Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-24
THE NAVAL REVIEW.
Will be Large Assembiage Vessels Then
to Go to Foreign Waters.

| II nlted States vessels in the naval review
lsd Secretary Herbert is authority for the
statement that soon after its conclusion all
but seven of them will he Immediately dis
patched to foreign stations. Some will 20
10 Europe, some to China, some to the
! South Atlantic and some to the Pacific sta
ton.
There are no United States vessels on the
European station, and the antique Yantic is
ne sole representative of this country on
ne south Atlantic station. The missionary
troubles in Turkey demand the presence of
| an American warship in the Mediterranean,
nd the dignity of the country requires a
! tier representation on the east coast of
,Outh America.
The necessity of a modern vessel in Chi
neSe waters Is urged, especially as the Ash
attic squadron is soon to be deprived of the
services of the Petrol, which vessel is to 90
| to Behrlng SEA to assist in the protection of
,e sealing industry. The Petrol is now in
torel, where she was recently ordered in
the interest of the American missionaries
said to be in danger of mob violence. In
case of necessity, another vessel of the
AsiatiC squadron will take her place in
Corea.
The Pacific station, outside of San Fran
cisco and Hawaii, is deserted. so far as the
y wv is concerned. The extent and pres
Importance of this station has resulted
practical determination to divide it
ITO two divisions, one including the waters
above and the other the waters below the
isthmus of Panama. The demand for yes
sells in Behring sea and Hawaii has ex-
hausted the available supply on that sta
ton, and there is pressing need for vessels
in the South Pacific countries. The pre-
ence of warships in the vicinity of Peru ard
Chill is considered advisable. and the only
vessels available for such service are now
in home waters for the purposes of the
Columbian naval demonstration.
The majority of the vessels in the review
fleet are, therefore. destined for immediate
service in foreign waters. and the prot lem
now confronting Secretary Herbert and his
assistants at the department is as to the
manner of distributing them in the best in
terests of the service. 1t is expected that
the results of their deliberations will be
known soon after the review.
The only thing sure on this point is that
the Dolphin, Bancroft, Vesuvius. Mianto-
n0moh and Gushing will not 20 abroad
The Dolphin is the Presidents Yacht, and
titt utllflT ttitiiliDuC'l pUl slEdliy luta-
pactated for long cruise. 1t is practi-
ca!ly settled, however, that the Chicago and
the Atlanta will also be kept at home, for
the reason that bOtir are in need of repairs
and the Chicago requires new boilers. As
these two vessels will have to be locked, it
is inferred that they are both to be included
in Secretary IIerherts list of seven vessels
selected for service in the North Atlantic
station.
Furthermore, as they will hardly be laid
up at the same time, it is more than likely
that they will alternate as hagships of the
home squadron until permanent selection
is made The selection of flagship is a
comparatively small matter, however, and
the detail Of a commanding officer for this
station would not by any means imply tina;
the vessel now used as his flagship would
remain snch.
The Miantonomoh the Dolphin. the We
suvIus and the Cushing, which vii! neces-
ssrilly be retained on the home station, to-
gether 18th the Kearsarge. now in Haytian
waters ard the Chicago and Atlanta, make
4 fleet of seven vessels so that if Secretary
Herbert aihercs to to his policy Of keeping
no more than that number of vessels in the
homc waters, all the other vessels of
the fleet now at Hampton Roads will soon
he started on long cruises.
1t is considered probable that one other
vessel will be kept at home most probably
either the Yorktown Concord or Berning-
ton, with the chances in the order named
I icy are all gunboats of the same class |
The Bancroft is destined for special ser
vice ut the naval academy, and is not avail |
able for p;bsr service. According to this |
reasoning the Philadelphia, Newark San
Francisco, Baltimore and Charleston are |
esiined for foreign service beyond all
louht. with every in location that the Con- |
cord ani Bennington will be selected for 1
the same service.
The best Judgment of those competent to |
guess is that Admiral Gberartii will have |
command of the North Atlantic station, the |
Chicago as his flagship: that Admiral Ben
ham will command the South Atlantic |
station, with the Newark as his flagship |
that Admiral Walker will be given COM
mand OF the European station, with the |
as his flagship. The San |
Francisco and Charleston will be attached |
to the South Pacific station, the bennington /
probably TO the South Atlantic and the |
'pncori TO the European station, although |
il Is possible that either of these two gun
boats or the Yorktown will be ordered to
China. The Baltimore is also booked for
hat station as the flagship of Admiral |
Ii win. /
The command of the South Pacific station |
is in no ,loubt. Commodore Ramsey, who
IS sal t. be booked for the duty. will prob
ably be allowed to serve out his term as
eii-f of the bureau of navigation, eniing
December next. He will then be given
an important sea command. and Com
nanier r. B, Evans will probably succeed
L