The Portland daily press., 1898-03-26

White House the navy and war DEPART
ments were hurrying forward their work
of preparation. The advance of the Span
ish fotilla continued to receive the clos
est attention of naval officials and while,
so far as could be ascertained, no def
mite line Of action was determined upon,
the need of intercepting this fleet was
urged by the highest naval authorities.
From the standpoint of the Spanish
government this movement was not
menace having been decided upon many
weeks ago. On the contrary the Span
ish government holds that the exten-
siye armament of the Dry Tortugas IS
a more direct hostity against Spain
than any movement of the fiotilla. In
stesd OF stopping the fotilla, the present
action of Spain tends toward reinforcing
it with other Spanish vessels not as a
menace, but because of what the Spanish
government feels is II requirement. called
for by the existing condition of affairs.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach of the torpedo fiotilla was the in
formation received today that the Span
ish government had hurried to compile
tion extensive Notifications on the ISL
and of Porto Rico.
The orders issued by the navy depart
ment during the day covered every branch
of naval armament. The flying squad
ron was definitely established with Com
modore W. S. Sohley in command. He
will hoist his commodore's flag on the
flagship Brooklyn next Monday. The
squadron is to consist of exactly five
ships. Those. Of the squadron will be
the crack armored creiser Brooklyn,
the battleships Massachusetts and Texas
and the cruisers Columbia and Mime.
apolis. Other ships which are now or
hereafter at Hampton Roads will not be
of the flying squadron, but will belong
to the North Atlantic station under Capt.
Sampson. The flying squadron is to be
small compact feet of the best ships
in the navy for quick service at any point
along the Atlantic.
At the came time the North Atlantic
squadron station under Capt, Sampson
is to be further augmented The cruiser
Cincinnati, which left Port Antonio
three days ago under sealed orders. is to
report at Key West and become part
of Capt. Sampson's feet. The gunboat
Wilmington, also en- route from Port
Antonio, will likewise report to Capt.
Sampson at Key West as wel as the gun
boat Vlcksburg, now at Hampton Roads.
Late today the navy department gave out
the following lists of vessels as showing
the exact character of each fleet as it
stands today:
The following vessels compose the
North Atlantic squadron: New York,
Iowa, Indiana, Minntonomah, Fern,
Puritan, Terror, Marblehead, Montgom-
cry, Delaware, Castine, Nashville, Helena,
Wilmington, Vesuy ius, torpedo boats
Foote, Dupont, Erriccson, Cushing, Por-
ter. Winslow, tugs Leyden and Samoset.
The following vessels compose the fly
ing squadron: Ihe Brooklyn, MaSsa,
chusetts, Texas, Minneapolis and Column
bia,
Orders were issued to-day to have all the
warships painted black, p color that is
bctter adapted TO hostilities because the
vessels vii not afford as good q target.
The Navy Department was informed by
cabegram from Lieut.. Colwell, naval at
tache to the United States embassy at
| London that agents of this government
had purchased stSchischau" torpedo
| boat constructed for the German govern
| ment. Tho new acquisition is of the
general type of German torpedo boats and
| is regarded as "a valubale addition to our
| navy. One feature of getting her that
affords special qualification to the officials
of the Navy Department is that she is
now ready for sea 1t is expected that in
few days she will leave for the United
States. She will be able to make the
journey across the Atlantic without diff
Guilty as she is a good sea going vessel and
her coal capacity is ample for the trip
She is a twenty-three knot vessel and
about $50 feet long While of the same
general type as the Rodgers and Foote of
the United States navy she is a trifle
larger. The price paid for her the Navy
Department officials declined to state, but
it was said to be very reasonable. Work
on her has just been completed She
never has been in service. She is supposed
to carry three torpedo tubes and two
small calibre rapid fire guns. Nine to