The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-29
SPAIN UNDEFENDED.
Time Is Ripe for De monstra.ion in
European Matters.
The CANARlES AND THE SEAPORIS
Practically at the Mercy of an
American Fleet.
TO CONVINCE THE SrANIARDS
Thnf Their Efforts to Proiong the
War Is Futile and Foolish in
the Extreme.

Tribune from Washington SAYS: That The
scope OF the war, already involving Joint
military and naval campaigns against
SPANS colonies in the Far East and ia
the Caribbean sea would eventually be
| widened TO embrace demonstration In
force against the Canaries and the coas,
towns of the Spanish peninsula itself has
been more or less apparent even from the
beginning OF hostilitics
Events have conspred. however, Ia a
most unexpected manner TO clear The way
for offensive operations in European waters.
and what seemed six weeks ago a rather
remote problem of reducing the Canaries
or bombarding the seaports of the oenin-
| sula has forced itself to the front with a
rush which. except for the foresight and
| sagacity shown in the expansion OF the
naval resources, might seriously have en-
barassed the development OF the govern
| ments war plans, the two unforeseen
| chances which have made a campaign in
| European waters at this time not oily
feasible but highly imperative.
With no escape probable for the Santiago
| fleet and Spain's home resources weak
ened by Camara's diversion 20 the East,
| an American fleet would find at present no
| formidable enemy afloat in Spanish waters
and could without fear OF ,,tack at sea
efiectually drive Spanish commerce 10
cover and threaten the destruction by tom-
| bardment of Span's chief ports.
| Even should Camara's squadron be or
dered back to Spain from Port SAID, its
strength would not be considered sufficient
| to check the operations Of the naval forces
which the United States could easily send
| across the Atlantic, and. Santiago having
once fallen there would remain no
reason why the fleet chosen today as an
advance guard in the proposed attack on
| Spain should not be reinforced by second
detachment OF equal power
| lis prospective departure is regarded he"c
as significant of the purpose of the ai-
ministration to push the war against Spain
with the utmost energy and to bring the
Spanish people as quickly and sharply as
possible to realization OF the futility and
costliness of a protracted resistance.
The naval raid against Spain although
for some time under consideration, prom
Uses to be attended with all the sudden
ness that marked Deweys descent uron
the Philippines and the landing OF GEN
eral Shafter near Santiago. If the Span
iards are disposed to regard the announce
ment made today of Commodore Watsons
departure in the Newark as something In
the nature OF bluff" designed to hurry
Admiral Camara back from Suez. they are
doomed TO quick and bitter disappointment.
for the raiding squadron will be fairly
on the way across the Atlantic before the
end of this week. and before The middle Of
LUZ S,ie cities and the shipping OF the
Spanish coast will be painfully aware OF
their presece.
Until Saturday last the plan, which tho
bnu baJ
several weeks involved the formation OF
fleet distinctly more formidable and speedy
than the one now under orders. II in
cluded the armored cruisers Brooklyn and
New York, of twenty-one knots speed; the
Columbia and the Minneapolis of twenty
three knots: the Cincinnati and the Newark
of twenty knots. the auxIliaries St. Paul
and st. Louis of twenty-five knots, with
the Iowa and the Oregon of sixteen knots
to follow as quickly as possible behind the
flying cruisers
1t would have been necessary to bring
several of these vessels North and clean
them in dry dock before starting them on
their long cruise away from an inexausti-
BILE base of supplies, involving delay OF
several weeks. The news of the Amrri-
can losses in the skirmish at La Quasina,
however caused the president to call Sec
retaries Long and Alger into consultation
regarding the best way to convince the
Sraniards OF the hopelessness OF their
stubborn resistance TO the inevitable and
wi hin few hours Captain Mahan OF the
naval war board had convinced the author
tiles that thoroughly effective rioct. in
volving all the elements essential TO in
sure success, could at once be dispatched
10 give the Spaniards at home an object
! lesson OF the stern realities Of war
| Captain Mahan readily drew up the rlan
providing for the immediate assembling Of
the first class battleships Iowa ana oregon,
the recently modcrnized protected cruz. ~
New York. with the auxiliary cruisers Yam
kce, Yosemite and Dixie accompanied by
! three GOLFERS. which could not only com
mel an abrupt cessation OF SPANS COM
( lnerce and lombard her exposed sea coast
/ cities but would prove more than match
| FOR any fleet that that country touii hastily
concentrate for offensive or defensive pLr-
noses The plan was promptly approved by
| the president and telegrsphic orders were
| sent TO Commodore John Crittenden Wat
| son. until last week commanding the North
| cuban blockading squadron. 10 proceed at
| once 10 carry the plans into effert-
The coalers arc tho Scandal, Commander
| II Watson; the Baranda, Lieutenant W.
n. Duford. and Alexander Commander ".
+, T. Burwell They are fine cargo steamers.
The Scandal, on her last Iransailant c
VOYAGE. before delivery TO the government.
rayjng brought to this country in a single
trip 1900 emigrants and 1000 tons Of cargo
with n speed OF twelve knots. These vessels
are now fully loaded with Pocahontas coal,
The Scandal carving 1000 ,oas S1d the
other two 1000 each.
Unfortunately the Abarendo and tho
Alexander cannot exceed speed OF ten
knots per hour. or 1850 knots week. aad
this rate fixes the maximum speed oil me
squadron, although the scouts VIII 40
considerable additional cruising esre1ialiy
after the Canariss are reached. The most
economical speed Of the Newark is ZEN
knots. ami at that rate with full bunker
capacity she can run $500 miles. The most
economical speed Of the Iowa and Oregon
is twelve and one half knots. productive OF
radius Of action approximating 1900
miles. aud as the distance from santiaTo
IN Gibralta barely exceeds $500 knots. all
the vessels of Commodore waisons squad
ron can make the run without the necessity
Of coaIing at sea. the three auriliiaN's.
The Yankee. the Dixie and the Yosemite
each being capable OF 5000 miles straizht
awav. A, ten knots an hour. o. 24o dav.
4, vii, tasn the snusdron at lsnst twn
weeks st.,dy cruising In the n7en oesan
10 cover the distance between 81. Thomas
and CadIy.
The naval officers do not believe that
4 A n