The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-16
The Great White Ships Of the North Allan
tic Squadron.
LEAVE THIS MORNING FOR THE GULF
rhey Will 10 In Easy Rench OF Hava>
m, Should Consul General Lee
Need assn c huseits
Joins the fscct-a Powerful Array
Of Enttlrships.

The North Atlantic squadron will
weigh anchor and sail for the South
this morning about 10 o'clock. 1t was
ADMIRAL Slcard's intention to have
started yesterday with the flagship New
York and the battle ships Indiana and
Iowa. which have been anchored in
Hampton Roads for several weeks past,
The battle ship Massachusetts was to
nave joined the flag off Currituck on the
southern sea rendezvous. She left New
YORK on Friday and passed In the
cdpes at $40 o'clock yesterday after
noon, proceeding to Old Point where
she anchored in line with the rest of
the squadron. Her captain reported
10 Admiral Sicard Immediately after
ward, and was ordered to be prepared
10 moVe with the squadron when sig
| nailed.
The battle ship Texas left New York
yesterday and she will join the squad
ron OIL Cape Fear sea rendezvous.
me MafDlehead will not Join the
meet OF the FLORIDA coast hut viii
continue to cruise between Cane S,hIa
ana CuDa to keep filibusters from get
tinS beyond American waters. Tbo
second class battleship Maine. which
nae, aiso been engaged on this duty
VIII, however, join the suuad ron and
waters.
Just prior to the outbreak of Tho
Cuban rebellion Admiral Meade tbnn
IN command of the North Atlantic
squadron, was ordered to take his
SHIPS on cruise in the Caribbean
sea. That was the last time the en-
sign OIL an American Admiral has bee,
III III Hull waters. so anxious has
ms government been to preserve its
neutrality toward Spain and hor roA
belliOus colony.
The present Southern movement OF
me formidable fleet, commanded by
Ett'i,irai Slcard, is, therefore, regard.
ca &C, by naval officers as significant
Ihey 40 not mean to intimate, saw
such OF them as have guardedIy az
pressed their views, that the Govern
mcnt ever intended that Tho nnnt,s
destination should be Havana Sncb
actloh, in the absence of violent dis
oluers IN that city in view Of the pros
ent strained relation between the
ohlted states and Spain, would be re-
sarocd as virtually 4 declaration of
nostiilties and would be almost GER
"a IAN 10 precipitate conflict They
DO believe, however, and have no hnsj,
tation in saying that the fleets head.
quarters Tor the cruise, Dry Tortugas
ny, OH the extreme southern coast
ol florlda, was selected with a view
10 having the fleet within four or five
hours OF Havana, should Consul
Geheral Lee deem the presence of the
inen-oI-war necessary for the protec-
tlon OF Americans lives and property.
Inc torpedo boat fotilla is at pres
emit at Key West, and the torpedo
BOAT t'oote, which since her arrival
from New York. some weeks ago
When she rebuked her critics by her
line run down the coast has been w.
ing ut the Norfolk Navy-yard. left
yesterday afternoon to join the mos
quito fleet" rs the naval officers call
the hotilla. The Foote'S commander
made detailed inquiry at the Weather
Buronu regarding the state of wealth
er of Hattcras, with the result that
the Hoote took the inside route. she
ielt the yard about $3.50 o'clock and
made the run through the Albemarln
ana Chesapeake Canal in one hour and
forty minutes.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Coiumnla is laid up in ordinary and
'hat several other fine and fast crliis-
erS which were attached to the frat
SQUADRON OF evolution, under Admiral
Meade, arc now on other stations. the
flcet under Admiral Sicards command
VIII be the finest that ever followed
an American flagship IT is composed
OF battlcships Of the first class type,
mounting guns of the heaviest cali
bre known TO naval ordinance, and In
case of trouble ii will prove itself the
lnFincible armada Of the nnteenth
century.