Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON
Its Long-Talked-of Winter Cruise Finally
Arranged For.
Cuban and Venezuelan Ports Omitted
From the Itinerary-NO PO-
litical Significance.

Arrangements have been finally made for
the much-talked-of winter cruise of the
North Atlantic squadron, in command of
Admiral Burce. The majority of the YES
sells of the fleet will leave Hampton Roads
on or cbout the 21st instant, and will
cruise IL. the West Indies for several
months. The time will be spent in squad
ron evolutions and exercises in continual
ton If the program fnaugurated by Ad-
miral Meade with the. same fleet in the
same waters last winter The fleet will be
the largest and best that has ever engaged
in such evolutions under the American
flag. 1t will consist of the following YES
sells: The flagship New York, Columbia,
Montgomery. Raleigh, Maine and probably
the Texas and Cincinnati. The last named
vessel is now engaged in patrolling the
coast of Florida to prevent the departure
of filibustering expeditions and 1t Is pos
sible that she may not join the squadron
until near the close of the cruise. The
participation Of the Texas will depend
upon the result of her official trial next
week.
The Itinerary. TO-
According to the itinerary, as approved
by Assistant Secretary MeAdoo, the fleet
will leave Hampton Roads on the Dist and
proceed direct to ST. Thomas. where a stay
of four days will be made, after which
the following program will be followed. so
far as the conditions of wind and tide will
permit. and unless national affairs inter
fere: January l. Santa Cruz, two days;
January 4, st. Kits, two days; January T.,
Guadaloupe, two days; January 10, Mar
Unique, four days; January IA, San Lucia,
five days; January 20. Barbados, four
days; January %. Trinidad, thirteen days.
February 8, San Lucia, six days; Febru-
airy 49, Porto Rico, two days; February 49,
San Domingo, two days. February %, Port
au Prince, two days; February 26 Kings
ton, eight days: March 8, Colon, three
days; March Ii, Chiriqui, two days; March
Ii. Port Limon. two days; March 10, Grey
town, two days; March 20. Dry Tortugas
and Key West, fourteen days; April 0.
Florida Bay, twenty-four days; May 4, Key
West, four days; May Il. Hampton Roads,
end of cruise. Coal will be taken on at st.
the stay at Trinidad the fleet will have
Grill and target practice in the Bay of
Paria. Admiral Bunce says 1t is possible
that the visits to Chiriqui, Port Limon and
Greytown may be omitted.
Cuban and Venezuelan Ports Omitted.
1t will be observed that Cuban and Ven
eZuelan ports are entirely absent from the
itinerary. The Bay of Paria is not very
far from the coast of Venezuela, and the
presence of the fleet in that neighborhood
may have greater significance than is
said to have been contemplated by the
naval authorities in preparing the pro-
gram. 1t Is stated with great positivenesS
at the Navy Department that the cruise
of the fleet has no relation whatever to the
Cuban instruction or the controversy be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela. In or
der to avoid possible misunderstanding on
that point the original itinerary has been
changed by striking out the port of La
Guayra- which was down for nearly
weeks stay.