The evening times., 1898-07-09
WATSON TO MEET CAMARA
The Eastern Squadron Fitting
Out for Europe.
IT MAY SAIL NEXT WEEK
The Navy Department IL Consider
ing Plans for Attaching Other
Squadron Than Those Already As
signed-Fast Cruisers May Go.

Official information received at the
State Department late yesterday after
noon announced that Admiral Camara, In
accordance with orders received from
Madrid, had returned to Suez from the
Red Sea. where he had gone to coal and
to await orders, had made arrangements
for re-entering the canal and had started
| on his return journey. -
This Information was of the highest i'm
portance and was referred, to. the Presi-
dent and the Naval War Board for their
consideration and action
| The fact that Spain Is now menaced
by the American squadron, that Ca
mara's fleet is weaker than either Rear
Admiral Dewey's force or Commodore
| Watson's command, has doubtless caus-
| ed change in the belief of the Spaniards
| that the Castilian Notifications could be
| depended upon to reper an attack by
American warships.
Upon the return Of Admiral Camara to
| Spain II is expected that the government
will attach to his command all the tor
pedo boats and small gunboats which
were left at home. So far as numbers
are concerened the effect will be to make
a formidable feet but in reality the force
will not be as strong as that Commodore
Watson will have under his command.
Admiral camara's fleet will probably
arrive at Port Said, the northern termi-
nus of the canal. some time today. and
II is expected will Immediately sail for
Spanish waters. From Port Said to Ca
diz the distance is 800 miles, and steam
ing at the rate Of ten miles an hour, the
fleet ought to arrive at its destination
within eight days.
In view OF the return Of Admiral Cam
ara's fleet TO Spain. the authorities are
considering the advisability of strength
ening the Eastern squadron.
AS at present organized the squadron
consists of the battleships Iowa and Or
egin, the protected cruiser Newark alag
ship, and the auxiliary cruisers Yankee.
Yosemite and Dixie, besides supply ship
and six Golfers. This squadron will be
expected TO meet and destroy the battle
ship Pelaye. the armored cruiser Carlos
Y, the ironciads Vitoria and Numancia.
three torpedo boat destroyers. eleven tor
pedo boats and a number of auxiliary
cruisers. While having faith in Com
modore Watson's ability to do this. IT is
deemed advisable 10 place at his disposal
stronger force. at the same time re-
tanning enough vessels on this side of the
Atlantic to defend the coast. maintain
the Cuban blockade and aid the Army in
the invasion of Porto Rico.
There has been considerable doubt as
10 whether the squadron would sail for
Spain If ;he Madrid government ordered
Camaras fleet to return. but after con-
sideration II was given out today that
the fleet would sail without fail. THE
orders TO the fleet are no longer in the
nature of bluff" a high official said.
Commodore Watson will go TO Spain and
he will go as promptly as possible"
The authorities have gone so far as to
select the rendezvous where Commodore
Watson will collect his ships. This point
is in the vicinity of Santiago. where the
battleships. two of the auxiliary cruis-
ers and his flagship are lyiag.e Should IL
be determined to increase his squadron
il is not expected that. any additional
armorclads will be assigned to his COM
mand as II Is thought desirable TO keep
a strong force on this side of the water.
The auxiliary cruiser Prairie, sister
ship of the Yankee. the Yosemite and
the Dixie, is available for assignment TO
Commodore Watson's squadron. and sew
eral officials are urging upon the depart
ment that the commerce destroyers CO.
lumbia and Minneapolis. more formidable
than the auxiliary cruisers and having
great coal capacity. be ordered to accom-
pany the eastern squadron.
The New Orleans is also talked of for
lnt II IL tN-
pected that by Thursday next the fleet
will be on its way across the Atlantic.
and in the meantime the authorities will
determine what additional ships should
be placed under Commodore Watson's Or
ders.
II will, of course. be impossible for the
Eastern Squadron to meet Camara's fleet
during its return voyage. To husband
coal Commodore Watson will not cross
the ocean at a greater speed than ten
knots, SO that he will not reach the VI
cinity of Gibraltar under sixteen days
II is apparent. therefore. that Spain will
be free from the operations of the Ameri-
can fleet until the early part of August.
Naturally the authorities are very sec
retive regarding the plans under which
Commodore Watson will act, and they
say that the publication of his plans in
advance would be giving Information TO
the enemy of the greatest value and i'm
portance. For this reason It has been de-
termined to keep secret the movements
of the Eastern Squadron after its de-
parture for European waters. 1t can be
stated on authority however. that 1t will
be Commodore Watson's duty to find
Camara's fleet and destroy It.