The Portland daily press., 1898-03-18
new, SQUADRON FORMING.
Vessels Ordered to Assemble at
Hampton Roads.
THE MOVE BELIEVED TO BE OF A
DEFENSIVE NATURE.

spain-Other Naval Movements
Spanish Minister Closeted With
Secretary Day Yesterday.
Washington, March 17.--The event of
the day in official circles was the issue of
an order for the formation of a new
squadron of naval vessels to be stationed
at Hampton Roads. The squadron in the
beginning will consist Of five ships, all
the best of their types. Two of them, the
battleships Massachusetts and Texas are
withdrawn from the present North At
lantic fleet al Key West and Torrugas. 1t
would be grave mistake to suppose that
in ordering this movement the navy de-
partment is animated by any purpose of
yielding to representations or intimations
that may have come from the Spanish
minister as to the mischief caused by the
gathering Of so large naval force as Ad-
miral Sicard' 8 fleet in the vicinity Of
Cuba. On the contrary the formation OF
the new squadron was brought about by
purely strategic considerations, although
it appears from the nature of the force so
far under orders to rendezvous at Hamp.
ton Roads that this strategy Is Of the de-
fensive nature.
The new squadron cannot be called
"Flying Squadron because the associa
tion of heavy battleships with fleet
cruisers like the Brooklyn, Columtia and
Minneapolis reduces the available speed
OF the whole to the speed of the sloWest
vessel and the squadron could not 90
| much flying" in the naval sense. Ihe
| indications rather are that when rein
| forced by some cruisers the squadron will
constitute an ideal naval defense. For
| the past two months influences have been
at work in the navy department to bring
about this change. Although the other
| ships to be added to the squadron have
nos yet been definitely selected, it is sur
missed that they will include some of the
other battleships at Key West and the
armed cruiser New York, in which case
Admiral Sicard, it is believed, will COM
mand the new forces. In the place OF the
cruiser New York the people of Key West
will look upon the grim outlines OF the
| big monitor Puritan, supposedly the
most powerful ship in smooth water in
tho world. She will have to assist her on
guard duty the double turreted monitor
Miantonomah and the monitor Amphi-
trite
The Puritan is now at Norfolk almost
ready for sea the Miantonomah is at
League island quite ready and so is the
Amplfitriue at Port Royal, S. C.,; so the
order win In the end result in the gather
ing of the pick Of tho North Atlantic
squadron at Hampton Roads. The point
| Is said to be the best strategical one on
the Atlantic coast. 1t is almost centrally
located and the ships from that point can
reach any portion of the coast In short
order, which is regarded as desirable.
since no one can tell just where totllta
of torpedo destroyers or fast cruiser
may turn up with intent to attack Q
town. Besides the second best navy yard
| in the country Is there to fall back 1pon
for repairs TO The ships, there is plenty of
the best coal at Newport News; there Is
easy water to navigate and finally the
forts at Hampton Roads may serve as a
base OF operations in case of need for pro-
| lection. It is announced that the COM
mapder of the new squadron had not yet
been selected and pending that seiectlon
or the arrival in port of Admiral Slcard
1t is expected that Captain Higginson,
the commander of the battleship Massa-
| chusetts and the senior officer will hold
command of tine squadron.
Remaining at Key West after the de-
parture of the Massachusetts, and the
Texas, Admiral Sicard will still have q
1 uoch OI us OWu Ill VIVA oAAS
spectacle will be presented of fleet and a
squadron on one station, something not
seen since the civil war. The monitors
| which it is designed to send to Key west
are said to be we'll fitted for the service.
Owing to their light draught OF from
fifteen to sixteen feet they will be able to
navigate safely the shallow waters of the
Florida coast and will not be obliged,
like the Iowa, to lie six miles out to sea
from Key West to secure enough water
under her keel.
The eunboat Helena reported to the de.
pertinent that she had sailed from Fun
chal for Madeira for Key West 1t is now
said that it has been determined to bring
the battleship Oregon around South
America to Key West The navy depart
ment has issued orders that such trial as
may be made of the new torpedo boat
Rodgers shall take place while the boat is
under way saturday next from Baltimore
to Norfolk. She also will go southWard
to join the fleet at Key West. Ihe
Columbia and Minneapolis are still each d
EGO men short nr their full quota, but it
is expected that enough men will be
secured in the course of u few days to en-
able the ships to be sent to Hampton
Roads. The naval recruiting officers in
the South are meeting with success at
New Orleans. Yesterday they secured
forty men professionally fitted for the
navy.
The Spanish minister called at the state
department at three O'Clock and remained
with Judge Day over an hour. Both
parties to the conference were extremely
reserved at its conclus on. 1t is under
stood, however, that it developed no new
phases, but was general talk in which
pacific assurances were exchanged. Al
that time the naval orders taking the
Texas and Massachusetts, from Key West
and assigning them to the feet at Hamp,
ton Roads were not known at the state
department 80 that the minister was not
officially informed of the fact he heard
of it later, however, and was much graft,
fled as the strengthening OF the American
feet at Key West has been the source OF
grave apprehension by the Spanish gov
ernment.
The semi-official statement given out al
Madrid, advancing the government We"
that demand for indemnity paseo OF
Spanish responsibility for the maine e1
plosion would be Indignantly repellea ny
Spain attracted much attention IN oIIlcla
circles here. There has been little oouo,
for some time that Spain was preparing
for tho contingency of an adverse repor
by the American court of inquiry ,ine
; was preparing to offset it by making cleal
the government policy of standing ny wv