The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-19
SPLITTING UP THE SQUADRON.
PORT ROYAL TO BE THE RENDEZ-
VOUS OF ONE DIVISION.

Key West and Hampton Roads the
other POints-Port Royal to De the
Headquarters of "A Fleet of Mon
itors-Navy Department OnicialS
Ridicule the Assertion That the
New Move Is an Indication of
Weakening in the Bold Front To-
ward Spain.
Washington, March 1s.-Port Royal
promises to be a very important point in
the event of war with Spain. 1t is to be
the rendezvous for one of the divisions
of the North Atlantic squadron, in fur-
therence of the change in the plans of the
navy. in preparing for trouble
Port Royal. Hampton Roads, and Key
West are the points of assembling for the
three divisions of the feet. Port Royal
win have a feet of monitors including the
Puritan, Terror Miantonomoh and the
ram Katahdin.
The breaking up of the fleet into three
squadrons is not fully understood by those
not familiar with the plans of the navy,
and the Jingoists are charging that the
United States lis backing down" from It's
heretofore aggressive position.
1t is also charged from the same source
that the weakening of the fleet at Key
West, is in accordance with concessions
made TO Spain tending toward adjustment
of the pending difficulties by the narrow
and tedious process of diplomacy.
At the navy department those who are in
authority to dictate the policy of the navy
Indignantly repudiate these charges. In
stead of the change in the fleet being a
retrograde movement, it is in the line of
offensive action rather than defensive.
! Those in authority engaged In planning
the naval campaign informed the Morning
| News correspondent to-day that the new
| departure in the distribution of the fleet
will be better understood should war en-
sue. 1t is not good policy to assemble the
entire fleet at Key West, and leave all the
rest of the coast open TO invasion by Span
ish warships. AS high official expressed
| itl I'VE do not propose to carry all of our
eggs in one basket
Continuing, he said: I'm dividing the fleet
into three divisions. we propose to protect
| the entire coast. All of the sea coast towns
and cities are provided with land fortihca-
tions. Added to these win be monitors and
torpedo beats stationed at various points
| for harbor protection.
"Our great battleships and cruisers were
| constructed with due consideration being
| given to speed and their fighting abilities.
In the event of war it Is not proposed to
anchor these great engines of war and
! commerce destroyers under the lea Of our
land fortifications. They will be sent out to
apprehend and give battle to any foreign
| ships attempting TO reach our coast. 1t Is
| not proposed to use our battleships
| and cruisers for defensive purposes
| alone, but TO employ them aggressively
wherever the occasion demands. If this can
be construed as a back down on the part
of the United States, ] do not know what
naval warfare means"
| This same official went on to say that
the second division of the squadron is TO
rendezvous at Hampton Roads because
! of the desirability of It's location. Hampton
Roads Is but a few hours run from New
| York or Boston, and Key West can be
reached from that point i'm a like period.
Port Royal furnishes admiral facilities
| for an intermediate station for monitors
| and gunboats. IT would take but short
| time TO send monitor to savannah,
! Charleston or any Of the coast cities to
strengthen the harbor protection. Besides
the repair shop at Port Royal will be
available for effective work in connection
| with the dry docks
All this discussion sounds very warlike,
| and far removed from the peaceful solu-
ton OF the problem which the President
! and his advisors confidently hope for 1t
simply goes to show that in the face of
| the preparations which Spain is making
| for war the United States government in
| tends TO be ready for any emergency
| which may arise.