New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
MAY BE A NEW SQUADRON.
NEW WARSHIPS NEARLY READY IN
HAMPTON ROADS.


states Government, is now full-hedged war
.,p. and she babe farewell to the shpyard at
daybreak this morning dropping down to Old
Point Comfort and anchorng off the ramparts Of
Fort Monroe
Next 10 the St. Paul. the Yosemite and her sis
ter ship the Dixie. will be the most powerful Of
the auxiliary cruisers Of the Navy.
The Yosemite carries twelve modern B.
inch guns. ten modern G-pounders and four
rapid-hre rifles The Dixie carries the same
number Of guns. but In the place Of 5-inch guns
,he has those OF 6-inch calibre, thereby being
really more formidable ship than the Yosem-
tie The Yosemite is now anchored short dis
lance from the New Orleans. BY the latter
mart o. the week the Dixie will also be at Old
Point
NEW SQUADRON NAY BE FORMED.
The Columbia Is expected to put in an appear
,rce IN the vicinity of the Virginia Capes in
day or two, and when these four ships. all good
Aghters OF their class. and speedy. are within
speaklng distance there will be formed another
separate and distinct squadron for the Middle
Atlantic Coast defence. If the information re-
ceived by The Tribune correspondent tonight
from naval attache is substantiated by subse-
quent events. all indications, at present at least.
pont to the formation Of fifth United States
squadron.
Commander Emery Of the Yosemite this morn
ing reported to Captain Folger on the New-Or-
leans and this looks much though there is
already some understanding as to organization
II Is known now that the Yosemite is expected
10 remain in this vicinity until the Dixie Is
ready She will proceed to sea every day TO test
her guns and give the Michigan Naval Reserves
opportunity to become acquainted with the han
ding Of their ship.
When the Dixie arrives at Old Point Comfort
Commander Davis will also report to Captain
Folger. But II the Columbia comes in and the
Mid-Atlantic Squadron is formed. then Captain
Sands will be the ranking officer
BETTER COAST PROTECTION WANTED.
Great pressure is being brought TO have the
coast between Delaware Breakwater and Hat
teras or Charleston better protected, and there
Il little reason TO doubt that the formation or
the new squadron is being considered. II not
already determined upon. II this quartet OF
ships is grouped In one command Hampton
Roads will see little OF them in the future as
they will surely be sent out to patrol the coast
The residents of this section Of Virginia can be
assured. however. according TO the statement
Of the naval officer that one ship VIII always
be stationed within haing distance or Capes
Henry and Charles in order to give the alarm
10 Fort Monroe anu tne HllHc VRVt"NV'" ~ 49,"
advance Of an enemy's ship
Another report comes here tonight that cape
Henry has sighted a warship lowering around
IN the vicinity of the Capes. II IS possible that
This vesse, is the Columbia but the report states
nothing as TO the number of stacks the snip
carries 1t Is possible. also. that this snip IS
the same reported by the Kitty Hawk en- -
ightkeeper, as passing northward. although the
vessel sighted this morning was making TO the
south.
The only vessels Of which Commandant Fara-
ouer Of the Navy Yard. has received notiIca-
ton to be in readiness TO repair at any time are
cha crpiser Cincinnati and the Inflated torpedo
boat wfnslow Neither OF these as FAR as can
no learned. has started northward. Comrno-
dore Farao,,er would have been notified 1f so.
7, "a evident. however. that none OF the ships
,enorted are hostile otherwise the New-Orleans
and Yosemite would not be lying calmly at
anchor.
NEWARK NOT READY.
The reports about the splendidly protecteo
cruiser Newark being completed IN tlHe 10 30
in service the latter part Of this week are er-
roneous The Newark cannot possibly leave the
NAVY Yard this month The force has been al
work converting the tugboats ana yach's since
The outbreak Of hostilities, and the DIG sister
chin NJ the San Francisco had to be neglected
Newark can be commissioned, but VIII not De
readv for sea before the first week in June
According to an official Of the yard the stories
.hou. tho Newark being assigned as flagship OF
the hIockading SQUADRON off Havana are mere
ejaculation. The events Of the next three weeks
ore likely to make a better place for modern
twenty-kn knot fighter
Chief Draughtsman ]. W. bianKehship' "'o
has been stationed at the shlpydIu io' ''o '"'
three years. and who has been appointed an
ensign In the Navy. started for New-horh To-
dav 10 report for duty on one OF the shps VI INC
natrol SQUADRON Blankenship Is a graduate Oh
the Academy and after leaving Annapohs oi''!
.o-,ed three wears in the Navy on account Of an
attack OF yellow fever. Because ne hau "''
served four years he could not be appointed
lieutenant.
H. W. Moseley. who has been for the last
,u.ertv vears a resident Of the island OF CUBA
living nearly all Of that time in Havana. Is reg
,s,ered At the Barnes Hotel where he was seen
this morning by The Tribune correspondents
MIR Moseley left Key West last Wednesday On
the steamship Evaline. which reached -Noiio'"
yesterday lie greatly surprised 'h's iio'
ing by the announcement that Charles lh'ai'
correspondent, had been arrested ana throw"
into cabanas fortress The two men are BOSOM
friends having met In Havana long Defore inc
beginning Of hostilities. Moseley fears ina. 'i''
friend will never leave Cabanas prison aH'o'
knowing as he does the policy OF the oH0i"'''
HAVANA BETTER DEFENDED.
Mr. Moseey says that in his Judgment iia-
yana could have been much more easily 'ahe"
three weeks ago than at this time Then ie"
shots from American battie-ships wouid nave
been sufficient for the destruction or the ~"
perfect defences erected on the coast hut II 70
not so now. The Spanards nave ut'iHeo III,
opportunity afforded them TO tortiy 'ne se'ei%'
points AZ which IL is possible to land troops
and have also planted powerful batteries across
the island 10 repel any advance upon havana.