The record-union., 1898-06-28
Commodore Watson Expected to
Start With Fleet on July 4th.
VIII First Attack Camara's Fleet, Should
il Remain in the Mediterranean,
and Then HarasS the Whole
Coast Of Spain.

WASHINGTON, June 81 H0 -hH
ministration to-day finally came TO
decision to send an American squadron
to the Spanish coast and into the Medi-
terranean. Several times since the
war broke out runnors to this effect
have been circulated, but the project
had not materialized-it required the
Spanish movement toward the Phllip-
pines by Camara's squadron to decide
the Navy Department to adopt this
bold stroke.
This first announcement to-day,
through a bulletin posted at the War
Department, of the Government in
tention WAS received with incredulity.
There was a suspicion that the story
was floated to deceive the Spanish Gov
ernment. However, when, later in the
day, the detail of the vessels selected
to constitute Commodore Watson's east
ern squadron was announced, and Off
cial orders We're given to provision the
fleet for four months it became appar-
ent to the last doubter that the Govern
ment was in earnest in this purpose to
dispatch the fleet to Europe
The three vessels selected as colliers
have started already on their way to
Newport News to take ON large su-t-
ply OF coal 1t will require a week TO
get them down to Simpsons fleet. so
that if the start is to be made from
that point it will be impossible for
hot
the Fourth of July. This would seem
TO be an auspicious date for the begin
ming of an expedition that will, for the
first time in the worlds history, start
from the new world to attack conti-
Mental Europe.
No attempt is made to deny that the
Government is influenced in ordering
this movement by a desire to check
the progress eastward of the Cadiz
fleet. 1t was not believed that The
Spanish Admiral could be guilty Of the
folly OF uncoveaing his own home ports
in this fashion, but inasmuch as he
seems determined to do So the naval
strategists could not do less than take
advantage of this magnificent oppor-
tunity thus afforded them to strike a
crushing blow at Spain, and thereby.
perhaps. save much time and loss of
life and money in the conduct of a
tedious campaign in Cuba.
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 squad
ron. These advices give a list OF the
Spanish ships now nearing the Suez
Canal, which differs somewhat from
the list given in the press dispat tches
and by Lloyds. The official list is as
follows: Pelayo, Carlos v, Audaz
Osada, Prosperina, Patricia. Rapido
Buenos Ayres, Isla de Paney, Colon
Covandonga 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 enter
ing the Suez Canal. Such a heavy
coaling will take some time. 1t dis
closes also that the Admiral expects tc
make a long said, and is doubtless head
ed for the Philippines. a point which
the officials here doubted at first.
The squadron is the most formidable
Spain has afloat, in total tonnage
strength of Individual ships, armor and
guns The Pelayo is the strongest OF
the ships, and is the only battleship in
the Spanish navy. She is $500 tons
with a speed of 16.7 knots. She carries
thfrty-fve guns of various caliber. an6
has seven torpedo tubes. The largest
guns are the 12-inch Hontorias. one
forward and one aft, and 1l-inch Hon
torias, one on each beam. The Carlos
V. is of 5000 tons with speed OF i.
knots. She has twenty-eight guns. the
largest being 11-inch Hontorias, worked
electrically, one forward and one aft
She has also six torpedo tubes. The
Audaz and Osada are torpedo boat de-
stroyers, finished in England just be-
Tore the war began. They are of 4ot
tons each, and are 80 knot. Each car
ries SIX guns and two torpedo tubes
The Buenos Ayres belongs to the
Transatlantic Company at Cadiz. anC
has been transformed into a cruiser
She is 800 tons. with IA knots speed
The Prosperpina, Patricia and Rapide
are merchant vessels, recently con-
otructed and armed. The Colon, Cova-