The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-21
WASTE RAVAGE OUR COAST
SPANISH PLAN WHICH ADMIRAL
CAMlRh DID NOT CARRY OUT.

Nh"HHH DfD wa NNHh1 WIZ
| His Secret Orders to Bring His Squadron
Over Here and Attack Atlantic Coast
| Cities-The Countermand and the Inter-
rupted Voyage to the Philippines.
WARRINGTON, Dec. 20.-That there was
ground for the fears Of people on tho Atlantic
| coast that Spain would send a naval force TO
attack their cities while the American feet under
Sampson was blockading Santiago harbor. 10
| shown clearly by Official communications Of tho
! Spanish Government which have become public
through Rear Admiral Pascual Cervera. Thoso
communications have been translated from Span.
ish into English under tho direction OF Commander
Richardson Clover, U. S. N, Chief Of the Once
| Of Naval Intelligence
| In the early part OF the war there was consid-
cradle unoasiness the possibility Of tho des-
cent by a Spanish squadron on American coast
cities. Boston was particularly alarmed and
to case the minds OF her citizens, some OF whom
had made appeals for protection. tho Navy De
partment sent tho protected cruiser Columbia,
built for service a commerce destroyer to patrol
the Massachusetts, coast. The Northern Patrol
| Squadron. consisting Of the protected cruiser
| San Francisco. and four converted ocean liners.
the Prairie, the Dixie, tho Yankee and the osomie.
had been formed also for tho protection Of the
coast and the coastwise trade between the capcs
/ VI sho iSSioWoaO uAu DOT bosof
the Badger and the Southcrly wcre assigned
TO scouting duty. How nearly this slight forco
came to having an engagement with Spanish
| squadron. In which a battlcship was included.
| Is made known through the documents secured
| by Admiral Cervcra from tho Spanish records
The plan Of the Spaniards was to send por-
ton Of Admiral Camara's squadron to attack
| American coast cities. Before Cervera was
located in Santiago harbor Camara had received
Instructions for the expedition Of the squadron
OF reserve to tho United States coasts" Camara q
| naval force had then been assembled and equipped
and he was directed on May "a to arrange for its
| immediate departure from Cadiz for Las Palmas,
| tanares where was 20 be divided into three
| divisions, one Of which was TO attack American
cities. The text OF the secret instructions TO
Camara Is included in the volume edited by
Cervcra. and kilograms explaining why the
squadron didn't cross the Atlantic are made public
SPAIN to out the psn Sy se
Spanish Ministry Of Marine when news came
| from Manila which caused a revocation OF his
| orders and the issuance OF new instructions for
him 10 proceed To the Philippines Tho dates
and specific character OF these different orders
| In directing Camara TO attack the American conAt
and that no bluff was intended in ordering him
TO the Philippines
Briefly the plan Of the Spanish Ministry Of
Marine was for Camnra with part OF his squadron
10 proceed tu the southern coast Of the nited
States. TO attack Charleston s. C, and then TO
continue northward along the coast TO carry out
s,ri-s Of hostile acts az ainst towns and fortn.
cations the selection Of the points Of attack being
| was To cruise between parallels 500 and 36o north
latitude. the ninth meridian west and the coast
OF Africa for ten or twelve days which was con-
sldcrcd the time required for CamAra 10 reach the
| United States coast. Then the second division
| was to return To CadiZ for further orders Tho
third division was TO proceed TO the vicinity Of
| Cape St Rogue. the ehsternmost point Of South
America TO cut OF the route of the vessels dying
between the eastern coast Of the United States and
| South America and the Pacific" TWAS 10 remain
on this route cruising az far a. the tenth degree
o. north latitude as long as Its radius Of action
| would permit Then one ship To he sent 10
| Fort de France Martinique, for instructions from
| Madrid and failing to receive these the third
| structons concerning the third division contain
this paragraph: In case Of injury or any other
fortuitnus circumstances making IL necessary for
any OF the ships Of this division TO seek port you
will scc. provided there Is a possibility Of choice
that preference he given to the French col onies-
| The instructions are addressed To Admiral
| Camnra, and are signed by Aunon, the Spanish
Mn.srt 2, Mh" s.a Az par, o, ,hsm which
| can coast is as follows.
"HoSoREp SIR: The equipment Of the squad
| having been completed and the ships supplied with
provisions and coal you will arrange for it's imme-
where without, loss Of time you will repicnish n
! coal consumption and take whatever quantity
! ~ provisions you may deem necessary, according
units intended. Al Las Paimas you will form
three divisions Of the squadron: The first. COM
| Patricia and Meteoro and despatch boat Giraidn
! will remain under your ENcellency'S immediate
command The second division. composed II
the battlcships Prlhyu and Nitora and dc-tr oy.rs
Osado. Audnz and pr ,serpina, will be placed I'M
der the orders Of the oldest captain being the com
| mandcr Of N" PrlayO, Capt JOS Fernandez
| y Nino The third division. u which the auxiliary
| cruisers liucnos Aires Antonio Lopez and Alfonso
Josr Barrasa Fernando de Castro The squad.
ron will leave the harb0r mentioned united and
| in order that its subsequent mo, rments may not
be surprised IL will shape its course for the est
Indies until at sufficient distance from the Cana
| ries and from the course most frcquented by the
will perform cyoutiOnS within SIGHT OF said islands
| stimulating tactical exercises while waiting for
| nightfall when each Of the divisions upon prcyi.
Gus orders % BE- issued by your ESccllcncy. will
| proceed in the proper direction for the purposes
| hereinafter vet forth
| The first div lsion under the command Of your
Fxcelency will shnpc Its course for til" Bermudas,
and at a proper distance from those islands you
will detach fast vessel To acquire at Hamilton
all possible information. besides such a. the Gov,
eminent will communicate to YOU through our
Consul. Jose Garcia Acuna, resident of said port,
AZ 10 tho location, numb~r and quality 81 the
hostile forces distributed along the Atlantic coasi,
II being understood that tho communication with
the Bcrmudas must b. confined 10 the one vessel
referred to apd only for length 81 time ALSO
lutely necessary for the purpose indicated the
rest Of the division to pass ont OF sight of the islands
so that its presence In said waters may not b-
come known. Taking into account the informA
ton You may acquire, and rludinR nm encounter
with superior forces. your ENcellrncy will choOSr
such point on the United States coasts rs you
| may deem bcst adapted Charleston. II possible 49,
TO carry out In the direction from south TO north
a series Of hostile ncts In the energy Of which
you will b. guided by circumstances against
| fortified positions ~ we'll ~ against such places
ar owing TO their industrial, military or com
I