Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-01-13
Concentration of Naval E0rcen On the
Atlantic COASe.

Atlantic Cosss.
The Washington Sunday Herald contains the
following concerning naval movements on the
Atlantic coast:
The concentration. Of var vessels Of Port Royal
H. O., is in pursuance Of the general plan Of the
Secretary Of the Navy to make that place tue
headquarters Of the North Atlantic station, o. II
presents many advantages over any other port on
the Atlantic Coast In the arst place, the climate
is very healthy and the barbor oRers every f.
cility for the exercise OF naval tactics, 20 that
the service can be kept in thorough discipline.
On one OCCASION only during the late war va
the yellow fever there, and then for only . very
brief period, while 1t Key West, the former
headquarters u the station, it WA often Cpl
demic, and caused the vessels At that place near
ly every summer to be ordered TO Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, or some other Northern port,
where supplies. repairs DO. could be furnished
without delay. The geographical location Of
Port Royal makes 1t the central point for the
North Atlantic station. aud vessels rendexvoused
there can reach Cuban waters aud tie gulf,
where our interests most need 10 DO looked A.
tor, within forty eight hours. II IL the policy Of
the Secretary of the Navy to have our home
squadron larger than any OF those abroad, be-
cause he believes in beng prepared for any
emergency which may arise out of the present
difficulties on the leland Of Cuba While there
Is no official announcement in regard to the con-
dition OF sffairs between this country and Spain
uncertain tenure which Span has upon that is
land may cause that government ~ become in
volved in difficulty with the United Btatee
when it sees it can no longer hold the island, aud
thus part with it w . matter Of necessity.
Another reason why vessels will be ordered
to Pert Royal from Northern rivers aud ha, bers,
where they have been laid mp IL to free them
from the ice during the approaching winter. In
ssse OF any difficulty arising it would not do 10
have these vessels frozen up at League Island,
or some other Northern port whore they could
be OF no service; hence the secretary deems it
advisable to have them vt Port. Royal, where
there is no danger Of MI ice blockade, and In
case OF an emergency could be used with effect,
Commodore Howell chief OF the bureau Of
yards and docks, in his last annual report re-
commended an appropriation tO erect inexpen-
sive wooden buildings Ut Port Royal, with tile
necessary machinery and tools for xrtl6cers Of
the squadron to work and made the necessary
repairs to vessels needing them. From four or
i've vessels VI that place Vt one time sufficient
force Of blacksmlths, carpenters, sAilmaksrs,
riggers and others could be collected to do OK.
tensive repaIrr, and vessels would not have 10
be ordered North to receive them. At Key West,
the former headquarters Of the station, there
was . small establishment OF this kind, but
every summer / had to be abandoned on &C.
count OF the yellow fever. The Shawmut, Do
tAtor, Pswnee and Plnta are now ct Port Royal
and the Congress and JuniatA have bssn order
ed there from the European stations. Other
vessels will be ordered there from our own
Northern ports, ~ woll several nov abroad
The Marion, now ut Portsmouth, N. H., and the
Royal preparatory W their cruise among the
West Iudias