The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26

Purchase of Torpedo Boat An
nOunced-The s'FIyIng SQUADRON


nOunced-The Flying Squadron.
WASHINGTON. March 25-The Navy
Department was to-day informed by cable
gram from Lieutenant ColweIl, naval at
tache to the United States embassy at
London, that agents of this government had
purchased a ''Schischau" torpedo boat that
had been constructed for the German gov
errInent. The new acquisition is of the
Seperal type of German torpedo boats, and
IS regarded as a valuable addition to our
navy One feature regarding her that af-
fords special qualification to the officials of
Inc Navy Department is that she is now
ready for sea. IT is expected that in few
days she will leave for the United States.
She will be able 20 make the journey across
the Atlantic without difficulty, as she is a
good sea-going vessel and her coal capacity
is ample for the trip to this country She
Is a twenty-three- knot vessel and about $50
feet long. While of the same general tyne
as the Rodgers and Foote, of the United
states navy, she Is triAe larger. At the
Navy Department the precise dimensions of
the rev boat could not be given. The price
paid for her the naval officials declined at
this time to state, but it was said to be
very reasonable. Work on the vessel has
just been completed. She never has been
in service. She is supposed to carry three
torpedo tubes and two small calibre rapid
IRE guns. Nine to twelve men will be need
ed to man her.
Lieutenant ColwelI, at London, has been
directed by the Navy Department 10 urge
the builders of the recently purchased
cruiser Albany. formerly the Brazilian yes
sci Abrouall, to hasten the construction of
the ship with all possible speed. In the or
binary course of work the vessel would not
be completed before next December but it
is believed by officials of the Navy Depart
ment that if the builders are placed under
pressure she can be made ready for sea
within three months, and perhaps in little
less time
Interest bordering on concern is mani
Tested. among officials of the navy in the
movement of the Spanish fleet of torpedo
boats from the Canaries to Porto Rico. The
hotilla is one of the most formidable of it's
kind, and the sending of it to the West
Indies at this time is regarded as an in
dication of Spains endeavor to be prepared
for any emergency that may arise in or
near Cuban waters. Naval experts are of
opinion that under ordinary circumstances
1t will take the fiotilla about ten days to
make the journey from the Canaries to
Porto Rico, but it is exceedingly likely that
it will actually require several days longer
The liability of the boats to accident is
great. particularly if they should encounter
rough weather. Then, too, If they should
be accompanied by collier the speed of
the fleet would be reduced to that of the
coal boat.
Speaking OF the movement of the hotila
one of the naval officials compared the
torpedo boats to racchorses trained to a
nicely. They are keyed up tc a high pitch
for short, sharp and decisive work, and II
overtaxed are liable to break down. While
the fiotilla might make the trip to Porto
Rico in ten days in order to do SO abso-
lutely smooth water would have to be in
slred through the passage.
1t is understood to-day that some CORE
spondence with Spain through Minister Polo
concerning the movements of the torpedo
boat flotilla is not unlikely. The statements
made yesterday to the effect that this gov
eminent might regard the sending of the
fotilla to West Indian waters as an act
unfriendly to the United States, inasmuch
as it was evident that the boats were not
Intended for use against the Cuban insur-
gents, and, as a matter of fact, could be
employed only against hostile fleet of
war ships, were accentuated to-day, but
what representations, if any, will be made
10 OpdlI CdIliOL % RESERVE Do-
ing maintained on this point.
In this conclusion, the announcement
made last evening that the Navy Depart
ment had under consideration, and, indeed,
had practically concluded the purchase of
several fast yachts, which it is proposed to
transform into torpedo boats, is not viewed
with entire favor by naval men. The vessels
the department has in view have speed
rate ranging from sixten to twenty knots,
while specially designed torpedo boats have
a speed of from twenty-four to thirty
knots As against regular torpedo boats,
the fleet Of ''makeshifts," as the proposed
purchases OF the government were termed
by a naval official, would cut a compare
lively small figure. In the absence of any
thing better, however, it was conceded that
the vessels, if acquired by the government,
would prove of distinctive value.
PUERTO RICO TO BE FORTIFIED.
Word reaches the Navy Department Off
Gals to-day that the Spanish authorities
have taken steps to supplement the exist
ing Notifications at San Juan de Puerto
Rico, the main port of the island OF Porto
: Rico. The news is regarded significant.
Porto Rico is the only possession which be-
longs to the Spanish government On this
hemisphere besides Cuba The officials of
the department, while acknowledging that
information of the foregoing character has
reached them, are yet very chary about
imparting any of the details to the press.
The city of Puerto Rico is fortified after
the old style prevalent in early days, the
defenses consisting of wall, which COM
pletely encircles 1t, of several forts at
strategic points, while the only points of
egress and ingress are through massive
gates. These fortifcations are being
strengthened and the armament has been
increased by two large guns of formidable
pattern and calibre. San Juan has 2S,4l4 in
lhabtants.
The only naval movement reported to the
Navy Department to-day was the departure
of the tug Leyden from the League Island
navy yard for Key West. This tug is one of
the larger vessels OF that description in
the navy, is of $50 tons displacement and
has an indicated horsepower of 340 Boats
of this character are valuable for carrying
dispatches between ships of the fleet and
for transporting freight. and 1t is supposed
she will be used for such purposes by Cap
tain Sampson.
The Navy Department has taken active
steps to utilize the naval militia OF the New
England States and of New York in man
ming the old single-turreted monitors re-
Gently called into service. To that end
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt wrote some
days ago to the heads of the naval militia
and Naur XorIx