The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-01
PLANS FOR THE
WHITE SQUADRON
How the Ships 10 Uncle Sans Navy
Will BE Placed.
PROTECTION FOR THE PACIFIC
Monterey oa the uad Oregon 10 san
francisco TIE RIyins Squadron for
Spanish Ksters-Coal 0nsstion.

New York. Feb. &.-It has been decided
by tho navy department TO keep on the
Pacific coast the full force OF naval YES
sells now there. says the Warrington cor
respondent OF the Herald. The depart
inent officials recognize the fact that the
strength OF the North Atlantic squadron
would be greatly increased by attaching
the battloshlp oregon 10 Rear Admiral
slcard's command. But they appreciate
the danger OF leaving the Pacific coast
without assistance Just as they appreci-
ate the importance Of defending the ports
by the vessels Of the monitor type. There
are now stationed on the Pacific coast
the oregon. the coast defense vessels
Monterey and Monadnock. and the train
ing ship Adams. The oregon, which II at
Puget Sound, will be ordered 10 leave that
port and proceed 10 San Francisco harbor
and her place In northern waters VIII
probably be taken by the Monterey. The
department recently directed the Monad-
mock to be held In reserve. but the order
has not been carried out and the Will
probably be sent TO San DIEGO. Resides
these ships the department has at Homo
lulu the cruiser Baltimore and the gun
boat Remington No orders have been
issued for the return Of these vessels, IN
view os the aspirations OF the administra-
ton TO bring these Islands within Ameri-
can Jurisdiction. The cruiser Alert and
T the gunboat Marietta are IN Slcaraguar
I and Guatemalan waters respectively
These ships will be ordered 10 San ran
cisco II an emergency arises and viii hold
Z themselves In readiness for active service
I The department does not anticipate that q
! fleet will be sent 10 the Pacific coast. but
] there Is an expectation that detached ar
mored cruiser may be ordered around e
/ the Pacific to make a demonstration. On'
I OF the objects Of the department In secur
/ ing sufficient men to place the cruiser
Columbia and Minneapolis in commission
( is to attach them TO Rear A1niral Sic
ards command at Key West. With thes'
vessels in southern waters It viii be al
easy matter 10 have them Joined by tn
/ cruisers New York and Brooklyn and 4
send them to Spanish waters. probably
( Cadiz.
Authorities say that the Columbia
Minneapolis, the Brooklyn and the New
I York will be ideal ships to form a fiytnl
squadron. The Columbia and Minneapolis
have bunker capacities OF ls5O tons o
coal. the Brooklyn l750. the New York l2S
Their steaming radius is sufficiently larg'
to anable them 10 carry out the pro
gramme contemplated by the department
and so far as obtaining coal on the othei
side Is concerned. the authorities poin
out that while coal was a contrabaad o.
war during the rebellion. the ships OF th'
/ Union had no difficulty in getting iron
English merchants all they wanted.
The monitor Puritan which will be sta
toned near Hampton Roads to defend
Baltimore. Washington. Norfolk, an'
Richmond. viii have her repairs complet
ed the first OF next week. She aow ha'
a part OF her crew and Lieutenant-Com
mander ]. NJ Hawley is preparing th'
detail Of the men who will be assigned
to ill vacancies now existing or that ship