The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-28

lahe Care OL Admlral Camar'
WASHINGTON, June s7.-Thc admin
!stration to-day finally came to a dccis-
Ton to send an American squadron to tho
Spanish coast and Into the Ntedlterra-
mean. Several times since the war broke
out, rnmors to this effect have clrcu-
lated but the project had not matured; 1t
required the Spanish movement toward
the Philippines by camara,s squadron
to decide the navy department to adopt
this bold stroke. The first announce
ment to-day through q bulletin posted
al the war department OF the governL
ncnt's intention was received with In
credullty. There was q suspicion that
the story was being floated to deceive
the Spanish government. However,
when later In the day, the detail Of the
vessels selected to constitute Commodore
Watson'S eastern squadron was an
nounced and official orders were given
to provision the fleet for four months, 1t
became apparent to the last doubter that
the government was in earnest in this
purpose to dispatch the fleet to Eu-
rope. " Il u i.t,:l SIS r
The three vessels selected as colliers
have started already on their way to
Newport News to take on a large supply
Of coal. twill require about a week to
get this down to SIMPSONS feet, so IL
the start is to be made from that point
It will be impossible for Commodore
Watson to get away. before the Fourth
OF July. -sEs
Good Day to Sail.
This would seem to be an. auspiclous
date for the. beginning Of an expedition,
that will, for the first time in the worlds
history 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
a desire 20 check the progress eastward
OF the Cadlz fleet. Ito not believed
that the Spanish admiral could be guilty
otthe follXof uneoyeriag his own home
ports in this, fashion. but inasmuch rs
he seems determined to do So, the naval.
strategists could not do less than take
advantage OF the magnificent opportuni-
~ thus afforded to strike a crushing
blow at Spain and thereby perhaps save
much time and loss Of lie and money in
the conduct Of the tedious campaign In
Cuba ..5
The determination to send this squad
ron against Spain was the outcome OF
direct official advices reaching the state
and navy departments as to the progress
Of Admiral Camara's squadron. These
advlces give list OF rhe Spanish ships
now nearing the Suez, which differs
somewhat from the list given in the press
dispatches and by Lloyds. Is
Composition OF spani., Squadron.
The official list Is as follows: Pelayo,
Carlos v. Audaz, osada, Proeerplna,
PatrIota, Rap!do. Buenos Ayres, Isla de
Pansy, Colon, Cavandonga 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
entering the Suez canal. Such n heavy
coallng will take some time. 1t discloses
also that the admiral expects to make
long sail and Is doubtless headed for the
Philippines, a point which the officials
here doubted at first.
This squadron-ls the most formidable
Spain has atloat, liz q total tonnage,
strength Of individual ships, armor and
guns. The iPelayo Is the strongest OF
the ships and is the only battleship in
the Spanish navy. She is $500 tons with
speed OF 1877 knots. She carries thr-
Iy-;lve guns OF various calibre and has
seven tnrpedo tubes. The largest guns
are the 12-inch Hontorias, one forward
and one aft, and 11-lnch Hontorias, one !
on each beam. Il "a is
The Carlos v Is OF 5000 tons with a |
speed OF 10 knots. She has twenty-eight
guns. the largest being 11-lnch Honto-
'las, worked electrically, one forward
and one aft. She has also six torpedo
tubes The Audaz and Osado are torpe-
% boat destroyers recently finished in
EnglGnd Just before the war began.
They are Of 400 tons each and are thirty
kFO2ers. Each carries six guns and 1
two torpedo tubes. The Buenos Ayres
Belongs TO the trans atlantic company
Of cadlz, and has been transformed into
cruiser. She eis $500 tons. with II knots
speed The Colon. coyadogan and San
francisco are collierB. 1t Is apparent
from this that the main reliance Of this
llee; Is on the battleship Pelayo, the ar
fRHred cruiser Carlos v. and the two
new torpedo boat destrnyers Audaz and
osaaa. The others are auxillarles and
. e1iIiers. AS there are ony two armored
tasps In the LOT, Admiral Dewey's fleet
I Q! protected hut uDarmored ships prob
aoIy VII takecdreof this Spanish squad
ron. With the Monterey added he
would certainly do SO.
Our Stips 0ntfRnk Spnin's Fleet.
The Eastern squadron which the
United States will now send against
ssaiH, far outranlts this Spanish squad
T9n' the Iowa and Oregon exceeding the
seayo and Carlos v cat every point,
wnle the other United States vessels
ls,e, tar superior, ship for ship to those
y! hf spanish squadron. with the single
tSEeptlon of the4two Spanish torpedo
( 'ooat Aestroyers.5 sE;&2tt'3| IA
nen the Amerlcan fleet calls for
sspal1 y VIII take with II complete In
10 "'Hi,lon as to the entire stretch OF |
aSSnat'lah Snat coast, with detail maps of5evcry
%ha,u1r. hhi rs Qualifications. Tile war |
Sotiu nad mass of5thls information
IL Today md spent q good part
g,,1S ,TS uay studying Spanish charts and
,Shiratlons With n v!ewto outlining
iis. Mr Mtles, nf blows which are to be de-
Nsered s tolsmln at home. 5.il
c,n.e, >, nc spanish coast le divided into three
ny Sp'a'h Eenerelcics. namely. Ferroi on
I i;bsnnnth M Mstth; CLdlz on the south and Carr
/ p,sn ne total artillery OF these districts, I
war Wat ~ thc norma conditions, prior to the
2, , Une hundred Nand nineteen Krupp
.sns' .' 90 ArmstrAng guns, 90. Ordonez
n e-'o anQ a l4ERG Number OF UartariaL Il