The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-30
TO lombard CADIz.
a strong Probability that This NiIl
BE Done.
lHt FORTS WILL BE FIRST REDUCED
Then, After Twenty.four Hours No.
tice. the City Will BE Shelled.
WATSON Is TO DO THE WORK.
"e"ht'me the blockade OF Cuban
Ports VIII he More Rigid
Than Ever.
WATSON Is TO DO THE WORK.


tribune from Washington says:
Inc war and navy departments. by their
marked increase in activity, give signia-
cant evidence OF aggressive efforts to be
iihii'edlately eXerted against Spain, growing
OUT Oh the decision reached by the admin
istratiun that termination of the war can
only be secured by bringing home the dis.
eoiiiiorts as well as the horrors Of con-
met 20 the greatest number of Spanish
SUBJECTS in the shortest time The wide
extension of the Cuban blockade, the an
hounced intention of hurrylng 20 900 ad-
ditional soldiers into Cuba the proclaimed
closure of san Juan dc Porto Rico. to-
sether with the decision to dispatch Com
hiouore Waison's powerful fleet TO Euro
pean waters. gave new impetus TO the
energy displayed at military and naval
headquarters, resulting in rush and hustle
which had not been cqualled since the lat
ter part OF April and the proclamation of
the Cuban blockade and the first call for
volunteers.
Inc naval authorities are maulfestlng
'he lVellest anxiety TO expedite the depar
ture OF Commodore Watson's raiding squad
ron from Santiago and urgent dispatches
were sent TO Admiral Sampson today 10
have the Iowa ana Oregon gully coaled and
equipped TO report for their new duty be-
tore the end OF the present week, by that
lime the Newark, the auxiliary cruisers
Yankee. Dixie ana os mite and the three
golfers Scandia, Alexander ana Abarenda
VIII probably assemble north OF Porto
hoci, when straight course for the Caa-
aries viii be pursued. The naval refriger-
ator ship supply, loaded with fresh meat
and vegetables, will Immediately set out
Tor the rendezvous in order that the sail
ors of the fleet may be we'll fed on their
long Transatlantic voyage.
The department is also arranging TO
start several fast golfers across the ocean
to meet the feet in the vicinity of Gibral-
tar about the middle of July. Ii is con-
sidered conclusive that the main objective
point of the fleet is to infllct punishment
on the important city of Cadiz. beginning
with the bombardment Of its chain OF forts
at sunrise some morning by the Iowa and
the oregon and the destruction of parts
of the city by Smelling after twenty four
hours notice has been given. the idea be-
ing by the creation of enormous material
damage, to show Spain the terrible earnest
ness OF the United States.
The city of Cadiz is advantageously 10
Gated, from an American point OF view, tor
operations Of this character. its chief pub
lie buildings and valuable naval establish
ment being easily within range OF the guns
NJ the two United States batteshps and
those of the Newark. The auxilaries yam
kee. Dixie and Yosemite are relied on in
this engagement to prevent torpedo boats
from approaching too near the battleships,
and in this work they may be assisted by
the rapid-fire guns already mounted on the
colliers
1t is the intention of the department TO
retain the heavy monitors in position off
Havana, Cienfueeos and perhaps Trinidad.
supporting a number of smaller auxilaries
as scouts, while the fast yachts aud light
draft vessels watch the Isle OF Pines, Rata-
bano and Mdnzanillo, where the water is
particularly shallow. Outside of tails in
ner blockade line powerful cruisers viii
constantly patrol up and down the coast,
seldom out of signalling distance of each
other and the scouts nshore. and it is in
conceivable that any assistance In the way
of ammunition or food supplies VIII lie
able TO slip through this double Gordon
and be safely landed.
The chief efforts OF the navy department
are Just now concentrated in the direction
of providing an efficient system OF .upply-
ing water food, fuel and ammunition 10
the hloekaders, which is problem Of
greater magnitude than anything in this
tine heretofore attempted. The difficulties
ere considerably augme nted, so far as the
Porto Rican blockade is concerned, by its
excessive distance from the nearest AMER
lean base and as the resources Of Key
West are apt to be severely taxed in rarng
for The Cuban blockadinG fleet, IL Is pro-
posed to use SIMPSONS fleet as supply
station for the Porto Rcan fleet.