The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-28
Temporarily Denied Permission to Coal on
Protest of United States Consul
Rumor that 1t Has Been Ordered to Pass Through the
Suez CanaI-BattIe Ships Iowa and Oregon to
Form Part of Watson's Squadron.

manding; naval base, Key West. Fla. Conn
modore Remey commanding.
MAY START ON THE FOURTH.
The three vessels selected as colliers have
started already on their way to Newport
News to take on large supply of coal. It
will require about a 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 before
the Fourth of July. This would seem to he
an ausplcious date for the beginning OF an
eApeoluon that will, for the first time In
the worlds history, start from the new
world to attack continental Europe. No at
tempt is made to deny that the government
IS lnnuenced in ordering this movement by
oeslre 10 check the progress eastward of
the Cadiz fleet. 1t was not believed thar
the Spanish admiral could be guilty Of the
FOLLY OF uncovering his own home ports IN
'nis fashion. but inasmuch as he seems de-
'efinineo 10 do So the naval strategists
could not do less than take advantage os
the magnificent opportunity thus afforded
10 strike crushing blow at Spain. and
thereby perhaps save much time and loss of
HE and money in the conduct of the tedious
| campaign in Cuba
The decision of the administration was not
made hastily For the past six weeks The
matter has been under consideration. and
a strong element, well acquainted with the
practice of the Spanish government in KEEN
ing the great mass of the public ignorant
of the actual state of affairs. has contended
that the only method of bringing the war
nome to the people of Spain would be to
send an American squadron there to harass
the coast. cut off shipping and lombard
fortified towns. The purpose was 70 hr,p1
the spanish people to realizing sense Of
the hopelessness of continuing the present
struggle. Since the departure of the Cadiz
fleet for the Philippines. there is another
object in view in addition to the first This
IS TO destroy or capture the Cadiz fleet by a
bold stroke and then take up the work Of
harassing the Spaniards at home, providing
the blow does not suffice to bring about
peace
CANNOT GET COAL.
The United States consul at Port Said
has reported to the State Department that
in Obedience to it's injunction, he had lodged
protest against the supply of coal there
for the Spanish squadron. 1t is true the
foi
not in itself prevent the Spanish vessels
from passing through the canal and con-
tinuing on their way to the Philippines,
for they have with them one or more coli
liers, but the coal carried by these colliers
would be absolutely essential to the vessels
of the squadron long before they had
crossed the Arabian sea. Under the British
neutrality laws the ships could take coal
only once at a British port under any cir
cumstances and all of the coaling stations
after passing the Suez canal being British
possessions the Spanish supply would be ex-
hausted long before the end of the voyage
was reached. But there is also a question
as to whether Camara's ships could take
coal even nitially at any British port until
they had crossed the halfway line between
Spain and the Philippines. as the British
law declares that they could only take coal
enough to carry them to the nearest home
port, and the Philippines would not be such
a port until the half way line is crossed.
To add to the embarrassment of Camara
there is good reason to believe that the
canal anagement will obstruct his passage
on the ground of interference with naviga~
tion. Thus there is every prospect that
from one or the other of these reasons the
Cadiz fleet win be detained indefinitely In
the Mediterranean sea. which is greatly de-
sired by our Navy Department. BY the
use of some speedy vessels as advance
guards. it may be possible for Commodore
Watson to reach the straits OF Gibraltar
some time before Camaras slow-moving
fleet could get there. returning from Port
Said Reinforced by ironclads, Watson
would have the Spanish squadron bottled
in the Mediterranean. This is large bottle,
it is true, but it is believed by the naval
officers that Camara could be hunted down
as successfully as was Cervera with his
flying squadron. Operating in sea sur