The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-18
HAMPTON ROADS FLEET
NQVy Department Orders Five Yes
sells 10 This Vicinity.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE INSPIRED THE kOVE
Tho Reads May Servo as n Hnsc of ssp.
erations in Cnsc of Need OF Protec-
tion-Thc Fleet Will Constitute IN
Ideal Naval DcIcnse-Who viii
Command tho Squadron.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE INSPIRED THE kOVE
Washington, d. c., March II, 1898.

washington, ID. c., March II, 1895.
The cre!t OF the day in official cir
cles was the issue cf an order for the
formation of a new squadron of naval
vessels, tto be stationed at Hampton
Roads The squadrorl in the beginning
VIII consist .uf five ships, all .he best
OF their type. Two of them-thc bat
tleships AEaSsa achusetts and TeXas-are
w1hdli2wn tr7m the present North At
aantic fleet at Key West and Tortugas.
1t would be a grave mistake to sup
pose that in ordering this movement
ahe Navy Department is animated by
amy purpose of yielding TO representa-
11-ms or i:timaa.ons that may have
come from the Spanish AItristcr. ,,s 10
tne mischief caused by the gathering
vi so large Il naval force as Admiral
SlcardS $ fleet in thc vicinity Of Cuba
on the conmury, the formation Of the
lieW squadron was brought about by
purely strategic considerations al
tnnuEh 1t %ppc!Ts from the nature of
Inc force so far mldcr orders to ron
acFous az Iampt1li Roads :hat this
strategy Is of the defensive nature
Inc new squadron cannot lyc called Il
hElnE squadrin." because the assa-r
clatl"h Oh heavy bnttlcships with fleea
II,
er'u Al!nno>i'I's. reduces thc availabhe
spcc%i OF the whole to the speed of the
sloWest vessel, and the squadron, could
Uoa d. much flying" in the naval
eenS':. The Indications rather are that
"hen reinforced by some smaller cruis-
ers' the squadron VIII constitute. An
IDEAL naval dcfCc.Se For the past twlN
moths influences have been al work I'm
me Navy DeiErtmeCt To bring about
thlS change, and as policy board
headed by Captain Crownins shield. has
hH"n III frcquu..t session Of late at the
department. II Is believed rilaIu il has
endorsed the plan at last Although
the Other ships ~ be added To The
sHuiii'sm fzwe rot yet been dcin itely
StSc'sd, Ii IS Surmisvl that they will
includG some of the other hat;lcships
al Key West and the armored cruiser
New York, In which case Admiral Si-
clr6, ii Is believed, will command the
new force. In place OF the cruiser New
1'rk. the people II Key West will look
upCr.' she grim uua!incS If the big moni-
tor puritan, supposedly the most DOW
erfui snip IN smooth water in the whole
world. She will have 10 assist her or
guard the doube-turrc;ad mcmitov
M!n";, = nomah and The monitor AM
phtrlte. The puriiIn Is now at Nor
fclk aln'rlt ready for sea- the Man
ronomah is az League Island quite
Teudy and 50 is the Amphitr!:.. at
Port Royal. S. G. $, the order n the
nic, nf ,,,, ~ -. ,''' Sn.n.'iS o. me
at u,r,, -, .t",''.N ,t Hau'f'' III
10 bn ~, h,s, .t,,.,,i,,,,i ~ '"'.'' - ,.a
la,-,,,n cS,s., ''N'''S VII i"e M
l. is iin,,,y, -.,,,r. ,,
shIrs frnn thn, ,,hin ~, .'',, :, W" ~. '''.
portion OF the coast in short order.
no 7na n,r, III inc, ,,.har S.a,,s
~ ,nrnedo dastr,,.ar c ',' ',
may ,urn IN u;p,h h,.,t,
slt ,alal5 ., town Ensidn.. ~ ,,,,
'b;st navy gard IN IN, cn,,u,r,. ,s ,hnrn
.to r,l. r,,.k ,no, -, nni - .
of tn. hest c1,, ts n, Nanr,,,,.+ E,r,,'.
therf. is easy W ,,,u. g., n,t.i.,, nn,
fl-aliv ,hc forts M II,mn,.5r pa,I.
NAV scry, os a has, Gr ons,,.,ls,, -,
ccl;e of ncIa f.r n,.,tnc,ion ,i,hs
are the corsid ,ra1ions wh;cr ,rim,,a
the NAVY Dtr,l.,m.nt IN n.,,.,in,, ne
n&w order II Is n,,nln,,ncnl ,r.,S,. a.,
commander Of ,hc nr;v snuadrmr hns
nc,t vet been Selccts,1 ana nnndirr ~,
selection or the arrival in nn,., ts A..
mi,,al Sicard II i. cyn,c.cd th,t O.
teiI-, Higgins or, IN. onmnandnr cf ~
blttL.,:hiu MtiE,s,chusftts AMI ,,a 60
io: officer. will hold the conu,.,lnd nf
the squadron. Remajning mt Kcv IVES.
afser the departure of ;hn NIass,Ir,mt
ssLs and the. TEXAS A.lmir,I eic,rd
will still hnv, n ncai Of his r,yr, IN
lMlmbens. when th,, spccnl,.In viii he