The San Francisco call., 1898-06-28

WASHINGTON, June 27.-The ad- ministration to-day finally came to a decision to send an American squadron to the Spanish coast and into the Medi- terranean. Several times since the war broke out rumors to this effect have been circulated, but the project had not materialiZed. It required the Spanish movement toward the Philippines 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 Governments in tention was received with incredulity. There was a suspicion that the story was fioated to deceive the Spanish Government. However, when, later in the day, the detail of the vessels se- lected to constitute Commodore Wat sons eastern squadron was announced and official orders were given to pro- vision the fleet for four months, it be- came apparent to the last doubter that the Government was in earnest in this purpose to dispatch the fleet to Europe
 
 have started already on their way to Newport News to take on a large sup ply of coal It will require a week to get them down to Sampson's fleet so that if the start is to be made from that point it will be impossible for Commodore Watson to get away before the 4th of July This would seem to be an suspicious 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 desire to check the progress eastward of the CadiZ fleet. It was not believed that the Spanish admiral could be guilty of the folly of uncovering his own home ports in this fashion, but in. smuch as he seems determined to do so the na- val strategists could not do less than take advantage of the magnificent op- portunity 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 the tedi- ous 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 pro- gress of Admiral Camara's squadron. These advices give a list of the Span- ish ships now nearing the Suez Canal which differs somewhat from the list given in the press dispat hes and by Lloyds The official list is as follows: Pelayo, Carlos V, Audaz, Osada, Pros erpina, Patriota, Rapido, BuenosAyres. Isla de Fancy, Colon, Covadonga 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. It dis closes also that the admiral expects to make a long sail, and is doubtless head ed for the Philippines, point which the officials here doubted at first.
 The squadron Is the most formidable Spain has ahoat in total tonnage, strength of individual ships, armor and guns.
 The Pelayo Is the strongest of the ships and is the only battle-ship in the Spanish navy. She is 9900 tons, with speed of 167 knots. She carries thirty five guns of various caliber and has seven torpedo tubes. The largest guns are the 12-inch Hontorias, one forward and one aft, and 11-inch Hontorias, one on each beam. The Carlos V is of 9090 tons, with a speed of 19 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 destroyers, finished in England | iust before the war began. They are of | 400 tons each and are 30 knots. Each | carries six guns and two torpedo tubes. The IRuenoa Ayres helangs to the l