The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-29
Admiral Camara's Squadron No Lon
ger Factor i'm the ContempIa-
ted Naval Demonstration.
HAS NOT YET LEFT PORT SAID
NOTWITHSTANDING ORDERS FROM
MADRID TO ENTER THE CANAL.
The Armada to BE Attacked by Com
mOdOre Watson if 1t Returns and
Does Not Rum Away Again.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-Commodore
Watson will probably not form his squadron
for the bombardment of Spanish coast cities
until after the fall of Santiago. 1t is the
confident expectation in naval and military
circles here that this will be an accomp-
lished fact by the end of the week. With the
capture of the capital of eastern Cuba, the
necessity of holding such a large fleet of
war ships there will have ceased Only few
of the smaller craft will be kept there. The
remainder can be safely diverted to other
points of attack. Admiral Sampson can well
spare the larger part of his fleet for Com
modore Watson's spectacular demonstra-
ton against Spain. The battle ships Iowa
and Oregon, with their train of armored
and protected cruisers, will not be missed,
for there will be left more ships than are
needed for the expedition against San Juan.
Speculation, however, is very keen as TO
whether it will be necessary to send Com
modore Watson across the Atlantic. Only
Spain's prompt recognition of the force of
the warning which she has received will
prevent the move. Up to this writing there
is nothing in the dispatches to indicate that
Madrid has given heed to the threat con-
tanned in yesterdays order. The latest news
is that Admiral Camara will proceed to Ma
Mia.
really intends to leave her coasts at the
mercy of our war ships till the $780,
600 canal tolls have actually been
planked down and the fleet energies from
the eastern end of the canal into the Red
sea. The event will mark the beginning of
intense activity on the part of our fleet to
organize for an attack the Spanish coast
cities. 1t will also mark the beginning of
bo nj nd cta
against time ever witnessed. The Spanish
fleet Of war ships and the American fleet of
transports will be the racers. On the face
of it the Spaniards have about two days
the best of it, many experts figure, as
bare mathematical proposition in a race to
Manila. But Yankee skill and Yankee nerve
under trying conditions takes off the handi-
cap. However, with several thousand Amer
lean lives as the stake the Spaniards, if
they really start in to head off the expedi
ton, will make a desperate struggle.
An Associated Press dispatch says: There
was no further word to-day from the
Cadiz fleet, which is lying at Port
Said under pretext of repairing one of the
torpedo boat destroyers. The delay on the
part of the Spanish fleet has not stopped the
preparations for the sending of the east
ern squadron, under Commodore Watson,
to the Spanish shores. The commodore is
Fastening with all speed southwark on the
Newark 10 join and confer with Sampson
off Santiago. 1t is said at the Navy Depart
ment that it is the present intention to
start Commodore Watsons squadron from
Santiago. This however, is subject to Adj
miral Simpsons report on the conduct of
the vessels selected and their needs in the
matter of supplies and equipment for the
long voyage ahead of them. If they need no
more than they can be supplied with from
Simpsons feet. they will start, according
to orders from Santiago, but if further sup
plies and equipment needed if the
vessels must be cleaned first, then they
probably will be sent north to Hampton
Roads Meanwhile there is no nstaking
the earnestness of the Navy Department
in preparing this squadron for the European
service.
All the members of the Cabinet were pres
ent at to- lays meeting. with the exception
of Secretary Day, who is out of the city.
At it's conclusion it was stated that the
work of supplying Commodore Watsons
squadron with ammunition, coal and pro-
visions preparatory to it's departure for
Spain was progressing satisfactorily and
that in all probability the squadron would
be ready to sail in the course of the next
four or five days The impression which
| seems to prevail in some quarters that the
sending of this fleet to Spain is intended
solely to prevent Admiral Camara from go
ing to the Philippines is erroneous There is
no question that this move has been under
consideration for some time and it is the
fixed intention of the government to send
the vessels to Spanish home waters whether
Can1araS RI
or not. If it returns and comes within strk-
ing distance of Commodore Watsons power
full squadron it is confidently expected by
the President and the members of the Cabi-
net that it will be crushed. thus utterly de-
stroying SPANS power on the sea- Should
ii continue its course to Manila Admiral
Deweys squadron is regarded as abundant
ly able TO maintain the honors it won on
May /. The arrival at Manila of the trans
ports with troops from San Francisco has
not yet been reported nor is the news ex-
pected for some days. The dispatch boat
which left Manila just before the expected
arrival of the transports will have to re-
turn to Manila and again return TO Hong
Kong before anything late can be known.
Nothing from Santiago was read at the
Cabinet meeting to-day. In discussing the
character of the Santiago defenses atten-
ton was called TO the reference in the news
paper reports to barbed wire Instructions
which had been placed at frequent intervals
along the Spanish earthworks 1t was then
explained that attacking forces had
been fully supplied with steel clippers for
the very purpose of cutting barbed wires
A member of the Cabinet in speaking of
the general war situation, said that every
thing was progressing to the satisfaction of
the administration, arms. ammunition and
equipments were being provided at a rapid
rate and nothing of disqueting nature had
been received from any quarter
IT has been known TO our government for