The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-14
BATTLESHIPS
SENT TO HAVANA
Recent Outbreaks Show the Necessity
of Some Protection Against the
Turbulent Element.

NORFOLK, VA, Dec. 13-Speeial.-The
Battleship Texas. which lies tonight on
Fort Monroe, has received imperative
orders to sail for Havana.
The ship has been coaled, extra am
munition in quantity has been taken on,
and she will sail at day break tomorrow
morning.
The fact that the Texas, sister ship OF
the Maine, should go to Havana COM
manded as was the former by Captain
Sigsbee, has been commented upon by
naval men here. The Texas flies Com
modore Philips pennant. and he, It is
expected, will 90 TO Havana aboard her.
lit is reported here that the Cruiser
Brooklyn, Auxiliary Cruiser Resolute,
and Gunboat Castine have also been or
dered to sail for Havana.
DANGEROUS GALES
The government tugs Olympia. Adoiis.
Eugene GrasseHi and Watson. which
passed down the coast yesterday on their
way. IL is believed To Porto Rico, were
reported tonight by the United States
Weather Bureau here 10 have put into
OcracOke Inlet, North Carolina. to escape
the gale prevailing off this coast to-day
The wind at one time attained a velocity
of forty miles an hour and the tugs were
in imminent danger of going 10 the bot
tom.
The Watson is leaking and in distress.
The hotila is lying at anchor In Ocra-
coke harbOr tonight.
The Collier Cass!us arrived at Old
Point to-day. She will come up TO the
Norfolk Navy Yard and be placed out OF
commission while her machinery Is be
nV0rEanfan
made.
(By Associatd Press)
WASHINGTON. Dec. I3-The Brook
lyn, Texas, Castine and Resolute have
been orderd TO Havana.
While there Is not the faintest desire
TO convey a threat in the dispatch Of
these warships 10 Havana. u may be noted
that when they lie within the harbor
they will houd the town in perfect SUBJ
lection. IL is surmsed that the sugges-
ton came from Admiral Sampson. who
is now In one OF the suburbs OF Ha-
vana, as a result OF the unfortunate
eruption OF Sunday night at the Hotel
Ingleterra.
At any rate. the event brought the au-
thorties TO a sudden realization OF the
exact state of affairs in Havana and the
imminent danger OF another such out
break, which might run into the proper
tions OF riot and cost many innocent
lives.
PROJECTION NEEDED.
With only a small force OF American
soldiers In Havana Province, and those
removed at such a distance from the city
as 20 make II difficult OF access 10 make
them OF service In time OF trouble the
necessity for some protection was APP
parent To increase the number OF sol
diers materially is not easy in View OF
the difficulty Of transporting them ~
well as providing for them when they
reach Cuba, but the navy's motto Is now.
as always, Ready" and II was decided
to hasten the ships named 70 Havana
to form a formidable bulwark against
any anarchis;ic outbreak OF any nature
before the completion OF American oc-
cupation OF the city.
A STRONG COMBINATION.
Tho Texas Is a fuli-fledget armored
battieship and will stand good deal of
pounding even from the heaviest fortif-
cations: the Brooklyn. with her pro-
tected system. lean be rated as even bet
ter than the New York OF the same type.
The Castine Is an efficient though small
gunboat. and the Reso)ute Is a trans
formed merchantmen with battery large
enough to make her formidable.