The silver lance., 1898-07-01
WILL VISIT SPAIN.
HER COAST MAY BE ATTACKED.
II, c.m.ra.s Ships Go,t 10 the Philippines
Flying Squadron Will Stir up the Don1
at Home.

Washington. d. c., June 4.-Ihe
war is TO be carried into Africa, met
aphorically speaking, if Spain is looi-
hardy enough to send the Cadlz meet
through the Suez canal TO attacA
Dewey in the Philippines. It is an
nounced on good authority that be-
fore the last Spanish vessels nave
passed through the canal an American
squadron will be steaming at tuli
speed across the Atlantic, stra1gh1 Ior
the coast of Spain. to bring the war
home to the Spanish people. There Is
no doubt that Dewey can take care
of himself against this Cadlz Meet
since his own squadron will be rein-
forced by ironcIads long before Ca
mara's ships sight the bay of Manila,
and he will have the shore batteries
with him instead of against him In the
struggle. But it has been concluded
by the administration that nothing
save the most severe measures VIII
suffice to bring the Spanish people 10
realizing sense of the hopelessness
of the continuance of the present war,
and even kindness, it is held, Will dlc-
tate such blow as that which 1t IS
proposed to administer if the Spanish
persist in this last project.
After the fall of Santiago and the
capture and destruction of Ceryera
squadron, Sampson will have an
abundance of vessels to spare for the
task set forth. Probably he will coll
stitute the attacking fleet in two
squadrons, the first flying squadron,
to be composed of the swiftest vessels
of the fleet, such as the Columbia,
Minneapolis. Harvard, Yale, st. Louis,
st. Paul, New Orleans and such craft.
This will be followed under another
command, either Sampson or Schley,
by the battleships, which Captain
Clark's experience with the Oregon
has shown can easily be counted on
for the voyage across the Atlantic.
With the Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, Mas
sachusetts and Texas, all battleships,
supplementing the New York and
Brooklyn, armored cruisers, and the
less powerful but speedy vessels Of
the flying squadron, the Spanish coast
would be speedily swept clear of all
commerce, all Spanish shipping would
be destroyed and some of the best
ports blockaded or bombarded.
Rear Admiral Dewey will be in
formed without delay of the departure
OF Admiral Camara's squadron in the
direction of Manila. Advices contain
ing the facts available in connection
vessels comprising it and their present
condition, will be cabled at once to the
American consul in Hong Kong and
he will forward it with all despatch
to Manila. 1t is confidently expected
that as result of the receipt of this
information Rear Admiral Dewey will
al once capture the city as soon as
American troops are at hand and Will
al once take measures to make the
bay absolutely impregnable to Spanish
assault.
Officials regard as ridiculous the re-
ports that the Americans and insur-
gents have had a disagreement. and
1t is pointed out that the last cable ad-
vices from Rear Admiral Dewey
showed that they were moving in the
most hearty accord.
The transport City of Peking has on
board fifty 5OO-pomd guncotton mires,
which will be placed in the channels
leading into the bay of Manila. Iu
addition the batteries on Corregidor
island will be put in condition to re-
sist the entrance of the Spanish men
of-war, and this and the batteries at
Cavite will be manned by expert
American artillerymen. The first az
pedition has several batteries of heavy
artillery with it, and this will be util-
lied to defend the city from recapture.
Hundreds of tons of ammunition are
also on board the City of Peking, so
that the American vessels can refill
their magazines.
In addition they will be reinforced
by the cruiser Charleston and the mon
itors Monterey and Monadnock The
monitors will be relied upon to fight
the PelayO and Carlos ", leaving the
lighter Spanish vessels to be dealt
with by protected cruisers.