The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 28, 1898, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1898. HOME PORTS OF DONS —_— TO ATTAEK: THE COAST OF SPAIN Commodore Watson Will Be Sent With Power- ful Squadron. Admiral Sa mpson, when he wil to the Spanish coast. indicates what ships will comp gnated th 1s de adron. It p as follow Newark, , Yankee an and Alexander. so showed OO0000000D0000O0OCIOO0OOOOO00C0O Co0000C000000000000C000C00000000000 27.—The me ad- | to a nerican squadron the-Medi- since the war 1 time have >ct had not » this effect the proj a Philiy Spanish by this bold stroke. : to-day, 1 bulletin posted at the War dron to ment in- with incredulity. suspicion that the story ed to dec > Spanish However, , later in letail of announced > given to pro- wonths, it be- ast doubter that in earnest in this = fleet to Europe. ‘ted colliers 1 their way to on a large sup- re a week to ampson’s fleet so made from possible for et away before would seem to > for the begin- that will for the I's history start 1d to attack conti- o0 attempt is made to nt is influenced t by a desire istward of the was not believed that ral could be guilty of of uncovering his own home but in, .much z »d to do so the n strategists could not do less than anta f the magnificent op- nity tt fforded them to strike 1ing blo 1in and thereby s save m ime and loss of life 7 in the conduct of the tedi- aign in Cuba. rmination to send this squad- ron against Spain was the outcome of direct official advice; ching the State and Navy Departments as to the pro- | of Admiral Camara’s squadron. s give a list of the Span- S NOW nearing the Suez Canal which differs somewhat from the list | given in the press dispat.hes and by Lloyds. The is as follows: , Osada, Pro rta, Rapido, BuenosAyres, | is to be be Comn r the 4th of J be progress It Spanish ad - folly ns deter port a cru de Paney, Colon, Covadonga and | San Francisco. i The additional Information comes | from official sources that this squadron s at Port Said and expects to take on board 10,000 tons of coal before enter- ing the Suez Canal. Such a heavy coaling will take some time. It dis- clo 1so that the admiral expects to ma a long sail, and is doubtless head- | ed for the Philippines, a point which the officials here doubted at first. The s~uadron is the most formidable Spain has afloat in total tonnage, strength of individual ships, armor and guns. The Pelayo Is the strongest of the | nd is the only battle-ship in the rish navy. She is 9900 tons, with a | ed of 16.7 knots. She carries thirty- five guns of various caliber and has | geven torpedo tubes. The largest guns are the 12-inch Hontorias, one forward and one aft, and 11-inch Hontorias, one on each beam. The Carlos V is of 9090 tons, with a speed of 19 knots. She has twenty-eight guns, the largest being 11-inch Hontorias, worked electrically, one forward and one aft. She has also six torpedo tubes. The Audaz and Osada are torpedo boat destroyers, finished In England just before the war began. They are of 400 tons each and are 80 knots. Each Prfles six guns and two torpedo tubes. WASHINGTON, June 27.—The Navy Department at 11:15 a. m. posted the following bulletin: “Commodore Watson sails to-day in the Newark to join armored squadron with several cruisers and proceed at once The Navy Department has also posted a bulletin, which battle-ships Iowa and P: d Dixie, and the colliers Scan- f sion of our war vessels: “North At- lanti Rear niral Sampson, commanding; first squ n, Commodore J. A. Howell commanding; second ron, Commodore W. S. Schley commanding; naval base, Key West, I'la., Commodore E. Remey command- 1 take under his command an ose Commodore Watson's e Eastern squadron, and is Oregon, The advance will be made at the following changes in the 0000000000 CO0000O00000C00000Q00 [+ Transatlantic Company of Cadiz, and has been transformed into a cruiser. She 1s 5200 tons, with 14 knots speed. The Proserpina, Patriota and Rapi- do are merchant vessels recently con- structed and armed. The Colon, Cova- donga and San Francisco are colliers. It is apparent from this that the main reliance of the fleet is on the battle- ship Pelayo, the armored cruiser Carlos V and the two new torpedo boat de- stro; Audaz and Osada. The others are aux ry cruisers and colliers. As there are only two armored ships in the lot, Adimral Dewe: fleet of protected but unarmored ships probably will 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 the Spanish squad- ron, the Jowa and Oregon exceeding the ayo and Carlos V at every point, while the other United States vessels are far superior, ship for ship, to those of the Spanish squadron, with the sin- gle exception of the two Spanish tor- pedo-boat destroyers. When the American fleet safls for Spain it will take with it complete in- formation as to the entire stretch of Spanish coast, with detall maps of every harbor and its fortifications. The War Board had a mass of this infor- matfon before it, and spent most of the day studying Spanish charts and for- tifications, with a view of outlining the series of blows which are to be deliv- ered to Spain at home. The Spanish g t line is 2122 kilometers long, of which 769 kilometers is on the north coast, while 1353 kilometers is along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic on the south coast. The north is described by naval strategists as abrupt and mountainous, with sinuous inlets and gulfs, resembling the fjords of Scandi- navia. In general, the fortifications of the coast are relics of the medieval greatness of Spain, and many of these defenses are tumbling ruins. The Spanish coast is divided into three captain generalcies, namely: Fer- rol on the north, Cadiz on the south and Carthagena on the east. At Fer- rol is the naval school and the school of naval application. At Carthagena is the school of ordnance and the tor- pedo school. Cadiz is the point where most of the fortification guns are made. Eech of the three naval provinces has a certaln number of ports and coast towns under its care. The total artillery of these ports, un- der the normal conditions prior to the war, is as follows: One hundred and nineteen Krupp guns, 55 Armstrong guns, 90 Ordonez guns and a large num- ber of Hontoria guns. The main re- llance is on the Ordonez guns, which are especlallv for fortification pur- pose: They are of 21.24 and 30 centi- meters. A separate division of the coast is made for the purpose of plac- ing torpedoes and submarine mines, This work is divided into four districts, with Ferrol, Cadiz, Carthagena and Mahon as headquarters. Each town along the coast is allowed a certain number of torpedoes. For instance, the allotment for Barcelona is 500 torpe- does. . Many of these ports are connected by cables, which form an additional fea- ture of naval attack. A cable runs from Barcelona to Marseilles. Cadiz has three cables, one to the Canaries, another to Gibraltar and another to Villa Real. Vigo is the cable station for two lines. The information is In minute detail as to the defenses of each port. For inetance, Ferrol is protected on the north by a series of three batteries and two chateaus, the chateaus occupying points which command passes from the sea. The town is encircled by bastions and redoubts of ancient pattern, but recently remodeled. The defenses of Cadiz consist of a circle of eleven pow- erful forts. The other harbors are sim- ilarly defined, with detail information &5 ta ppproaches, ghapucls., fepth of | the dead man's to COMMODORE J. C. WATSON AND THE SHIPS HE WILL TAKE NOW IN GREAT DA YosEMITE Commodore Watson's picture is reproduced from his latest photograph, taken since the beginning of hostilities with Spain. TO ATTACK THE SPANISH COAST. water, batteries, ete. With this full In- formation at hand the nature of the as- sault upon the coast of Spain will be pretty well outlined before the Ameri- can squadron sails. At the same time much will be left to the commander in chief of this squadron. Some naval authorities belleve that the Canary Islands will be the first point of attack, and that the next move will be to establish a naval base at Ceuta, a -»~int on the African coast, owned by Spain and opposite Gibraltar. With this b: our ships would be within easy striking distance of the long stretch of Spanish coast. The United States Consul at Port d has reported to the State Depart- ment that, in obedience to its injunc- tion, he had lodged a protest against the selling of a supply of coal there to the Spanish squadron. failure to obtain coal at Port Said would not in itself prevent the Span- ish vessels from passing through the canal and continuing on their way to the Philippines, for they have with them one or more colliers. But the coal carried by these would be abso- lutely essential to the vessels of the squadron long before they had crossed the Arabian Sea. To add to the embarrassment of Ca- mara there is good reason to believe that the canal management will ob- struct his passage on the ground of interference with navigation. Commodore Watson should reach Ad- miral Sampson by Thursday morning or perhaps earlier, for the Newark hav- ing been extensively repaired, is now a swift warship. The operations before Watson are of a character that will ad- mit of employment to the best advant- age of the big monitors for bombarding purposes and small cruisers and gun- boats as blockading vessels. The start will be made from off Santiago just as soon as the squadron can be gotten ready, and this, fortunately, owing to the completeness of the naval mobiliza- tion, will be in a very short time. There is no intention of weakening the Havana blockade by the with- drawal of Commodore Watson with his flagship. To prevent this Secretary to proceed immediately to the Amer- ican fieet off Havana to take command of the post vacated by Commodore Watson. Commodore Howell is at present In command of the coast pa- trol fleet and he will take the entire fleet with him, that is, all of the larger vessels, to re-enforce the blockade of the Cuban coast. He is already on his way south from the New England coast and should reach Cuban waters by the end of the week. The Naval War Board was in session all the forenoon. It had before it con- fidential telegrams from Admiral Sampson, with whom it had been in communication by cable for the last two days. REST FOR ENOS CLAY. SANTA ROSA, June 27.—Judge Burnett rendered a final decision to-day, award- ing the body of the late Senator Enos of Sonoma to his daughter, Mrs. Estrado Murray. The body has, since the death of Enos, last March, been in a vault in Sonoma, pending the court’s decision, as the result of an injunction suit brought by the widow against Mrs. Snyder, who wished to have ehl‘:"(‘_o of the #ud ml e It is true the | Long has ordered Commodore Howell | orders. ron. stroyers. LONDON, June 28.—The Madrid cor- respondent of the Standard says: Egypt's refusal to supply coal to Ad- miral Camara’s squadron is strongly | resented, as due to England’s influ- ence. It is regarded as direct proof of an Anglo-American entente. The Spanish Transatlantic Steam- ship Company has coal depots at Aden, Colombo and Singapore. Captain Au- non, Minister of Marine, hopes the mat- ter may be arranged, since England has not yet declared coal contraband of war. According to another version the ineident will serve as a pretext to bring Admiral Camara back to Spain to check American aggression. The Times, commenting editorially on the movements of Admiral Camara’s squadron, says: “This singular naval promenade is probably of a theatrical character, designed to serve the double purpose of impressing the United States and satisfying public opinion in Spain. It will certainly fail to attain the first of these objects. The million pesetas required to pay for the passage of the squadron through the Suez canal might be more usefully employed than in a demonstration that alarms too nobody and is late | Msnlle, Po the FORBIDDEN TO CORE AT PORT SAID MADRID, June 27.—A dispatch has been received here from Admiral Camara announcing his arrival at Port Said. He adds that the ships under his command had a “capital voyage,” and averaged a speed of ten miles an hour. here this afternoon that Admiral through the Suez canal with the warships under his command. PORT SAID, June 27.—Upon United States Consul here, orders have been issued forbidding the coaling at this port of Admiral Camara’s fleet until further It was announced Camara has been ordered the application of the LONDON, June 27.—A special dispatch from Madrid says the Minister of Marine, Senor Aunon, has made a statement to the effect that Admiral Camara’s squadron will leave Port Said to-day for the Philippine Islands. ing said that he believed the squadron was powerful enough to defeat the ships under Admiral Dewey. nounces that the hope is expressed in Madrid that Manila will be able to hold out until the arrival of Admiral Camara’s squad- He is credited with hav- The dispatch an- PARIS, June 27.—Admiral Camara's squadron, which starts to-morrow morning for Suez, made a very fine record, with an average of ten knots throughout, being led by the de- Among interesting items is that the dues for the fleet’s passage through the canal amounts to $160,000. fards are justified in declining to be greatly frightened by the threat of an American expedition to the peninsula, though this may stimulate the demand for the conclusion of peace.” NEW YORK, June 27.—A dispatch to the Tribune from Cziro, Egypt, says: The Egyptlan Government has in- structed its authorities at Port Said to prevent the 150 stokers engaged there by Admiral Camara for his fleet from embarking on Spanish ships, and has courteously informed Admiral Camara that their embarkation would be an in- fringement of the laws of neutrality, which Egypt intends to observe rig- orously. The Audaz’ machinery requires re- pafrs and Camara has signified his in- tentton of remaining at Port Said for three days. LS PR The Canal Is Deep Enough. That Admiral Camara does not take Ais fleet on through the Suez canal and to Manila to crush Dewey cannot be explained on the ground that his ves- sels draw too much water to pass through. The Pelayo draws 24 feet 11 inches, the Carlos V one inch mogye, and the Numancia, the deepest in the water of all, draws 25 feet 3 inches. The canal in the shallowest places is at least four feet deeper, and several British ships now on the China station, drawing 2 feet and 3 inches more than 8 Fecen Numancia, have passed thxqu;‘] ;ern;,l&;lng h s hda =ribe | or batteries inaldo, according to letters brought here from Cavite by a German steamer, occupies the mansion of the late Gov- ernor of Cavite, but he will shortly move to Imus to make room for the Amerfcan troops. The insurgents now have 5000 prisoners. A hundred and eighty-seven of the Spanish wounded have been sent to anila with a flag of truce by permis- | sion of Admiral Dewey. The wounded Spanish officers, with one exception, are at Cavite. The Spanish brigadier, Moret, was killed at San Fernando, in an attempt to force the rebel lines. An American official at Cavite writes as follow “If great bloodshed and destruction come to Manila Spain may Justly blame the Germans. Manila would have surrendered before the ar- rival of the German squadron without bloodshed, but now, owing to the moral | ts presence, the city refuses | MANILA, Philippine Islands, June 29, | via Hongkong, June The Spaniards claim to have driven the rebels back, but really the position is unchanged. | The arrival of the American troops is awaited and they are expected to-day. The Spanish outposts have prepared | to retire promptly to the walled citadel, and will probably make only a nominal | resistance, A section of the insurgents, it Is al- leged, dislike the Americans and desire German protection. Five German war- ships are here. The Spaniards continue their nightly fusillade, but the volunteers decline to g0 to the trenches, while many of the regulars are idling about the town. Thousands of trees in the vicinity of the citadel have been cut down, but the botanical gardens remain. All food is held at famine prices. S g W SPANISH WORKING ON BAY DEFENSES Saluting of Foreign Warships Caused a Panic and Belief That Amer- ican Troops Had Arrived. MANILA, Philippine Islands, June 22 (via Hongkong, June -27).—Two thou- sand Spaniards arc working onthe sand bag defense outside the moat, on the Calle de las Aguadas. The insurgents are worrying the Spaniards, but there is no advance, although desultory fir- ing goes on at various points. The in- surgents are firing explosive shells at Santa Ana churches. On June 21, accession day, the for- eign warships saluted the Spanish col- ors. It was believed that the bom- bardment had begun, but the panic was soon_quelled. A French warship left the harbor af- HAVE FIVE THOUSAND PRISONERS | insurgents' adv: the Spanish flag. The har- ve that Great some sort of action. It reported that they will burn all the houses at Malate to clear the ground for defense. TRANSPGRTS HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED Apparently the Philippine Insur- gents Are Waiting for the American Troops. M ILA, June 23 (via Hongkong), June —Up to the time this dispatch is sent the transports from San Fran- cisco, having on board American troops intended to re-enforce Rear Ad- miral Dewey, have not arrived here and there is no change in the situa- tion. The insurgents have not made any further advance, and the Spaniards have been continuing the construction of sand bank fortifications and the planting of sharpened bamboos around Manila for the purpose of stopping the nce. The papers here continue appealing to the natives to come to the assistance of Spain. - Attempts to Stab Aguinaldo. HONGKONG, June 27.—Advices from Manila_reports two attempts to stab General Aguinaldo, 'ne by an Italian adventurer. Captain Slocum’s Long Voyage. NEWPORT, R. L, June Z.—Captain Joshua Slocum arrived here to-day on the sloop yacht Spray, after a voyage around the world. He left Boston April 24, 189%, going to Gibraltar and South American orts, and from there to the Straits of Rfageilan into the Pacific to Australia | Tasmania, Juan Fernandez. He salled into the Indian Ocean and visited Natal, South Africa, Cape Town, St. Helena, As- cension islands, Grenada and Antigua, and thence home. His cruise of more than three years was made a sailing craft 33 feet long and 14 feet wide. Captain Slo- cum made the v ge entirely alone. Will Not Lose Their Land. LOS ANGELES, June 27.—Judge Ross in the Federal Circuit Court this morning {ssued a final decree closing the title to all bona fide purchasers of the railway lands in the overlapping grants of the Southern Pacific and Atlantic and Pacific Rallways. This decree insures the pur- chasers their holdings, which were in- volved In the litigation which has been pending between the Government and railroads for years. Sailors and Their Grievances. The grievances of sailors examined by the authorities In ports of entry, where the sea- men belong, often turn out to be imaginary or greatly exaggerated. But there are plenty of cruel and conscienceless skippers who abuse thelr crews. Violence is always objectionable, and pointedly so when It is exerted upon an unfortunate liver, stomach or bowels by dos- ing with drestic purgatives which weaken the ¢ . Ut Hostetters Stompsh Bitjers ©