The record-union., 1898-03-26

Departments were hurrying forward
their work of preparations. The ad-
vance of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla
continued to receive the closest atten-
ton of naval officials, and while SO far
as could be ascertained no definite line
Of action was determined upon, the
need Of intereepting this fleet was urg-
ed 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
Spanish Government holds that the eX-
tensive armament of the Dry Tortugas
is mere direct hostile act against
Spain than any movement of the flo-
tilla. Instead of stopping the fiotilla,
the present attitude of Spain tends to-
ward reinforcing it with other Spanish
war vessels, not as a menace, but from
what the Spanish Government feels is
a requirement called for by the exist
ing condition Of affairs.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach of the torpedo flotilla was the
information received to-day by the
highest military authorities that the
Spanish Government had hurried to
completion extensive Notifications on
the Island of Porto Rico, lying just off
Cuba, and the only Spanish possession
in this hemisphere other than Cuba.
The exact character of these new de-
lenses has been made known here, and
they are being given weight with the
military authorities as showing the dis
position of Spain.
FLYING SQUADRON.
The instructions issued by the Navy
Department during the day covered ev-
cry branch of naval armament The
flying squadron" was definitely estab-
lished, with Commodore Schley in COM
mand. He will hoist his Commodores
fag on the flagship Brooklyn next Mon
day. The squadron is to consist Of ex
actly five ships, despite conjectures as
Those of the squadron will be the
crack armored cruisers 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 viii be-
long to the North Atlantic station, I'M
der Captain Sampson. The flying
squadron is to be a small, compact
fleet of the best ships Of the navy, for
quick service at any point along the
Atlantic
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
At the same time the North Atlantic
station, under Captain 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 a
part of Captain SIMPSONS fleet. The
gunboat Wilmingto also en- route from
Port Antonio, will likewise report to
Captain Sampson at Key West, as well
as the gunboat Vicksburg, now at
Hampton Reads.
CHARACTER OF EACH FLEET.
Late to-day the Navy Department
gave out the following list of vessels
as showing the exact character of each
fleet as it stands to-day:
The following vessels compose the
North Atlantic squadron: New York
Iowa, Indiana, Miantonomah, Fern,
Puritan, Terror, Marblehead, Mont
gomery, Castine Nashville, Helena,
Wilmington ,Vesuvius, torpedo boats
Foote, Dupont, Ericsson, Gushing, Por
ter, Winslow, tugs Leyden and Samo-
set.
The following vessels comprise the
flying squadron: Brooklyn, Massa-
chusetts, Texas, Minneapolis and Co
lumbia"
GUNS FOR NAVAL CUTTERS.
Some of the other more important
developments of the day may be sum-
married. as follows:
acquisitions were made on the Naval
Ordnance Bureau for a large number
of quick fire four FOUNDER and six
FOUNDER guns to be mounted on the
revenue cutters and the steam yachts
about to be purchased. The bureau de-
cided to use the quick fire guns for
these craft. which had been originally
intended for the Atlantic liners St. Paul
and St Louis.
NAVAL COALING STATION.
Captain Bradford, Chief of Naval
Equipment, completed plans for secur-
ing a naval coaling station in waters
south of Cuba, and the papers are now
ready for final action. The station
viii not be on NaVassa Island, as has
been suggested, but is likely to be at
one Of several of the fine harbors
of Hayti or San Domingo, or else on
the Danish island of ST Thomas. which
is open to purchase fyom Denmark for
a considerable sum.
BATTLESH1P TEXAS.
Late to-day the battleship Texas was
expected from Hampton Roads at the
navy yard to receive her machinery
for hosting ammunition and guns.
NAVAL MILITIA.
Favorable answers were received
from the Nav YorLx naval militia of