THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 416 but at first this was supposed to be a mere feint, and it was conjectured that after dark it change its course for the westward. But it entered the Straits, and on the 22nd it was sighted off Cape Bon, on the coast of Tunis, steaming steadily- to the eastward. Its destination was the Philippines. On the 26th it reached Port Said.

Next day the American Government announced that an " eastern squadron" would be formed, under the command of Commodore Watson, composed of the battleships Iowa and Oregon, the auxiliary cruisers Yoscniite, Yankee, and Dixie, and three transports. Its mission would be to compel the return of Camara by Mouet would succeed in bringing him some reinforcements,butthat hiscommunications with the interior had been cut off, and he had no newsof his movements. Five days later,on the 13th,he reported that there had been continual firing at the blockhouses and trenches in the suburbs ; his force had been diminished by the desertion of some of the native troops, and he might be compelled to withdraw into the walled city ;he feared he had not resources for a prolonged defence,but he hoped help wouldbe sent fromSpain before he wasreduced toextremities.

But no reinforcements reached him. General Mouet was intercepted by the insurgents and defeated. His native troops went over enmasse menacing Cadiz and the coasts of Spain ; or, if he held on his course, to follow him through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. If necessary,a second squadron,underCommodore Schley, composed of the Brooklyn, Indiana, Columbia, Minneapolis, St. Paul and St.Louis, all ships of high speed, would follow Watson into European waters. The first result of this menace was that Cadiz was put into a state of defence, and earthworks were thrown up near Gibraltar to prevent a landing in Algeciras Bay. The British Government protested against this last proceeding.

to the enemy,andhearrived inManilaa fugitive, accompanied only by a few of his officers. A half-hearted attempt was made to send relief from Spain itself to the beleaguered garrison. A " second squadron" had been organised at Cadiz under the command of Admiral Camara, and at first its destination was supposed to be the West Indies. It consisted of the battleship Pelayo,the armoured cruiser Emperador Carlos Quinto, the torpedo-boat destroyers Audaz, Proserpina and Osado, and the armed liners Buenos Aires,Patriota and Rapido (these two lastbeing the two fine steamers,Normannia and Columbia, purchased from the North German Lloyd Company just before the war). Besides these, there were the transports San Francisco, Colon, and Covadonga. Five battalions were embarked on board the transports and armed liners, and the fleet put to sea on June 16th.

But Admiral Camara's squadron never got beyond Port Said. The Anglo- Egyptian Government refused to give him coaling facilities in the port, and he tried to coal at sea off the canal mouth, but could only get a very small supply on board. A correspondent of theDaily Graphic, who visited the fleet, was It headed towards the Straits of Gibraltar ;