The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-18
A SQUADRON AT
HAMPTON ROADS.
New and Formidable One
to Be Created.
THE TEXAS TO BE ONE
ne +bo Chine Withdrawn From North
OF the Ships Withdrawn From North
Atlantic Squadron,
THE COMMANDER NOT SELECTED
Nor Has the Designation Been Decided
Upon-Will " NJt BE What isTechni-
cally known rs Flying Squad
ron, But viii BE Able TO
Protect the Atlantic
Coast--No Yielding.

MASHlNGlON, MdEcn Lille cNtuN
Of the day in official circles was the issue.
of an order for the formation Of new
squadron OF naval vessels to be stationed
az Hampton Roads. The squadron In the
beginning will consist OF four ships. all
the best OF their types. Two Of them,
the battleships Massachusetts and Tex
as. are withdrawn from the present North
Atlantic squadron az Key West and Tor
.tugas.
II would be a grave mistake to suppose
that i'm ordering this movement the Navy
Department Is animated by any purpose
of yielding 10 representations or intima-
tions that may come from the Spanish
Minister as to the mischief caused by
the gathering Of so large naval force
as Admiral Slcards fleet in the vicinity
OF Cuba. On the contrary, the formation
Of the new squadron was brought about
by purely strategic considerations, al
though it appears in the nature OF the
force so far under orders 10 rendezvous
at Hampton Roads. that this strategy is
OF a defensive nature.
THE DESIGNATION.
The new squadron cannot be called a
flying squadron" because OF the asso-
citation of heavy batteships with fleet
cruisers like tho Brooklyn, Columbia and
Minnea POLLS are designed and the squad
ron could not do much flying In the
naval sense The indications rather are
that when reinforced by some smaller
cruisers. the squadron will constitute an
ideal naval defence.
For the past two months influences
have been at work in the Navy Depart
ment 10 bring about this change and as a
policy board headed by Captain Crown
inshed has been in frequent session Of
late at the Department. II Is believed that
It has endorsed the plan at last. All the
ships OF this squadron have not yet been
definitely settled. but IL is concluded that
IL will include some OF the other battle
ships at Key West and he cruiser New
York. in which case Admiral Sicard. IL is
believed. viii command the new force.
In place Of the cruiser New York the
people Of Key West will look upon the
grim outline Of the monitor Puritan. the
most formidable ship in smooth water
] In the whole world. She will have 10 as
sist her vanguard the double turreted
monitor Mlantonomah. So the order In
| the end will result in the gathering OF the
| pick of the North Atlantic squadron at
| Hampton Roads.
The point is said to he the best strate.
| gcally on the Atlantic coast IL Is al
| most 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
| a fotilla OF torpedo destroyers or fast
cruiser may turn up with hostile intent
| to attack a town. Beside, the second best
| navy yard In the country is there to fall
| back upon for repairs There is easy wa
ter to navigate and finally the forts at
| Hampton Roads may serve as a base OF
| operations In case OF need for protection.
| These are the considerations which ami
mated the Navy Department in making
! this new order
| COMMANDER NOT SELECTED.
II is announced that the commander Of
the new squadron has not yet been select
| e. and, pending that selection or the
arrival IN port OF Admiral Sicard, 1t Is
said that Captain Higginson. the com
| mander Of the battieship Massachusetts.
| and the senior officer will hold the COM
| mand Of the squadron.
| Remaining at Key West after the de-
| parture Of tho Massachusetts, and the
| Texas, Admiral Sicard will still have a
| feet OF his own in numbers, when the
spectacle will be presented of a fleet and
a squadron on one station, something not
seen since the civil war.
The monitors. which it is designed TO
send 10 Key West. are said 10 be well
fitted for the service. Owing TO the light
| draught Of from fifteen 10 sixteen feet.
| they viii 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 at sea from Key West TO
secure enough water under the keel.
The gunboat Helena reported TO the De-
| partment that she had sailed to-day from
| Funchal Madeira. for Key West to join
| the squadron. IL is now said that II mas
| been definitely determined 10 bring the
battloship Oregon around South Ameri-
| ca 10 Key West. The Navy Department
| 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 10
| Norfolk She also will go southwark 10
| join the fotilla at Key West
| The Columbia anG Minneapolis are still
| each ae0 men short OF their full quota, but
| Il Is said that enough men will be secured
In the course OF a few days TO enable the
ships 10 be sent TO Hampton Roads to ex-
ecute the orders issued to-day.
| The naval recruiting officers are meet
! ing with success at New Orleans. Yester-
day they secured forty men who were
professionally tilted for the navy.
49,