The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-29
WILL lombard CADIZ
WATSON'S FLEET WILL SHELL
THAT CITY FIRST
IOWA AND OREGON WILL GO
The Heavy Monitors Will Remain in
Cuban Waters-Plans for Cam
paign in Spanish Waters
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
! NEW YORK, June ga special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The war and navy departments, by their
marked increased activity, gives the great
est evidence of the aggressive efforts to be
Immediately exerted against Spain, grow
ing out of the decision reached by the ad-
ministration that termination of the war
can only be secured by bringing home the
dscomforts as we'll as the horrors of the
conflict to the greatest number of Spanish
subjects in the shortest time. The wide
extension of the Cuban blockade; the an
nounced intention of hurrying $4,000 addi-
tional soldiers into Cuba; the proclaimed
closure of San Juan de Porto Rico, together
with the decision to dispatch Commodore
Watson's powerful fleet to European wa
| ters, gave a new impetus to the energy dis
played at military and naval headquarters.
resulting in rush and bustleswhich had
not been equaled since the week in April
that was made historical by the presidents
ultimatum, the proclamation of the Cuban
blockade, the first call for volunteers and
the actual beginning of hostilties.
Rushing Watson's Fleet
The naval authorities are manifesting the
| liveliest anxiety to expedite. the departure
of Commodore Watsons raiding squadron
from Santiago, and urgent dispatches were
sent to Admiral Sampson today to have the
Iowa and Oregon fully coaled and equipped
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 the Yosemite and the three golfers will
probably assemble north of Porto Rico,
when straight course for the Canaries
will be pursued. =.
The department is also arranging to send
some fast golfers across the ocean to meet
the fleet in the vicinity of Gibraltar about
be middle of July. 1t is considered con-
elusive that the main object of the squadron
| is to infiict punishment on the important
| city of Cadiz.
Will Attack Cadiz
Beginning with the bombardment of Its
| chain of forts at sunrise some morning, the
Iowa and the Oregon will finish with the
destruction of parts of the city by Smelling
after twenty-four hours notice have been
| given, the idea being by the creation OF
enormous material damage to show Spain
| the terrible earnestness of the United
| States. The city of Cadiz is advantageous
| ly located, from an American point of view
| for operations of this character, its chief
public buildings and valuable naval estab-
| lishments being easily within range of the
guns of the two United States battleships
and those of the Newark. The auxiliary
cruisers Yankee, Dixie and Yosemite are
relied on in this engagement to prevent tor
pedo boats from approaching too near the
battleships, and in this work they may be
assisted by the rapid-fire guns already
mounted on the golfers.
Monitors Will Stay at Home
1t is the intention of the department to re
tain the heavy monitors in position of
Havana, Cienfuegos and perhaps Trini.
dad, supporting a number of the smaller
auxiliary cruisers as scouts while the fast
yachts and light draft vessels watch the
Isle of Pines, Batabano and Manzanillo
| where the water is particularly shallow
Outside of this inner blockade line power
full cruisers will constantly patrol up and
down the coast, seldom out of signaling dis
and it is inconceivable that any assistance
in the way of ammunition and food sup
plies will be able to slip through this double
Gordon and be safely landed.
The difficulties are considerably aug
mented, so far as the Porto Rico blockade
is concerned. by its distance from the near
| est American base and as the resources oil
| Key BEST are apt to be severely taxed ir
| caring for the Cuban blockading fleet, it is
proposed to use Hampton Roads as sup.
| ply station for the Porto Rican operations