Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-02
NEW LIFE IN WAR.
Navy officials Preparing watson's
Fleet for Its Trip to Spain.
Orders TO Get the Expedition on Before the
End OF the Week -Dlaicuity OF Sup
plying tho Blockadera with
Nscsssaples

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navy departments by their marked In
crease in activity, gave significant evil
dence OF the aggressive efforts 10 be
Immediately exerted against Spain,
growing out Of the decision reached
by the administration that n termina'
tion Of the war can only be secured by
bringing home the discomforts rs well
rs the horrors Of conflict TO the
greatest number of Spanish subjects
In the shortest tine. Tho wide ex-
tension Of the Cuban blockade; the
announced intention of hurrying
%, 200 additional soldiers into Cuba;
the proclaimed closure OF San Juan de
Porto Rico, together with the decision
to dispatch Commodore Watson's
powerful fleet to European waters,
gave new impetus to the energy dis.
played ut military and naval head
quarters, resulting In rush and hustle
which had not been equaled since the
week in April that was made histor.
ical by the presidents ultimatum, the
proclamation OF the Cuban blockade,
the first call for volunteers and the
actual beginning Of hostilitics.
The naval authorities are manifest.
ing the liveliest anxiety to expedite
the departure of Commodore Watson's
raiding squadron from santiago, and
urgent dispatches were sent TO Ad.
'miral Sampson yesterday to have the
Iowa and the Oregon fully coaled and
equipped to report for their new duty
before the end of the present week.
BY that time the Newark, the auxiliary
cruisers Yankee, Dixie aud Yosemite,
and the three colliers Scandal, Alex.
ander and Abarenda will probably as
semble north of Porto Rico. when q
straight course for the Canaries will
bee pursued. The naval refrigerator
ship Supply, loaded with fresh meat
and vegetables, will Immediately set
out for the rendezvous. in order that
sailors Of the fleet may be well fed on
their long transatlantic voyage.
The department is also arranging TO
send some fast colliers across the
ocean to meet the feet in the vicinity
of Gibraltar about the middle of July.
1t is considered conclusive that the
main objective of the squadron is TO
inflict punishment on the important
city of Cadiz, beginning with the bonn.
bardment of its chain Of forts ut sun
rise some morning by the Iowa and
the Oregon and the destruction OF
parts of the city by Smelling after
"a hours notice has been Civ
en-, the idea being, by the crea-
ton Of enormous material damage,
to show Spain the terrible earnestness
Of the United States. The city OF ca
diz is advantageously located from an
point of view for operations
Of this character. its chief public
and valuable naval estab-
lishment being easily within range OF
the guns Of the two United States bat.
tleships and those of the Newark.
The auxiliaries Yankee, Dixie and
Yosemite are relied on in this engage.
nent to prevent torpedo boats from
too near the battleships,
Ind in this work they may be assisted
by the rapid-fire guns already mounted
IN the Golfers.
1t Is the intention OF the depart
nent to retain the heavy monitors in
position off Havana, Cienfuegos and.
perhaps, Trinidad, supporting n mum.
Der OF the smaller auxiliaries us scouts,
while the fast yachts and light draught
vessels watch the Isle of Pines, BAHAMA
DO and Manzanillo, where the water Is
shallow. Outside Of this
nner blockade line powerful cruisers |
will constantly patrol up and down
he coast, seldom out OF signaling dis.
.ance of each other and the scouts in |
ihore, and II Is inconceivable that any |
assistance in the way Of ammunition
,r food supplies will be able to slip
through this double Gordon and be
afely landed.
The chief efforts Of the navy depart.
nent are just now concentrated in the
Erection Of providing an efficient sys.
EN- OF supplying water, food, fuel and
to the blockaders, which
5 n problem Of greater magnitude
han anything in this line heretofore
attempted. The difficulties are con-
iderably augmented SO far rs the
'orto Rican blockade is concerned, by
Is excessive distance from the near.
st. American base, and as the re.
ources Of Key West are apt to be SO.
erely taxed in caring for the Cuban
fleet 1t is proposed TO use
Hampton roads rs a supply station for
he Porto Rican operations.