The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-25
SHIPS NAY GO 10 SPAIN
Coast 10 Be Attacked If Ca
dlz Fleet Leaves.
DEWEY CAN WHIP THE DONS.
The Two Monitors viii Be All
He Needs

Administration Officials at Washing
ton Make Up Their Mind That
Spain VIII Have to BE Given II
Good Drubbing to Bring Her
Rulers to Their Senses-No OfIiciaI
Dispatches Received From Shafter
or SnmpsOn-JOint Attack by Army
and Navy on Fort MORO at Santi-
ago.
Washington, June 24-The war Is to be
carried into Africa, metaphorically speak
ing, if Spain is foolhardy enough to send
the Cadiz fleet through the Suez canal to
attack Admiral Dewey in the Philippines.
1t is announced on good authority before
the last Spanish vessel has passed through
the canal an American squadron will be
steaming at full speed across the Atlantic
straight for the coast of Spain to bring
the war home to the Spanish people.
There is no doubt Admiral Dewey can
take care of himself against this Cadiz
fleet, since his own squadron will be re-
inforced by ironclads long before CANA
ra's ships sight the bay of Manila, and
he will also have the shore batteries with
him instead of against him in the strug-
gle.
1t has been concluded by the admins
tration that nothing save the most severe
measure will suffice to bring the Spanish
people to a realizing sense of the hopeless
ness of the continuance Of the present
war and even kindness, 1t Is held, will
dictate such a blow as it is proposed to
administer if the Spanish persist in this
last project
After the fall of Santiago de Cuba and
the capture or destruction of Admiral
Cervera's squadron Admiral Sampson
will have an abundance of vessels to spare
for the task set out for him.
Probably he will constitute the attack
ing fleet in two squadrons, the first a fly
ing squadron, to be composed of the
swftest vessels of the fleet, such as the
Columbia. Minneapolis, Harvard, Yale,
ST. Louis, st, Paul, New Orleans and
such craft
This will be followed under another COM
mander, either Admiral Sampson or Com
modore Schley, by the battleships, which
Capt. Clarlz's experience with the Oregon
has shown can easily be counted on for
the voyage across the Atlantic.
With the Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, Massa-
chusetts and Texas all battleships, sup
plementing the New York and Brooklyn,
armored cruisers and the less powerful
but speedy vessels of the flying squadron,
the Spanish coast would be speedily swept
clear of all commerce, all Spanish ship
ping would be destroyed and some of the
best ports blockaded or bombarded.
No official news came to the war depart
ment during office hours from our army
near Santiago. This was a cause for mild
surprise at the department, as Gen. Shaf-
ter has a cable at his command and it was
expected he would report the measures of
success he has attained in the debarka-
ton of his army on Cuban soil and the
beginning of operations against Santiago.
However the general has the reputa-
ton here of being a man of deeds rather
than words and of not being given to over
many official reports.
Not hearing from him, the officials were
obliged 10 rely for information entirely
upon press reports. They found these
high satisfactory, and Secretary Alger ex-
pressed particular qualification at the
news that the troops had reached point
within seven miles Of Moro Castle with
out encounterlng serious resistance. The
direction taken by the troops after their
| landing at notwithstanding generally
westward-is taken in some quarters here
to indicate a purpose TO unite with Ad-
mlral Simpsons feet in an attack on Nor
70 Castle and the other forts at the en-
trance of Santiago harbor before turning
their attention to the town itself.
Once the fort Is captured Admiral Samp-
son, with small boats, could remove the
mines, and, if, as reported, the Merrimac
does not completely obstruct the channel.
some of the battleships may be sent In to
deal with Admiral Cervera's squadron.
Something of this kind Is believed TO be
necessary IN order TO relieve our troops
from the fire of the Spanish feet when
they attack Santiago direct
One or two Of the battleships supple
mented by a few torpedo boats, could be
relied upon to keep Admiral cervera's 2
squadron so fully occupied that he would
have no time to get at the troops attack
ing Santiago from the rear.
For the first time to-day there was a re-
liable announcement Of the intention OF
Gen. Miles to go to Cuba 10 participate
In the operations there before the cam.
paign Is extended TO Porto Rico. The time
Of his departure Is at yet unsettled.
With great satisfaction the navy depart
rnent published Admiral Sampson's state.
ment that Lieut. Hobson and his men are
well. and are not in the line of fire. IA