history,
start from the New World to attack Con-
tinental Europe. No attempt is made to
deny that the government is Influenced in
ordering this movement by a desire 20
check the progress eastward of the Cadiz
fleet. 1t is not believed that the Spanish
admiral could be guilty of the folly of un-
covering his own home ports in this fash
ION, but inasmuch as he seems determined
to do so, the naval strategists could not do
less than take advantage of the magnifi-
cent opportunity thus afforded them to
strike crushing blow at Spain and there
by, perhaps, save much time and loss of
life and money in the conduct of the tedious
campaign in Cuba.
The determination to send this squadron
against Spain was the outcome of direct
official advices reaching the state and navy
departments as to the progress of Admira
Camara's squadron
Camara's Ships
These advices give a list of the Spanish
ships now nearing the Suez canal, which
differs somewhat from the list given in the
press dispatches and by Lloyds. The Off
cial list is as follows: Pelayo. Carlos V
Audaz, Osada, Prosperina, Patricia, Ra-
pfdo, Buenos Ayres, Isla de Paney. Colon
Covandonga and San Francisco
The additional information comes from
official sources that this squadron Is a,
Port Said and expects to take on board
10000 tons of coal before entering the Suei
canal. Such a heavy coaling will take
some time. 1t discloses also that the ad
miral expects to make a long sail and Is
doubtless headed for the Philippines
point which the officials have doubted al
first.
The squadron is the most formidable on,
Spain has afioat in total tonnage. strength
Of individual ships armor and guns.
Spain's Strongest Fleet
The Pelayo is the strongest of the ship
and is the only battleship in the Spanish
navy. She is 5000 tons, with speed of 16.
knots. She carries So guns of various cali
ber and has seven torpedo tubes. The larg
est guns are the 12-inch Hontorias, one for
ward and one after, and 11-inch Hontorias
tons, with a speed of 10 knots. She has ?
guns, the largest being 11-inch Hontoras
worked electrically. one forward and on
aft She has also six torpedo tubes.
The Audaz and Osada are torpedo-boa
destroyers, finished in England just befor
the war began. They arc of 400 tons each
with a speed of 50 knots. Each carries
guns and 2 torpedo tubes.
The Buenos Ayres belongs to the Trans
atlantic company of Cadiz and has bee
transformed into cruiser. She is 800 tons
with IA knots speed. The Prosperina, Patri
ota and Rapido are merchant vessels, re
Gently constructed and armed. The Color
Covandonga and San Francisco are col
iiers.
1t Is apparent from this that the main re
lance of the fleet is on the battleship Pc
layo, the armored cruiser Carlos V and tn
two new torpedo-boat destroyers, Auda
and Osada. The others are auxiliary cruis
ers and colliers. AS there are only two a,
mored ships in the lot, Admiral Dewey
fleet of protected but unarmored ships wi
probably take care of this Spanish squad
ron. With the Monterey added, he certain
ly could do so.
The Eastern Squadron
The eastern squadron which the Unite
States will now send against Spain far out
ranks the Spanish squadron, the Iowa an
Oregon exceeding the Pefayo and Carlos
at every point, while the other Unite
States vessels are far superior, ship fo
ship. to those of the Spanish squadron, wit
the single exception of the two Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyers.
When the American fleet sails for Spa
It will take with it complete informatio
as to the entire stretch of Spanish coas
with detail maps of every harbor and IT
Z Notifications. The war board had a mas
of this information before it, and spent mos
of the day studying Spanish charts and for
tifications, with a view of outlining the Sc
ries of blows which are. to be delivered t
Spain at home. The Spanish coast line
2,122 kilometers long, of which 769 kilos ar
on the north coast. while 1853 kilos are alon
the Mediterranean and the Atlantic o.
the south coast. The coast is describes
by naval strategists as abrupt and noun
famous with sinuous inlets and CULTS, re
sembling the fjords of Scandinavia. In gen
bral. the Notifications of the coast are relic