Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-07
A POWERFUL FLEET.
The Flying Squadron Now Fully
Ready for Service.
A FORMIDABLE BODY OF WARSHIPS
of Engines and Fighting Quail
tiles 1t Excels the span-
ish Fleet.

Hampton Roads, Apr. s. The prac-
tical completion of flying squadron
of the American navy by the assign
r4ent of Commodore w. S. Schley to
t Ike charge is an epocn-making event
in the history of the present difficulty
No other action of this government
since the Maine disaster so actively
determines the fact that actual war
ire has been expected. The North
Atlantic squadron is always organ
lied and the appointment OF Captain
Sampson to its command is but the
atural sequence of the retirement OF
l,ear-Admiral olcard from active
duty. So, too, lne assignment OF
ships of war to that squadron or to
the Pacific squadron are but moves
toward the mobilization that might
occur at any time. But flying squad
rons are the direct outcome of dam
gerous conditions; are not necessities
Of standing navies in times of peace,
but are expeditions of an eXtraordi-
nary nature created only when the
government fully decides that there
is fear of attack, or that the time is
ripe for an attack from here. 1t is
therefore not only possible, but high
ly probable, that the new American
tving squadron has work cut out for
it.
The fleet practically gathered and
altogether proposed tnat will bear
Ihis euphonious title is one of the
most formidable that can be gather
ed together by any nation. Egotisti-
cally in favor of the United States as
that statement may appear, the facts
bear it out. In average rate of speed,
in armored protection, in caliber and
number of guns, and in fighting
quality and discipline of men, it can
he proven that the composition of this
lying squadron is superior, point Of
numbers being equal, to any organiza-
ton of like nature that can be
formed by foreign power.
When, on Monday morning last,
Commodore Schley raised his flag ON
the Brooklyn, evidence of an unmis-
taxable character was apparent that
every man, from stoker to command
ant, was not only fearless of battle,
but courted it and hoped it would
come. The small caliber gun that
fired the cOmmodore's salute with
blank cartridges sang out a high
pitched paen of welcome and peace.
But as the smoke blows by, in every
eye was the kindling spark of ven
geance for fellow seamen hurled to
death and the hope that the lannon's
tenor note might be changed to the
dreadful one of war. And if war
comes, wnat of this squadron?
w. S. Schley, commodore command
ing the fleet, is a well-built man OF
about 90 years of age, with a general
appearance denoting thoughtfulness
and diplomacy, coupled with certain
c-aracteristics which indicate force
of character and a quickness of ac-
ton. This man, as he treads the
captains bridge of the Brooklyn in a
naval uniform, or shakes hands with
you in the lobby of hotel in civilian
clothes, impresses you as the firm,
unyielding warrior-just the man to
take partial orders for flying squad
ron and conduct himself with credit
to his country.
In the makeup of the flying squad
ron speed and fighting qualities have
been considered. A summary of the
points in comparison with those of
the best boats that Spain can offer in
making up similar squadron fol-
lows: