The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-28

Washington, June 27.-The admins
tration to-day finally came to a deci-
sion TO send an American squadron to
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. 1t required the Span-
ish movement toward the Philippines
by Camara's squadron to decide the
navy department to adopt this bold
stroke. This first announcement to-
day through a bulletin posted at the
war department of the governments in
tention was received with incredulity.
There was a suspicion that the story
was fioated to deceive the Spanish gov
ernment. However. when later i'm the
day the detail of the vessels selected to
constitute Commodore Watson's East
ern squadron was announced and off,
cial orders were given to provision the
fleet for four months, it became appar-
ent to the last doubter that the DEPART
ment was in earnest in the purpose TO
dispatch the fleet. Three vessels Sc
lected as colliers have started already
on the way to Newport News to take
on a large supply of coal 1t will re-
quire week to get them down to
SIMPSONS fleet, so that if the start is
to be made from that point it will be
impossible for Commodore Watson 10
get away before July 4th. 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
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 fleet.
1t was not believed that the Spanish ad-
miral could be guilty of the folly of un-
covering his own home ports in this
fashion, but inasmuch as he seems de-
termlned 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 long campaign in
SNDos iNit 10 SenQ tn1S
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 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 ", Audaz. Osada, Pros |
arDlna Pafrinta Ranidn
Isle de Panay. Colon, Covandonga 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 en-
iering the Suez canal. Such a heavy
coaling will take some time. 1t dis
closes also that the admiral expects to
make long sail, and is doubtless head
I'd for the Philippines, a point which
he officials doubted at first.
The squadron is the most formidable
spain has afloat in total tonnage.
strength of individual ships. armor and
runs. The Pelayo is the strongest of
he ships, and is the only battIeship in
he Spanish navy. She is $500 tons.
With speed of l6.1 knots. She carries
5 guns of various caliber. and has sew
N torpedo tubes. The largest guns are
he 12-inch Hontorias. one forward and
me aft, and u-inch Hontorias. one on
ach side. The Carlos V. is of $3.50.
With a speed of 10 knots. She has
s guns. the largest being 11-inch Hon.
orias, worked electrically. one forward
nd one aft She has also six torpedo
ubes.
The AudaZ and Osada are torpedo
'oat destroyers. finished in England
ust before the war began. They are
Z 400 tons each. and are 30 knot
Zach carries six guns and two torpedo
ubes. The Buenos Ayres belongs TO
he transatlantic company of Cadiz.
nd has been transformed into a cruiser
ne is 5,2e0 tons, with "a knots speed |