The silver lance., 1898-07-15
WATsON'S MISSION.
Is EXPECTED TO CHASE cAMARA
Largo Number of CoIIiers to Go with Him
Indicate n Long Voyage-Shafter and
Sampson May Take Their Time to Cap
turc Santiago.

Washington, July THE President
called n council of war to-day to meet
at the White House. According to one
of the members present, it was decided
to abide by the plans already laid. At
ter a conference with the members Of
the war board, Secretary Long an
nounccd that he had orderel Admiral
Sampson to detach from his own COM
mand Immediately the vessels to be
embraced in Commodore Watson's
eastern squadron and to direct the COM
modore to proceed on his mission.
The vessels of the squadron will not
be the same as those originally select
ed, for the reason that the recent en-
gagement with Cervera's squadron ne
cessitated some changes. The new
eastern squadron will consists OF the
battleships Iowa and Oregon, the pro-
tected cruiser Newark and the auxil-
larry cruisers carrying side armor)
Dixie, Yankee and Yosemite, the col
liers Averenda, Cassius, Caesar, Leon
idas and Justin, and the supply boat
Delmonico. The Iowa, Oregon and
Newark are all in the south with
Sampson. So is the Yosemite. The
Dixie is at Newport and the Yankee
at Tompkinsville. The colliers are at
Hampton Roads with the Delmonico.
The ships are to set sail as soon as
they can coal and supply. 1t will not
be required, in the case of the south
ern vessels, to come north, which
would mean the loss of several days,
but they will start directly from the
points where they are now located.
The order provides that each ship
shall make her way across the Atlantic
to a marine rendezvous. which will be
designated ir 4ied orders, TO. prevent
its exposur , the slightest possible
danger from the enemy and the most
that is known is that it will be at some
point off the Spanish coast. 1t probably
will not be long after that before the
American squadron will be in full
pursuit of Camara, with his remnant OF
the Spanish navy.
Meanwhile the gathering of the
American fleet off the Spanish ports is
expected to have a SOLDERING effect upon
the infiamed people The number OF
GOLFERS accompanying the expedition
is evidence that long cruise lies
ahead and tina. our naval authorities
propose to be caught in no such posi-
tion as was Camara at Port Said
obliged to submit to refusal of coal
ing privileges. A telegram received
at the State Department this afternoon
announced that Camara was still lying
with his squadron at Suez, the south
ern and eastern entrance to the canal
The torpedo boats Osada, Proserpina
and Audaz (which were yesterday re
ported at Pharo, Portugal, arrived to
day at Cadiz, their home port. Ad
miral Dewey has been notified of al
these movements.
At the conference mentioned above
the situation at Santiago was dis
cussed.
1t was agreed that the indication,
that the city would surrender withou
more fighting were very encHnraIGGinhs encWo,;IG r
foolish to risk losing ships by letting
Sampson attempt to force an en-
trance to the harbor, or to allow Shat
ter to renew the attack until his mer
recover from the effects Of the heat
and are reinforced. Therefore 1t was
decided to send word to the two com
manders at Santiago not to hurry mat
ters, but to allow the influences work
ing within the city for its capitulation
ample time to have effect, while in the
meantime advantage is taken of the de
lay to improve the condition and posi-
tion of the American forces and to gel
the reinforcements well posted.