The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-28
First American Expedition Against Europe Will Sail
On Fourth of July.
BATTLESHIPS OREGON AND IOWA GOING,
COMMODORE WATSON IN COMMAND
Will BOmbard the Coast of Spain, and May Bottle Up
Camara In the Mediterranean.

Washington, June 27.-The admins
tration today finally came to deci-
sion to send an American squadron 70
the Spanish coast and into the Medit-
erranean. 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 Philippines by
Camara's squadron to decide the navy
department to adopt this hold stroke.
The first announcement today.
through a bulletin posted at the war
department, of the governments inten-
ton was received with incredulity.
There was a suspicion that the story
was floated to deceive the Spanish
government. However, when later in
the day. the detail of the vessels Sc
lected to constitute Commodore Wat
sons eastern squadron was announced
and official orders were given to pro
vision the fleet for four months, 1t be
came apparent to the last doubter that
the government was in earnest in this
purpose to dispatch the fleet to Eu
rope.
The three vessels selected as Golfers
have started already on their way to
Newport News to take on a large sup
get them down to SIMPSONS fleet, so
that if the start is to be made from
that point it viii be impossible for Com
modore Watson 10 get away before the
Fourth of July.
This wouIl seem to be an suspicious
date for the beginning of an eXpedi-
ton that will, for the first time in the
worlds history, start from the new
world to attack continental Europe.
No attempt is made to deny that the
government is influenced in ordering
this movement by a desire to check the
progress eastward of the CadiZ feet.
1t was not believed that the Spanish
admiral could be guilty of the folly of
uncoVering his own home ports in this
fashion, but inasmuch as he seems de-
termined to DO so, the naval strategists
could not do less than take advantage
of the magnificent opportunity thus af-
forded them to strike a crushing blow
at Spain and thereby, perhaps, save
much time and loss OF life and money
in the conduct of the tedious campaign
in Cuba
THE CADIZ SQUADRON.
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 Camaras squadron.
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 official list is as follows:
Pelayo, Carlos V, Audaz, Proserpina,
Patricia. Rapido, Buenos Ayres, Isla
de Fancy, Colon, Covadonga and San
Francisco.
The additional information comes
from official sources that this squadron
is at Port Said and expects to take on
board 10000 tons of coal before enter
ing the Suez canal. Such a heavy coal
ing will take some time. 1t diScloses
also that the admiral expects to make
long sail, and is doubtless headed for
the Philippines, n point which the Off
Gals doubted at first.
SPANS PEST SQUADRON.
The squadron is the most formidable
Spain has afioat, in total tonnage,
strength OF individual ships, armOr aAd
guns.
The PelayO is the strongest of the
ships and is the only battleShip in the
Spanish navy. She is $500 tons, with a
speed of 1871 knots. She carries 80 guns
OF various. calibre and has seven tor
pedo tubes. The largest guns are the
12-inch Hontorias, one forward and
ore aft, and 11-inch Hontorias, one on
each beam.
The Carlos V is of 5000 tons, with
speed of 10 knots. She has % guns, the
largest being 11-inch Hontorias, work
ed electrically, one forward and one
aft She has also six torpedo tubes.
The Audaz and Osada are torpedo
boat destroyers, finished in England
Just before the war began. They are of
400 tons each and are so knots. Each
carries six guns and two torpedo tubes.
The Buenos Ayres belongs to the
transatlantic company of Cadiz, and
has been transformed into a cruiser.
She is $500 tons, with IA knots speed.
The Proserpina, Patricia and
Rapido, are merchant vessels recently