Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-11

Ell, Adams and Alert. The close of the season
is near at hand, however, and there is reason
to believe that the Yorktown will also be
| ordered to join the fleet in Corean
waters. We have now but one vessel,
the Yantic, in South America. The New
ark, of 4,0S3 the fine flagship of the South
Atlantic station is on her way to Cape
Town, distance of $500 miles, to be
locked. 1t is thought that instead of re-
turning to the South Atlantic she, toe, may
be ordered to join our fleet on the
Asiatic station. If such be the case,
she will form 3 very valuable ad-
dition to our naval strength in that quarter.
As she win be 5000 miles from China when
she is ready for sea it is doubtful if she
will be able to reach there before the latter
part of September, but as there is every
reason to anticipate that the war
between China and japan will be long
one, the delay will probably not be regard
ed by Secretary Herbert, as q sufficient
reason to prevent the assignment, especial
ly as he is known to be in favor Of con-
centrating the strongest spossible naval
force on the Asiatic station. The Chicago
is now the only United States war vessel
on the European station and is report
ed to be very much in need of repairs.
The Philadelphia instead of remaining at
Honolulu, as American interests would die
tate, is on her way home with Admiral
Walker. The Bennington has completed
her work upon the coast of Salvador and is
on the way home. Her engine is said to
be in need of quite extensive re-
pairs. She could, probably, by special
effort, be made ready for active ser
vice again in ten weeks after her arriv-
al in this country. She is ship of LOO
tons, and would be quite an acquisition to
our feet in Asiatic waters. The Charles
ton, of 1910 tons, is now in readiness for
sea at San Francisco, and will, probably, be
sent at once to Asia, although this move
will leave no war vessel to look after
American interests from Behring sea
to Patagonia, distance of 10000 miles.
Neither the Marion nor the Boston can be
put in shape for a long sea voyage inside of
two months. The Olympia is not yet in
commission, and will not be available for
active service for some months t
come. A large portion of the effective
force of our navy is now on the Atlantic
coast. In this group are the New York.,
the Miantonomah, Vesuvius, Dolphin,
Maine, Atlanta, San Francisco, Montgom-
cry, Detroit, Minneapolis, Raleigh,
Cincinnati, Machias and Castine. The
Atlanta will quite likely be sent
to the Asiatic station and will, prob
ably, be followed, by the Raleigh, Machias
and Castine, the repairs upon these vessels
being sufficiently advanced to enable them
to go TO sea in thirty days. Even then they
will not be able to join the Baltimore before
the last of November. The Columbia and
Marblehead are now at Bluefields. The latter
will probably be relieved by the Montgomery
and ordered to Asia. This, however, can
not be done at once, as it will take some
months to replace the Montgomery's high
pressure cylinder, destroyed on her trial
trip. The Detroit is at Norfolk and will
also very likely be ordered to the Asiatic
station as soon as she can be put in
readiness for the voyage. The pros
poets are, therefore, if the secre-
tary of the navy adheres to what is
said to be his present purpose, that the
American feet that will assemble on the
Asiatic station will be the strongest that has
ever represented this country. 1t will as
we have shown, probably comprise
the following fourteen war ships, viz,
Baltimore, Monocacy, Concord, Pet
rel, Newark, Charleston, Detroit, Mar
blehead, Machias, Castine, Atlanta,
Bennington, Yorktown, and Raleigh.
With such fleet American interests will
be we'll taken care of. Our government
has been very slow to act in this matter, and
has, doubtless, lost valuable time by its delay
and indecision. 1t is gratifying, however, to
see that it has at length been aroused to the