The foregoing vessels comprise Commo-ore Watson's squadron, which has been detached for the purpose of striking a blow at the Spanish coast. Of the vessels which comprise this squadron, the Oregon and Towa aro'among the finest fighting ships over launched. The Yankee, Dizie, and Yosemite were formerly the Morgan line steamers Et Nord, El Sud, and Et Sol. They have been fitted out with a powerful armament, are swift, have large coal capacity, and will probably do enormous damage the Spanish coasting trade. They can overhaul almost any Spanish merchant vessel, and with their present batteries are prepared to fight any Spanish warship they are likely to encounter.
The speed.of the squadron in crossing the rd Atlantic will be governed entirely by the colliers, which are simply large ocean freight steamers of relatively slow speed. The squadron, however, ought to be heard of off the coast of Spain within two weeks after sailing at the furthest. Should Admiral Camara, of the Cadiz fleet, return to Spain, with the fleet which started for Manila, but only got as far as the Canal, and should he encounter Commodore Watson's squadron, it will be safe to predict that there will be a stubbornly fought naval engagement, The determination to send this squadron against Spain was the outcome of direct
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