The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-01
ORDERED TO SPAIN.
An American Squadron to Harass
the Spanish Coast.
COMMODORE WATSON IN COMMAND.
Tho Washington Governments idea in
Ordering the Movement Ia IA Desire to
Check the Progress Eastward
of the Cadiz Fleet

WASHINGTON, June IS. The admin
istration yesterday finally came to a
decision to send an American squad
ron to the Spanish coast and into the
Mediterranean. Several times since
the war broke out rumors to this effect
have circulated, but the project had
not materialized. 1t required the
Spanish movement toward the Philip
pines by Camaras squadron TO decide
the navy department to adopt this bold
stroke The first announcement yes
terday, through bulletin posted at
the war department, of the govern
ments intention, was received with in
rredulity. There was a suspicion that
the story was foated to deceive the
Spanish government. However, when,
later in the day, the detail of the YES
sells selected to constitute Commodore
Watson's eastern squadron was an
nounced, and official orders were given
to provision the fleet for four months,
II became apparent to the last doubter
that the government was in earnest
in this purpose to dispatch the fleet to
Europe.
The three vessels selected as GOLFERS
have started already on their way to
newport News to take on large sup
ply of coal. 1t will require nearly a
week to get them down to Simpsons
fieet, SO that II the start is to be made
from that point, it will be impossible
Tor Commodore Watson to get away
before the Fourth of July. This would
sseem to be an suspicious date for the
beginning of an expedition that will,
for the first time in the worlds his
tory, start from the New World to at
tack continental Europe.
No attempt is made to deny that the
government is influenced in ordering
this movement by desire to check
the progress eastward of the Cadiz
fleet 1t was not believed that the
Spanish admiral could be guilty of the
dolly of uncovering his own home
ports in this fashion, but, inasmuch
al he seems determined to do so, the
naval strategists could not do less than
take advantage of the magnificent op-
portunity thus afforded to strike a
crushing blow at Spain and thereby,
perhaps, save much time and loss of
Wife and money in the conduct of the
tedious campaign in Cuba.
The navy department gave the first
animation of its decision to send a
teet to Spain by posting, at Ills yes
terday, the following bulletins: Com
t1nodore Watson sails to-day in the
Newark to join Sampson, where he
will take under his command an ar
mpred squadron with cruisers and pro-
coed at once off the Spanish coast"
x<ater the navy department issued a
second bulletin, showing the ships to
he placed under Commodore Watson's
command. The ships named are as
follows: Flagship Newark, battle
Ships Iowa and Oregon, cruisers Yo-
Gsemite, Yankee and Dixie and the col
Tiers Scandal, Abarenda and Alexander.
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 Admiral Camara's
squadron. The squadron is the most
formidable Spain h..s afloat, in total
tonnage, strength of individual ships,
armor and guns.
When the American fleet sails for
Spain IL will take with il complete in
formation as to the entire stretch of
Spanish coast, with detail maps of
every harbor and its Notifications. The
war board had mass of this infor.
nation before it, and spent part of the
day studying Spanish charts and for
titications with a view TO outlining the
series of blows which are to be de-
.ivered to Spain at home The start
will be made from off Santiago Just as
soon as the squadron can be gotten
ready, and this, fortunately, owing to
the completeness of the naval mobi-
lization, will be in very short time
There is no intention of weakening
.he Havana blockade by the with
arawal of Commodore Watson with
his flagship. To prevent this Secre-
tary Long has ordered Commodore
Howell TO proceed Immediately to the
American fleet off Havana to take
command of the post vacated by Com
modore Watson. Commodore Howell
IS at present in command of the coast
patrol fleet, and he will take the en-
tire fleet with him, that is, all of the
larger vessels, to reinforce the block
nde of the Cuban countries. He is al
ready on his way south from the New
England coast and should reach Gu
ban waters by the end of the week
-----=---
Another Favor for soldIers