Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-02
A TASTE OF WAR.
Spanish Will Have 1t Served at
Their Own Doors.
A Powerful Flying Squadron Under Com
mand of Commodore Watson Will
Soon Cross the Atlantic and
Bombard Cities on the
spanish Coast.


Washington, June 2s.-The aduinis-
tration yesterday finally came to a
decision to send an American squad
ron to the Spanish coast and INTO the
Mediterranean. Several times since the
war broke out rumors to this effect
have circulated, 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 announcements yes
terday was through the following bull
letin posted at the navy department:
Commodore Watson sails to-day in
the Newark to join Sampson, when he
will take under his command an
armored squadron with cruisers and
proceed at once off the Spanish cOust."
The following bulletin was posted,
showing Commodore Watson's squad
ron. 1t is designated the eastern
squadron and is as follows:
Flagship Newark, battleships Iowa
and Oregon, cruisers Yosemite, Yautic
and Dixie, and the Golfers Scendia,
Abarenda and Alexander. The start
will be made at once from off San
L
following changes in designation OF
the divisions of our vessels
North hAtlantic-Rear Admiral SaILp-
son, commanding.
First squadron-Commodo Howell,
commanding.
Second NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. w. S.
Schley, commanding.
Naval base, Key West-Con,modore
Remey, commanding.
The three vessels selected as col
liers have already started to Newport
News to take ON a large supply of coal.
1t will require about week to get
this down to SIMPSONS fleet, so If
the start is to be made from that point
it will be impossible for Commodore
Watson to get away bef ore the ith of
July. This would seem TO be an aus
picious date for the beginning of an
expedition that will, for the first time
in the worlds history, start from the
New World to attack continental
Europe.
The determination to senl this
squadron against Spain was tie out
come of direct official advices reaching
the state and navy departments as To
the progress of Camara,s squadron.
These advices give a list of the Span
ish ships now nearing the Suez canal.
The official list follows: Pelayo,
Carlos ", Audaz, Osado, Proserpina,
Patricia, Rapido, Buenos Ayres, Isla
de Paney, Colon, Covandonga and San
Francisco.
This squadron is at Port Said and
expects to take on board 10000 tons
of coal before entering the Suez canal,
Such heavy coaling will take some
time. 1t discloses also that the ad-
miral expects to make long sail and
is doubtless headed for the Philip
pines. This squadron is the most for
midable Spain has atioat. The Pelayo
is the strongest of the ships and is the
only battleship in the Spanish navy
The eastern squadron, which the
United States will now send against
Spain, far outranks this Spanish
squadron, the Iowa and Oregon eX-
ceeding the Pelayo and Carlos V. al
every point, while the other United
States vessels are far superior to those
of the Spanish squadron.
When the American fleet sails for
Spain it will take with it complete in
formation as to the entire stretch ot
Spanish coast with maps of every
harbor and its fortifications. The wal
board had a mass of this information
before it yesterday and spent good
part of the day studying Spanish
charts and Notifications, with Il view
to outlining the series of blows to bt
delivered to Spain at home. The Span
ish coast line is abrupt and noun
famous, with sinuous inlets. In gen
eral the Notifications of the coast are
relics of the medieval greatness ot
Spain and many of these old defenses
are tumbling ruins.
Some naval authorities believe the
Canary islands will be the first point
of attack and that the next move will
be to establish naval base at Ceuta
point on the African coast, owned
by Spain and opposite Gibraltar