The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-28
SENDING OF SHIPS TO SPAIN.
MOVEMENT A HIGHLY POPULAR
ONE AT WASHINGTON.


Spain to Recall Her Fleet From
Fort snid-SOOn Developed That
the Authorities Are in Earnest.
Light Uniforms and Fresh Beef TO
lie Rushed to the Troops in Cuba.
Washington, June Washington has
had day of intense excitement over what
Is universally regarded as the most i'm
portant movement yet made during the
war with Spain
Quietly and without any advance an
nouncemenis there was posted at the navy
department this morning shott official
bulletin. That bulletin contained these
words: Commodore Watson sailed to-day
in the Newark to join Admiral SAMPSON
when he viii take under his command an
armored squadron, with cruisers, ana pro-
coed at once off the coast of SPAN"
This news spread with great ;apldity
and the excitement in all parts of The capN
ital became intense greater, in fact, than
it has been at any time since the debates
in Congress, that led up to the war,
There was a hurrying of Senators and
representatives to the White House and
10 the departments to see what it an
meant, and as it became realized that the
report was official and genuine the ex-
eitement was followed by the greatest en-
thusiasm
Nothing that has been done has been so
popular as this move to carry the war
into the enemy's country. IL seems TO be
al the more welcome, because unexpected,
for while there has. at different times,
been desultory talk of sending fleet
against Spain, nobody has believed that
that would be done until all other opera
tons were completed, and only as a last
resort. It was because of this belief that
the first feeling after to-day's announce
ment was one of doubt
The general tendency was to regard this
announcement as being in the nature Of
ruse such as have been coming from the
Spanish, but investigation has led to the
conviction that this is to be the real thing,
that 1t Is In fact to be thoroughly busi-
ness movement TO carry the war home TO
the Spanish government and the Spanish
people.
For some time this movement has been
under consideration by the naval strate-
gists, and It's value has been impressed
upon President Mckinley.
While the President realized that Il
would be valuable move II successfully
executed, he was still 10th to send a fleet
across the Atlantic because an act as il
seemed to him, would be construed as an
alien TO the purpose of this war, which
was inaugurated for the salvation OF the
suffering Cubans; but at the same time he
has been very much opposed to sending an
American army of 100000 men against Ha-
vana at this season of the year, and the
result IS he consents TO the naval expedi.
ton as the least Objectionable and as most
likely TO bring early results.
The war is to De carried into Spanish wa
ters with the idea that In this way the
people OF Spain viii be soonest brought to
the realization Of the hopelessness Of their
struggle, and win then be In a mood to
listen to the suggestions of their friends
in Europe that they sue for peace
The President realizes that just so long
as the Spanish people are educated to the
belief that the Yankee pigs cannot and will
not fight and so long as the only news
they have is of the Spanish victories reel
ed off from Blancos typewrlters just that
long will IL be impossible for the sensible
men Of the Spanish government topromote
any movement docking toward peace.
The President Is undoubtedly in favor
of as speedy an ending of the war as pos
sible and he believes, as do the naval
strategists, that the best way to bring
an American squadron to take a shy at
Cadiz, or IL possible to catch and destroy
that Camara feet.
1t is probable that the news of the cast
ward movement Of that fleet is what de-
termIned the strategists 70 immediae coua-
teraction.
The news from Port Said. that Admiral
Camara's Baltic fleet Is there Is no longer
doubted here In Washington, though at
first there was a disposition to doubt that
the armored ships were there.
Two reasons prompt the sending of Com
modore Watson's squadron at this time,
one Of these as has been explained, is 10
carry the war home to Spain; the other
Is to induce Admiral Camara to turn his
feet back from the 5uez canal.
The American naval officers want TO get
a chance at that fleet and they believe
their movement in this respect will be sue
cessful. Then they do not want the fleet
to get to the Philippines.
There is some anxiety here over the non
arrival of the first relief expedition at
Manila. According 20 all calculations, that
expedition should have arrived at Manila
several days ago, but no adyices OF its
arrival have as yet been received. While
there Is no doubt of Admiral Dewey's $
ability to dispose OF any feet, which Spain
can send against him, the officials of the
Government are not anxious to have con-
llllOHB tnNic IOHiRh'et'a ~ 2DaiiiSH w.
cupa ZION Of some other of the islands.
The force placed at Commodore Wat
sons command is believed 10 be sufficient
" strong to dispose of that Camara fleet
or anything else which Spain can send
against it, If 1t should be deemed neces-
sary, other vessels will be sent to join
him Just as soon as Santiago falls.
IL Is not stated when Commodore Wat
sons squadron will sail eastward, but IL
win be within the next ten days, II the
necessary supplies can be secured within
trat time There viii be no unnecessary
DELAY. on the contrary, the expedition
will be hurried forward as fast as pos
aible.
While the news Of the day was this
development that the navy end OF the
army is not idle Adjt. Corbin said JUST
before closing hours that every ener-
py is being bent 10 forward troops TO
Gen. shafter. When a general attack
Upon Santiago might be expected he would
MOI say That, he explained Is a matter
entirely in the hands of Gen. Shafter, IN
whom everybody has every confidence.
Gen. Corbin expresser the opinion that II
vill be several days yet before there Is
a general engagement. though, Of course
cen. Shafter may attack before If he con-
aiAars The conditions warrant it.
Gen Ludington, quartcrmaster general.
noticing the reports from Cuba OF the
complaints made by the men Of their