Evening star., 1896-04-06
THE DEFERRED MANEUVERS
The North Atlantic Squadron TO Probably
Exercise This Week.
Details VIII BE Arranged by Admiral
Bunce After Consultation With
Secretary Herbert.

The long-deferred maneuvers Of the North
Atlantic squadron will probably take place
this week on a very small and limited scale.
Last December the feet assembled al Hamp-
ton Roads preparatory to a cruise to the
Caribbean for drill and exercises. 1t is still
there, and the evolutions are still in the
future In the meantime the fleet mas been
subject to all sorts of sensational reports.
Some gossfbs had it that the entire squad
ron was going to Venezuela to enforce the
Monroe doctrine, others that they had been
ordered to Cuba to insure the independence
of the insurgents, and some even went so
far as to assert that they were destined to
Constantinople to compel the unspeakable
Turk to indemnify American missionaries
for losses of property.
Within Marine Jurisdiction.
As fact, the vessels, with one or two un-
important exceptions, have remained con-
tinuously within the marine jurisdiction of
the United States, and have given NO single
instance Of a bellicose feeling toward
any of the nations with which our
relations are In jeopardy by living Is
sues. The cruise to the Caribbean sea,
for which elaborate arrangement Ead Deen
made. was abandoned because II misht pos
sbly have been misconstrued by the gov
ernments of Great Britain and Spain, pend
ing the settlement Of serious complications
between those nations and the United states.
There can be no question as to the peace, peace,
maneuvers. In fact, very little is known
about them except that they will require
only short cruise outside the capes The
details will be arranged by Admiral Bunce,
commanding the squadron, after consuita-
ton with Secretary Herbert, who is now at
Fort Monroe. The Secretary went there to
inspect the fleet, and he will remain through
out the week. in order to witness the
maneuvers. The fleet, which now consists
of six vessels, will be augmented by the bat
tie ship Indiana, now at Port Royal, which
was ordered to Hampton Roads In order
to take part in the exercises She will be
taken out of dry dock tomorrow, and will
start at once for the rendezvous. During
her trip north she will be under inspection
by a naval board appointed for that special
purpose.
Making Preparations.
During the past few days the vessels in
Hampton Roads have been coaled and
groomed for their first real sea service since
last autumn, and all leaves have been re-
voked. On returning to the Roads, Admiral
Bunce will be directed to hold himself in
readiness to move north as soon as the
weather gets little mider for an extensive
series of drills. The efficiency of the ships
crews is reported as better than at any lime
since the squadron assembled.
On the return of the Newark, ROW on her
way to Norfolk from Montevideo. she also
will be assigned to the feet, and the Terror,
which will go into commission at New York
on the 18th instant, will join it soon after.
The addition of these vessels, with the Mi
antonomoh, which is expected to enter
active service, and with the Amphitrite,
which Is to be withdrawn from Key West,
will give the Atlantic seaboard the strong
est aggregation of fighters yet presented
by the new navy. This force will consist
then of the first-class battle ship Indiana,
the three coast defense monitors Amphi-
trite, Miantonomoh and Terror with the
Puritan and Massachusetts following them
before July I; the second-class battle ships
Maine and Texas. the armored cruiser New
York, still flying the admiraps flag; the
triple-screw flyer Columbia, the twin cruis-
ers Raleigh and Cincinnati. the big three
master Newark and the Montgomery.