The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-28
COUNTER MOVE TO CAMARA'S
SENDING or SHIPS TO SPAIN APT
TO CAUSE HIS RECALL.


ron to Return 10 the Spanish
Coast-The Squadron the Most
Formidable Spain Possesses.
Names of the Ships Booked to
Cross the Ocean.
Washington, June 27.-The administra-
ton to-day finally came TO decision TO
send an American squadron to the Span
ish coast and into the Mediterranean.
Several times since the war broke out
rumors 10 this effect have circulated. but
the project had not maured it required
the Spanish movement toward The Philip
pines by Admiral Camaras squadron to
decide the navy department to adopt this
bold stroke
The first announcement to-day through
a bulletin posted at the navy department
of the governments intention was receiv-
ed with inoredulity
There was a suspicion that the story
was being fioated TO deceive the Spanish
government.
However, when later in the day the de-
tail of the vessels selected TO constitute
Commodore Watsons eastern squadron
was announced and official orders were
given to provision the feet for four
months, it became apparent to the last
doubter that the government was in ear
nest in this purpose to dispatch the fleet
to Europe The three vessels selected as
golfers have started already on their way
to Newport News to take on a large sup
ply of coal.
II will require about a week to get this
down to Admiral Sampsons fleet, so if
the start is 70 be made from that point, it
will be impossible for Commodore Watson
to get away before the Fourth of July.
This would seem to be an auspicious date
for the beginning of an expedition that
will for the first time in the worlds his
tory start from the new world to attack
continental Europe
No attempt is made to deny that the gov
ernment is influenced in ordering this
movement by a desire to check the pro-
gress eastward of the Cadiz fleet. =
1t was not believed that the Spanish ad-
miral could be guilty of the folly of un
covering his home ports in this fashion, but
| inasmuch as he seems determined to do
| so. the naval srategists could not do less
| than take advantage of the magnificent
| opportunity thus afforded to strike a
crushing blow at Spain and thereby per
! haps save much time and loss of life and
money in the conduct Of our campaign in
| Cuba
The determination to send the squadron
against Spain was the outcome of direct
| official advices reaching the state and navy
departments as to the progress of Admiral
| Camara 5 squadron.
These advIces give a list of the Spanish
ships now nearing the Suez canal which
S1ff
the press dispatches and by Lloyds. The
official list is as follows: Pelayo Carlos
! V, Audaz, Osada, Prosperina, Rapido,
Buenos Ayres, Isle de Paney, Colon, Cow
andonga and San Francisco.
The additional information comes from
official sources that the squadron is at
Port Said and expects to take on board
| O,000 tons of coal before entering the Suez
canal.
Such a heavy coalng win take some
| time. It discloses also that The admiral
| expect TO make long sail, and is doubtless
headed for the Philippines, a point which
1 the officials here doubted at first
This squadron Is the most formidable
Spain has afloat in total tonnage, strength
| OF individual ships, armor and guns.
Tt is apparent that the main reliance Of
| Admiral Camara's fleet is on battlesnip
| Pelayo the armored cruiser Carlos v, ard
| the two new torpedo boat destroyers Au-
daz and Osada. The others are auxiliaries
/ and colliere.
AS there are only two armored ships in
the lot. Admiral Deweys fleet of protect
ed but unarmored ships will probably take
care of this Spanish squadron. With the
| Monterey added he could certainly do so.
The eastern squadron, which the United
| States will now send against Spain, far
| outranks this Spanish squadron, the Iowa
| and Oregon exceeding the Pelayo and Car
| los at every point, while the other United
| States vessels are far superior ship for
ship, to those of the Spanish squadron,
| with the single exception of the two Span
| ish torpedo boat destroyers.
| The officers of the Eastern squadron are
| as follows:
| Comrnauder-in-Ch Chef-J. C. Watson
! Battleship Iowa, Capt. r. D. Evans.
Batteship Oregon Capt. Charles f.
Clark
Cruiser Yosemite, Commander w. H.
| Emory
Brownson.
collier Scendia Commander f. w. Wat
Collier Alexander, Commander w. e.
| BurweN.
Collier Alaranda. Lieutenant Commander
w II. Buford.
When the American feet sails for Spain
III
as to the entire stretch OF Spanish coast,
with detailed maps Of every harbor and
its fortihcations.
The war board had a mass of this In
formation before it to-day and spent q
| good part Of the day studying Spanish
| charts and fortiheations with a view 10
! outlining the series OF blows which are to
| be delivered at Spain at home.
| trhe Spanish coast line is 2122 kiloneters
long of which 769 kilometers Is on the
! north coast. while S53 kilometers is along
! the Mediterranean and che Atlantic on the
south coast.
The coast is described by naval strate,
eists as abrupt and mountainous, with
| s;nuous inlets and gulfs, resembling the
] fiords Of Scandinavia.
In general the Notifications Of the coast
| are relics Of the medieval greatness Of
| spain. and many of these old defenses are
| tumbling ruins.
The Spanish coast is divide into three
captain generalcies, nameIy Ferrol, on
| the north Cadiz, on the south, and Car
| thagena on the east.
Al Ferrol Is the naval school ana the
| school OF naval application