The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-18
A new SQUADRON
HAS BEEN FORMED
Battle Ships viii Rendezvous at
Hampton Roads.
ADMIRAL sICARD TO COMMAND
tausBal Spectacle at hey Vest Madrid
Will hspsl Soy Demand Tor
Indemnity.

Washington. March l7.-The event Of
the day IN official circles WIS the issuing
| NJ nn order for the formation Of new
| squadron n naval vessels % be- stationed
at Hampton Roads Tho squadron IN the
beginning win consist Of nye ships an
tho beet n their types Two Of them The
| hattlrrhlps Massachusetts, and Texas. are
withdrawn from the ncct ut Key West
and Tpriugus In ordering this movement
iho navy department IN not animated by
any purpose NJ yielding ~ the representa-
tlons or limitations that may have come
from the new Spanish minister. on the
contrary. the new squadron was brought
about by purely strategic conditions. al
though Il appears from the nature Of the
forcp so fir under orders to rendezvous
nt Hampton Roads that this strategic
move is ~ a defensive nature
Although the other ships tn boz added 10
he squadron have not yet been definitely
selected II &, surmitcd that they Will in-
rluda some ~ the other hatucsh.ps az
Key West and the armorcj cruiser New
York. IN which case Admiral sicard Il is
believed. will comnand the new forces.
IN tho plhcc of the New York the people
VI koy West will look upon the grim
outlines II the big monitor Puritan. sup
poredly the most powerful ship IN smooth
water IN the world she'will have 90 as
slst hei On guard the monitor Mhntono-
moh and the monitor Amphritlte
Hampton Roads b. said TO be the best
strategic point on the Atlantic coast. II
Is almost centrally located and u squad
ron from that port can reach any portion
ol the coast IN short order Besides the
fccond-bcst navy yard In the country il
there and there h plenty Of the best coal
at Newport News. there rs easy water to
navigate. and finally the forts at Hampton
Roads may serve as base OF operations
In case Of need for protection. Remain
Ing az Key West after the departure OF
the Massachusetts, and Texas. Admiral
s,card viii siill have fleet OF his own
large In numbers. when the spectacle will
be presented OF feet and squadron
on one station. something not seen since
the ciyil war II is now said that It has
been definitely determined to bring the
battlcship Oregon around South America
to Key West.
The Spanish minister called at the state
department today and remained with
Judge Day something over an hour.
A scmi-oficlal statement given out at
Madrid advising IN, government, that
demand FOR indemnity based on Spanish
responsibility It may be supposed. would
be Indignantly rcpellcd by Spain. attracted
much Interest In official circles There
has been little doubt for some time that
Spain was preparing Tor the contingency
OF an adverse report by the American
court Of inquiry. and TO that end was
preparing 10 anticipate and offset II by
making clear the governments policy OF
standing by the report OF the Spanish
commission The report of the latter body
was due In Madrid yesterday. and while
Its conclusions are not officially known,
Il is forcgonc conclusion that 1t will
lind that the Maine disaster was due to
an accident, resulting In an internal eN-
ploslon.
Along with the Semi-oilicial statement
from Madrid that q demand for indemnity
win be Indignantly repelled is the further
statement from reliable sources that
Spain has made II clear to authorities !
here that intervention may lead to war.
The prospects NJ such intervention ap- |
pear to be seriously entertained by Spain !
and strong efforts have been made to |
avert It, by showing that the condition /
of the rccoNctntrados did rot warrant |
the step. and also that Il would threaten |
to end all prospects OF further pacific ne |
gotlations,
Roth governments have been sounding /
each other on the activity of the other /
In searching for ships, but there has been /
little ground for objection on either side I
as both have been In the same market,
The administration explains its buying OF
ships ON the ground that Spaip's attitude
has been 50 monacing as TO naturally /
,all for an augmented navy, while Spain
takes the same view, that the activity in
the United States requires suitable pre-.
purntion 10y the Spanish navy