The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-07-18
NEXT IS WATSON|S
VISIT TO So AIN
Commodore's Fleet Will Soon
Be Ready to Start on Trip
Across the Ocean.
WILL BE FULLY EQUIPPED
Administration Has Determined To
Supply the Squadron with an
Abundance of Everything
Before Spanish Coast
Is Reached.

Washington, July 16,-Eommander ffIDWn-
son. of the auxiliary cruiser Yankee, was
in conference with Secretary Long today
arranging for the "trip Of his ship with the
large cargo Of ammunition for Commodore
Watson's squadron in its attack on the
coast of Spain. The Yankee is at Norfolk
and will sail tomorrow for Santiago.
She will reach there about next
Tuesday, and the big stock of ammu-
milton will then be placed aboard the
battleships and cruisers.
This transfereucc Of powder and shells IS
a delicate operation, requiring time, and it
is probable that the week will be well along
before this and the recoalng of the Yankee
will permit this squadron TO actually set
under way for Spain.
Owing to the important mission of
Commodore Watson's squadron and its
possibility of long absence from an
American port. every magazine on the
ships will be full when the ships sail.
Admiral Sampson recently made the
rcquisiton for the ammunition supplies
as these had run low as a result of the
cngagcmcnt with the CcrVera squadron
and the frequent Smelling Of Santiago. one
load already has been taken down on a
supply ship and the Yankee now fills uD the
full quota
Each batUeShip will have about 200 tons
OF powder, with fifty to seventy OF the
largest 12-inch or t3-iuch shells according
to the size Of the big guns; seventy to
eighty S-inch shells 200 TO $50 of the shells
for 6-pounders and other medium-slzed
guns and 800 to 800 rounds for the small
rapid fire guns The cruisers carry APP
proximatey the same allowance without
the shells Ior the L aud 13-noh guns.
Aside from this equipment of shells,
the squadron is well provided with
solid armor- piercing steel shot.
There mas been no call for a renewal Of
the supply of the armor-pierccrs as Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet seems to have used
very few Of them thus far confining the'F
work to the big explosive shells, The lat
ter although not made for armor-pierclnS'
are tested by the navy department to pass
through fout inches Of solid steel not eN-
p,odtnG until throu@h the steel 1hey nave
done such execution that Admiral Sainp-
son has reserved almost his entire STOCK
Of armor-p!crCng shells
The navy department viii not set time
for the deDarrIre s tEomm"dpra Watson's
SQUADRON but with the delivery OF the
go ,,.,,-, 49, .,,,o,,,ririon ,,ory few
DAVIS viii be lost before this formidable
squadron will be headed for spain.
y. ns,.fI-stod 5f-c- another twcn,y-foul
hours. cable correspondence with General
gl.,rt..,. ,,,,, nat Tho So7nisb army haa
s,Irrandorad About. tbat there could be no
an,,h, hut unfortunately the details are
still q good deal bccl0udcd as set out in
General ShaCter's last dispatch.
?. ...-,,i,,- ,,~,,, fo,, <,,,, ,ro,1e,,,,,,e,,+
.
to decide whether II IS WllllnS tltt the
Snanisb soldiers shall carry off their
-
arms.
NVhile Secretary Algcr says that the /
general terms Of the agreement reached by |
ShaIter are satisfactory t4e ~
n2orn desired t,, our ordnance Officers just
at TINS time. OF course the rocommenda- |
lions Of The commissioners VINO S'shea me |
go[,''' ,,... tn nr-i,cnf ana me seere
tarv Of war. but their present disposition |
il - insist on the retention of the arms |
,r,,,ip3llv becall:e of the difference in /
,,,..,l ROO thaf wound he produced BY the |
rn.lIrn to Spain OF armed or disarmed SOL
5;.
-,..., ,.,,.,, 4I,,+ 4l,o 4,,,,,,e ~, |
II - fedIlAeu hSh0 Nii''1 'A'0 va i'A 4-A-
,,oeed nv fine commissioners as to The !
pO7S' - ~
removal of the Spanish troops, now
o,,e,,,,a,,ted 70 formidable total, in
,,ai,-n Grove ,esro,,sibiIities for our
...,o,,,,,,o,,+
81 ~ 1,,,,,t
Stjli the staff corps or the war ueId'
meat has risen SO well TO meet every
emergency as 1t occurred jhaO Iuel" can
he no doubt Of its ability 30 solve the large
questions presented BY the necessity OF re-
,,,o,,ints fins army across the Atlantic.
ti,f, mot ion