The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-16
Washington Bureau St. Paul Giobs, I
CorcoFaa Building.
Special to The st. Paul Globe.

Special to The st. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-Confirma-
ton has been received today from
semi-offic' al source of the formation
of a new flying squadron, for possible
attack on the Spanish coast. Accord
ing to a naval attache the mobilization
of wsrships in Hampton Roads is for
no other reason than that g,v5n above.
The ravy depaI tment IS believed to
be considering two plans for the pro-
posed dash across the ocean; one be-
ing TO send q sQrairon Of fss! ships,
with larSe cCal-carIyng capacity only
for sooJ ting purposes, and he ether be
ing to dispatch one squadron ahead,
comps of the feetest ships and best
fighters amCng the cru Sc. class. and to
follow lis with second squadron,
probably composed of two battleshpS,
a number of coli rs and several of the
cruisers with lighter coal capacity.
The first plan, of course, would be
solely for the purpose of having good
ships i'll Spanish waters to keep watch
on the reserve armada. The idea of
adopting the second plan would be to
dispatch the swifter cru Ssrs ahead, for
the purpose of fixing the position of the
Spanish ships, in order that the second
and mere formidable fleet might en-
gage the enemy in its own waters if
coca SIGN Permitted.
The Spanish reserve fleet" sid tie
officer referred to, lis in as good con-
Gltion today as it ever will be, and the
reports coming from Madrid about de-
lays in repairs and shortness of am
munition are all excuses to gain time.
Spain will never send her reserve fleet
to swallow CeTV5ra'S GoSe, and the gov
eminent knows 1t. We have got to go
after them, and from the plans now on
foot it looks as if that would soon be
doEe."
When asked about the statement
that the Newark or the Cincinnati
would he the flagship Of this squadron,
the naval attache laughed and said
that no commodore would go out on
a ship that could carry only 800 or 400
tons of coal when others of better class
Were available.
He confirmed the news to the effect
that Commodore Schley will probably
be the man selected to go on this bold
and hazardous voyage, which is likely
to startle the whole world for audacity
of purpose. The Brooklyn or the New,
York will be the flagship of the squad
ron. In case the presence of both these
ships is required in Cuban waters,
then the Minneapolis or the Columbia,
each of which can carry 1,S00 tons of
coal in its bunkerS to say nothing of
what it can handle in other ways, will
be selected as agship of the squad
ron.
According to information received
from several sources it is not likely
that the Newark, the Cincinnati and
the San Francisco will be assigned to
the flying squadron, for the reason
that not one of them can carry over
500 tons of coal.
1t can he stated on good authority
that this squadron, if the department.
decides to send it across the ocean, will
be made up. in part of the following
cruisers: The Brooklyn or the New
York, probably both, in which event
the Brooklyn would be the flagship;
the Minneapolis ard the Columbia, the
St. Paul. the st. Louis, the Yale and
the Harvard. With Cervera's feet out
o. the way, all of these ships can be
spared, and they are just the ones to
send on long dash, as everyone of
them is rated above twenty-one knots.
Any delay on Spain's part in moving
its reserve fleet is likely to cause the
formation Of reinforcing squadron, to
be composed of two such battteships-
as the Oregon and the Texas, num-
Der of Golfers and probably several
more cruisers.
This statement is based upon inter
views with naval officers, and is known
to be tie idea considered by the depart
ment and Endorsed by strategists.
a significant fact in connection with
the proposed squadron is the presence
in Hampton Roads now of four col
liers and several coal schooners. The
latter are the Alexander, the Evelyn,
the Southery and the City of Macon.
News leaked out today that the Buff
falo may not be added to the navy
Repair work On her has been delayed
Until board of inspection can deter
mine whether or not the ship is in q
worse condition than represented by
Flint & Co, of Norfolk, who purchased
the Nictheroy from the Brazilian gov
eminent for the United States It is
feared that her repairs may take longer
than was contemplated. in which event
the government viii not take the YES
sci off Flint's hands.