The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-23
Powerful Squadron
at Hampton Roads.
Important Change in Dispo-
sltlon of Ships.

asbington, March The
event of the day in official circles
was the issue of an order for the
formation of a new squadron of ma
val vessels TO be stationed at Hanp
ton Roads The squadron in the be
ginning will consist of five ships, al
the best of their types Two O
the battleships Massachusetts and
Texas, are withdrawn from the pres.
ent North Atlantic feet at Key West
aud Tortugas 1t would be grave
mistake to suppose that in ordering
this movement the navy department
is animated BY any purpose of yield
ing to representations or intimations
that may come from the Spanish min
lister, as to the mischief caused by
the gathering of SO large naval
force as Admiral Sicard's feet in the
vicinity of Cuba On the contrary,
the formation of the new squadron
was brought about by purely strate
gic considerations, although it ap
pears from the ns.ure Of the force 80
far under orders to rendezvous at
Hampton Roads, that this strategy is
of the defensive nature The new
squadron cannot be called "fying
squadron" because the association of
heavy oaitiesbips with feet cruisers
like the Brooklyn, Columbia and
Minneapolis reduces the available
speed of the whole to the speed of
the s!owest vessel, and the squadron
could rot do much flying in the
naval sense The indications rather
are that. when reinforced by some
smaller cruisers, the squadron will
constitute an ideal naval defense For
the past two months influences have
been at work in the navy department
to bring about this change and as a
policy board, headed by Capt.
Crowninshield, has been in frequent
session of late at the, department., it
is believed that it has endorsed the
plan at last Although the other
ships to be added to the squadron
have not yet been definitely selected,
it is surmised that they will include
some of the other battIeships at Key
West and the armored cruiser New
York, in which case Admiral Sicard /
it is believed, will command the, new
force. In place Of the cruiser New
York, the people of Key West will
look upon The grim outlines of the
big monitor Pari,an, supposedly the
most powerful ship in smooth water
in the whole world She will have
to assist her to guard the double tur-
reted monitor Miantonomoh and the
monitor Amphitrite. The Puritan is
now at Norfolk almost ready for sea.
the Miautonomoh ie at League Island
quite ready and SO is the Amphitrite
at Port Royal, $ G
So the order in the end will result
in the gathering of The pick Of the
North Atlantic squadron at Hampton
Roads. The point is said to be the
best strategically on the Atlantic
coast 1t is almost centrally located
and the ships from that point can
reach any portion of the coast in
short order, which is regarded
as desirable. since no one can
tell just when fotilla of
torpedo destroyers or fas: cruis-
er may turn up with hostile
intent TO attack a town. Besides,
the second best navy yard in the
country is there to fall back upon for
repairs to the ships. plenty of the best
coal is at Newport News, there is easy
water to navigate. and finally the
forts at Hampton Roads may serve
as base of operations in case of
need for protection These are the
considerations which animated the
navy department il. making this new
ordec. 1t is announced that1he com
mander of the new squadron has not
yet been selected, and pending shat
selection or the arrival in port of
Admiral Sicard, it is expected that
Capt Higginson. the commander of
the battleebip Massachusetts and the
senior officer. will hold the command
of the squadron Remaining at Key
West after the departure of the Mas
sachuset,s and the Texas, Admiral
S;card will still have feet of mis-
own in numbers, when the spectacle
will be presented of a feet and
squadron on one station, something
not seen since the civil war The
monitors, which it is designed to eend
to Key West. are said to be we'll fit
Ted for the service Owing to their
light draft Of from Is to l6 feet. they
will be able to navigate safely the
shallow waters Of the Florida coast,
aud will not be obliged like the Iowa,