The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-30
WAR BOARD is ACTIVE.
An Aggressive Campaign All Around
Has Been determined On.

NEW YORK, June ga special to the
Tribune from Washington says: 1.-THE War
and Navy Departments by their marked
increase in activity give significant evidence
of the aggressive efforts to be Immediately
eXerted against Spain, growing out of the
decision reached by the administration that
a termination of the war can only be Sc
cured by bringing home the discomforts, as
we'll as the horrors, of conflict to the great
est number of Spanish subjects in the short
est time. The wide extension of the Cuban
blockade; the announced intention of hurry
ing $1,000 additional soldiers into Cuba; the
proclaimed closure of San Juan de Puerto
Rico, together with the decision to dispatch
Commodore Watson's powerful fleet to Eu-
ropean waters, gave a new impetus to the
energy displayed at military and naval
headquarters resulting in rush and hustle
which had not been equaled since the week
in April that was made historic by the Pres
ident's ultimatUm the proclamation of the
Cuban blockade the first call for volunteers
and the actual beginning of hostiities.
''The naval authorities are manifesting the
liveliest anxiety to expedite the departure
of Commodore Watson's raiding squadron
from Santiago. and urgent dispatches were
sent to Admiral Sampson to have the Iowa
to report for their new duty before the end
of the present week. BY that time the New
ark. the auxiliary cruisers Yankee Dixie
and Yosemite. and the three Golfers Scan
dia, Alexander and Abarenda, will probably
assemble north of Porto Rico, when a
straight course for the CanarieS will be pur-
sued The naval refrigerator ship Supply,
loaded with fresh meat and vegetables will
Immediately set out for the rendezvous, in
order that the sailors Of the fleet may be
well fed on their long transatlantic voyage
The department is also arranging to start
several fast golfers across the ocean to meet
the fleet in the vicinity of Gibraltar about
the middle Of July. 1t is considered con-
elusive that the main object of the squadron
is to inf1ict punishment on the important
city of CadiZ, beginning with the lombard
ment of its chain of forts at sunrise some
morning by the Iowa and Oregon, and the
destruction of parts of the city by Smelling
after twenty-four hours notice has been
given, the idea, by the creation of enormous
material damage, to show Spain the terrible
earnestness of the United States. The city
of Cadiz is advantageously located, from
an American point of view, for operations
of this character, its chief public buildings
and valuable naval establishment being
easily within range of the guns of the two
United States battle ships and those of the
Newark. The auxiliaries Yankee, Dixie and
Yosemite are relied on in this engagement
to prevent torpedo boats from approaching
they may be assisted by the rapid-fire guns
already mounted on the golfers.
1T is the intention of the department to
retain the heavy monitors in position off
Havana. Cienfuegos and perhaps Trinidad,
supporting number of the smaller auxiliar-
les as scouts. while the fast yachts and light
draught vessels watch the Isle of Pines,
Batabano and Manzanillo where the water
is particularly shallow. Outside of this in
ner blockade line powerful cruisers will cor,-
stantly patrol up and down the coast, sell
dom out of signaling distance of each other
and the scouts in shore, and it is inconceiv
able that any assistance in the way of am
munition or food supplies will be able to slip
through this double Gordon and be safely
landed.
1.-The chief efforts of the Navy Department
are just now concentrated in the direction
of providing an efficient system of supply
ing water food. fuel and ammunition to the
blockaders, which is a problem of greater
magnitude than anything in this line here
tofOre attempted The difficulties are con-
siderably augmented, so far as the Porto
Rican blockade is concerned, by it's excess
sive distance from the nearest American
base. and as the resources of Key West are
apt to be severely taxed in caring for the
Cuban blockading, fleet. it is, proposed to
use Hampton Roads as supply station for
the Porto Rican Operat TONS"