The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-02
THE FLYING SQUADRON

VIII Remain Mt Hampton Roads for the
presen,-Any Movement South Would
he Looked on as Hostile by spain.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 1.-The
flying squadron is TO remain In Hamp-
ton Roads for the present at least. This
announcement was made late this after
noon by Secretary Long, and set at rest
the reports which had been current
throughout the day that a movement
! OF the squadron was imminent. The
secretary stated that the department be-
| llcved that the present rendezvous of
the squadron was the most available
one from which the ships under Com
modore Schley could operate In carrying
out the purpose for which 1t was form
i ed. that Is the protection OF the north
Atlantic seaboard. He added that no
orders had been Issued TO Commodore
Schley and that none were In immediate
contemplation.
In the various phases OF the situation
to-day the flying squadron stood out
prominently, both rs q centre OF public
interest IN connection with rumored or
ders for It's sailing from the Roads, and
as matter OF consideration by the de-
partmens. 1t is stated on reliable
authority that the department discuss
ell the question of ordering the ships to
sea. presumably though not officially so
stated, in connection with the approach
OF the Spanish torpedo fiotllla. which Is
now supposedly en- route for Porto Rico.
Spanish Torpedo Fioii!ln.
It has been an open secret for come
days that the naval authorities have
regarded the Spanish flotilla, which
has arrived at Porto Rico, with ap-
apprehension, and their feelings
IN this regard were strong enough
to call the matter to the attcn-
tion OF the authorities. After consider
Ing the matter, however, 1t was decided
that no orders would be issued looking
to movement OF the squadron. While
the decision Is understood TO have been
based primarily upon the fact that 1t
would he unwlse 10 remove the ships
from their present valuable strategic
| posl,Ion;s-yct IL is believed that dipIo-
matte consideration also had some
weight.
II was pointed out that the sending OF
the squadron in the direction OF the
| West Indies. even though its mission
| were not to intercept the tlotilla, would
| be regarded as 4 hostile act not war
| ranted by the present condition OF af-
fairs. 1t Is also understood that 1t was
| deemed wise not TO permit any move
ment OF the flying squadron whatever
just at present, as public interest being
| SO largely centered upon It, such n
movement would be liable to miscon-
structlon and give rise to rumors that
would tend only to aggravate the si,ua-
| ton.
The flying squadron will be completed
tomorrow with the arrival Of the Min
neapolis at Hampton Roads, and then
gathered In one command will be Assem-.
bled under Commodore Schlcy.
NnryI MIiiiir.
Supplementing the action taken yes
tcrday, by the navy department in re-
Questlns governors OF states to drill
and equip the naval militia SO rs to be
| ready for any emergency, Assistant
| Secretary Roosevelt to-day sent letters
10 the governors OF those sea coast
states not having such organizations to
take steps looking to the formation OF
naval militia 50 far as possible under
| the state laws. 1t Is hoped by the ma
val officials that each of these states will
be enabled 10 promptly acquiesce In the
| department. request and thus prepare
to assist In the naval auxiliary work.
Those coast states not having naval
militia organizations are Maine. New
Hampshire, Delaware, Texas and Ala
bama. The following Is copy of the
| letter sent to the officials of these states
which already have naval militia or
| ganiZ2tion3, the first one going to those
on the coast and the second 10 interior
states on the lakes:
'"The department requests that YOU
will Immediately proceed TO put, the ma
val militia Of your state In thorough
| condition 10 meet any sudden call for
| their services by the President of the
United States
"ThG divisions should be recruited 10
their full strength. y careful luspec.
! lion should be made OF all vessels In tho
| ports Of your state that can be- utilized
| for Il mosquito fleet In accordance with
instructions and blanks sent 10 the nd
| Jutant general.
'"rhc department requests that Won
| will Immediately proceed to put the M
| val militia OF your state in thorough
condition to meet any sudden call for
their services by the President of the
Gnitcd States
THE divisions should be recruited 10
their full strength and thoroughly
| drilled"
Late this afternoon the secretary of
| the navy received Il telegram from the
| adlutant general of Connecticut, stat
| Ing that the governor dircc,a him 10 no.
tiGy the department that the naval bat
talllon OF Connecticut Is in readiness
and Is awaiting orders from the Presi-
dent.
A CUBAH'S OPINION