The Portland daily press., 1899-12-22
DEWEY KEPT THEM OFF.
why Atlantic Coast Was Not lombard
ed by spanish Squadron.

New York. December 1.-The Sun
pr .nts the following from Washington;
That there was ground for the fears Ct
the people on the Atlantic coast that
Strain would send "a naval fierce to attack
thsir cities while the American fess
under Sampson was blockadlng Santiago
harDor, Is shown clearly by official
communications of the Spanish govern
ment which have become public through
Rear Admiral Pascal Csrvera. These
communications have been translated
from Spanish into English under the
direction OF Commander Richardson
Cloyer, U. S. N, chief of the oiiloe Of
naval Intelligence.
The plan Of the Span!ards was to send
a portion of Admiral Camars's squadron
to attack American coast cities. Before
Cervera was 10 ,ated in Santiago tarbor,
Csnsra had received Constructions for
the expedition OF the squadron Of reserves
to the United States coats.
Camnra's naval force had then been
assembled and equipped and he was d.
rectiny on May "a to arrange for Its i'm
mediate departure from Csdis for Las
Palmns, Canaries, where 1t was to be
divided Into three divisions, one OF which
was to attack American cities.
The text OF the secret Instructions to
Cam ara Is included in the Volume edited
by Cevera, the kilograms explaining
why the squadron didn't cross the At
lantic ara made public, also. CamaIa
was on the point of departure from Spain
TO carry out the plans prepared By the
Spanish Ministry when nsws came from
Manila which CAUSED revocation of his
orders and the issuance Of new instruo-
tions for him to proceed to the Philip
pines.
Briefly, the plans of the Spanish Min
lister of Marine were for Camara, with
Part of h 8 squadron, to proceed to the
southern coast of the United States, to
attack Charleston, S. c., and then to
continue northward along the coast "to
carry out a seri,s Of hostile acts against
towns and Qualifications, the selection
of the points being left to him.
A second, division of the sqradron was
to cruise between parallels 20 degrees and
81 degrees north latitude, the 9th meri-
dian west and the coast of Africa for ten
or twelve days, which was considered the
time required for Csmsra to resyh the
United States coast. Then the second d.
vision was to return to Cadiz for further
orders
The third division was to proceed to the
vicinity OF Cape St Rogue. the most
eastern point of South America, "to sut
~. he L. Id hatxw
the eastern coast of the United states and
south America and the Pacific" 1t was
to remain on this route, cruising as far as
tbs ten degree OF mol th latitude as long
as its radius Ct action would permit.
Then one ship was TO be sent to Fort De
France. Martinique for Instructions from
Madrid. and failing to receive these, the
third division was to return TO tn
Canaries. The instructions concerning
the third division contain this paragraph:
"In case of injury or any ether fortutious
circumstances making 1t necessary for
any of the ships Of this division to seek a
port, you will see, provided there Is q
possibility of choice, that preference be
given to the French colonies
The Instructions ara addressed to Ad-
miral Camara, and are signed by Aunon.
the Spanish Minister Of Marine.
Camsra did not get away from Cadiz
as soon as the govern ment had hoped.
On June 10 he telegrsphed to Aunon that
''I hope to be ready next week."
just at that time the government re-
ceived very serious news from the
Philippines" and ON the day Of Cxmara's
telegram Aunon sent him detailed in
stru ctions to take his squadron ITO the
east instead Of across the Atlantic