Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1896-07-10
MQD|L|z|HG 4 NAVALF FLEET.
P)WE2FUL WARSEIPS WILL
DEPLDY IN TdE at
LANTIC.
FOX + LESSON TO SPAIN.
TIE LARGEST AND MOST EFFEC>
TIVE OF ANY FLEET EXCEPT
THE BRITISH.

dOES noL anticipate 1OrelSn war
there IS no intention of being
unprepared if such an event
should happen. The first step
in the direction Of safety is the
moblizing of large fleet off the
New York and New England
coast. While the immediate
collection Of these ships is for
the purpose Of tactical training,
it is we'll understood that they
are intended as a useful object
| lesson to those European coun-
tries which believe that the
United States Navy exists large
ly Oh paper, and that its mate
rial strength is unilnportant.
A brief review of the vessels
composing the Atlantic fleet will
show it to be, with one excep
ton (the British fleet in the
English Channel,) the largest
and most effective Of any now
flying the flag of any Of the great
powers. When it assemblies off
Tonlpkinsville, Staten Island, a
few weeks hence, it will consist
of the battleships Indiana and
Massachusetts,, which carry the
heaviest batteries afloat, and
which can fight on even terms
with any vessels that may be sent
against them; the second class
battleships Maine and Texas, the
arm morcd cruiser New York, the
powerful monitors Amphitrite,
Miantonomah and Terror, and
the cruisers Columbia, New York,
Cincinnati, Raleigh and Mont
golnery.
1t is proposed, also, to assent
bic at Mare Island all Of the
available ships now in the
Pacific, excepting the fine cruiser
Olympia, which will be retained
i'll Japanese waters. For the
next few months, at least, no
ship will be detached from squad
ron service except in cases Of
extreme urgency. The cruisers
San Francisco, Marblehead and
Minneapolis will be left i'll the
Mediterranean, upon the request
of American missionaries in Tur-
key and Armenia, in order that
the later may have the benefit
of their moral and material sup
port.
Secretary OIuey perfectly un~
derstands that any recognition of
Cuban belligcrency is likely to
be followed by war. These as
surance have been made to him
with entire frankness by the
Spanish Minister, Mr.. Dupuy de
Lone, and similar assurances
have been repeatedly transmit
ted from Madrid by our Minister,
Mr.. Taylor. The Adininistra-
ton feel, however, that the time
is rapidly approaching when it
must announce its position with
respect 10 Cuban affairs. Thus
far it has pursued a course not
only conservative, but one which
has received the hearty commen-
dation of Spain and the rest of
the world.
1t is President Cleveland's S in>
tention to continue this policy of
wise forbearance until circum-
stances compel different course.
1t may be that his advices from
Havana may make it unneces
sary to recognize Cuban bellig
erenCy efore the expiration OF
his term in March next On the
other hans, should the success OF
the rcvolutionists be so we'll as
sured as to justify him i'll giving
them the recognition they desire
it can be authOritatively stated
: that he will not shirk his duty
| but act accordingly. The Pres
, ident does not desire war Will
J., Spain, or with any other coun
l try, for that matter, nor does hs
2 propose that the struggling pa
e triots in Cuba shall be abandoned
e to their fate after they shall have
S demonstrated that they posses
: all the qualifications which ell
title them to the consideration O
4 this Government. In othe
q words, when the conditions il
the island justify recognition i
6 will be accorded to the patriots
- be the consequence what the
may.
That this recognition will b
IS accorded is not doubted by an
person familiar with the inne
d Workings of the Administration
IS Ifwar be a necessary consequenc
st of such a recognition, it will nc
IS find this country unpreparee
& The ships now out of commits
y sion, by reason of foul bottom
n and other causes due to long Sci
ora hairo rapid1v r,,1t !