The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-21
WAR SHIPS ABOUT BDBA|
View Of Cuban Troubles BY Our
Washington Correspondent.


description otfvesseIs of North Atlantic
Squadron aAd their Purpose in Cuban
waters armament of the Flag and
Battlesllps-Agitati alton of the Pension
ouessfon-New Set of Rules for Presen.
tstt6n Of Claims-Pe Pensioners Of sgyar et
SSIs Special Letter to the ..ehrsnieis.s;
Z Special correspondence the CHRONICLE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 49, Public in
terest has been aroused, unduly it
would seem, by the movement Of United
States naval vessels to southern waters.
This interest has been created as much
by the secrecy which has attended the
movement as by the movement itself.
Respecting this subject naval officer
who is in close touch with the Secretary
of the Navy said to your corres nondent:
s.It has been the custom Of the Navy
Department for years to drill the North
Atlantic squadron in evolutions and gun
practice in the gulf of Mexico during
the winter months. Two years ago,
however, the custom was temporarily
abandoned because of the internal
troubles in Cuba. President Cleveland
did not want TO make move which
might have BED b construed, no matter
how enormously, as an act of hostil-
6tFsagainst Spain. President Mckinley
&st SRring concluded that as the rebel
li0R wasAot likely to be suppressed inn
med4stelYit would be as well to take
precautions. Some of the most power
full vessels of our Navy. instead Of being
sent to the China seas, the South Pacific
and other foreign stations, were oFaere
to the New York yard for repairs.
Providentially, the dry dock was not
available I say sprovidentially' because
that fact afforded an excellent reason
for keeping the Iowa and the Massachu-
setts in the vicinity of New York.
s'Later in the year orders were issued
directing Admiral Sicard to prepare his
squadron for winter practice in theAG7nH
of Mexico. These orders were of co1gse
carried out. Now, it is safe to say that
if the policy of autonomy had been sue
cessfully and satisfactorily established IN
Cuba there would be no great gathering
of United States battleships and cruisers
| III tQ6 WdbClb AC01 O0O0s LUZ uuoSAAO@-s4
is far from being an accomplished fact.
On the contrary it is apparently q ~
failure. The recent riots in Hayan1
were expected, one might say, and
only wonder is that they were not mo-
serious than they turned out to be. 4
''The United States is prepared for
emergency that may arise in
Never before in all its history has "
country had such feet gathered tog q
er on the seas. The North Altar
squadron under the command of Rps
Admiral Sicard consist& sSge New YGhl
! (hagship) the Massachd ~ 6e Pms
tan, the Indiana, the IoWa Texas
the Maine, the Brooklyn, the T6frof
Montgomery, the Marblehead, the
inington, the Detroit, the Annapolis,
Nashville, the Fern and the VesuFius
ssThe flagship New York carries in Il
main battery six eight-inch breechlpadin
rifles and twelve four-inch rapid hrin
guns. The Indiana, Iowa and Massach
setts are designated as seagoing coastlif
battleships. Each is armed with fOu
thirteen-inch rifles, eight eight-inch AM
four six-inch. The Texas and the MainAf
1 are second class battleships. The forme
mounts two twelve-inch and six six-ind
rifles; the latter four ten-inch and
six-inch rifles. The Terror is also
heavily armed vessel. The others carr
high power but lighter metal. When
4 is remembered that thirteen-inch riff
will send steel shell weighing moi
than ton distance of thirteen miles
will be readily understood that Il
4 United States is prepared for any possib
emergency that may arise in Cuba.
ssThe department does not expect
emergency to arise which will requ
the hostile employment of the navy
4 Havana or any other point of Cuba.
preparations / have mentioned have b
i made because the administration rec
nizes that prevention is better than cT
They were going on all of last sum
and fail, though they have just attrs
public attention.
ssOf course if the facts which
cited for your information were
out Officially. there would be a
matte row at once. Minister De
would make pertinent Cor imperti s
it pleases you) inquiries at the st
partment and trouble might be
tated. AS it is, the United Sta
ply following its old time cuI Sms
porarily abandoned to avoid "a pos
controversary with Spain, of exercis
its vessels and its .jackies' in south
waters during the winter season. Blu
is fact that the United States never
fore had such fleet to exercise nor 81
crews to manipulate the ships and g9
This is neither an accident nor a
dence. 1t is the result of della
plan and Of very wise policy.
-
The general agitation of the pee
question has led to the adoption b,