The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-18
| CHANGE IN TuE FLEET.
NcW Squadron Of vcssclsto Move to,
Hampton Roads.
II WAS NOT DICTATED BY SPAIN.
Change said to Have been Made for
other Reasons, hut Is Gratifying
10 the DoBs.

i washington, March 1.-THE event OF the
1 DAY In official circles was the issue OF an
!! order for the formation OF n new squadron
/ Of naval vessels to be stationed Mt liamp-
!. ton Roads. The squadron In the beginning
\ will consist OF five ships, all OF the best
! types. Two Of them, the battleships Massa-
/ chusetts and Texas. arc withdrawn from
! the present North Atlantic fleet at Key
l West and Tortugas, Ingnrdefing this move
1nent the navy department Is not animated
by any purpose of yielding to the repre-
sensations or intimations that may nave
come from the Spanish minister Or the
contrary, tho formation OF tho now sliiad-
ron Is purely strategic measure THY
will rendezvous at Hampton Roads The
new squadron cAl not be called 'fyng
squadron because the association OF bat
tlesbips WITH fleet cruisers like the Brook
lyn. Columbia and Minneapolis reduces
the available speed Of the whole TO the
speed of the sluwest vessel aud the squad
ron could not do much "nyinB' IN the
naval defense. For the past Two months IN
iiuenccs have been at work IN the navy
department about this change and az the
board, headed by Captain CrowHihshieid,
has been in frequent session OF late at the
department it rs believed that IL has IN
dolsed tho plan at last. Although the other
SHIPS To be added TO the squadron nave not
been definitely selected, 1t IL surmised that
they win Include some Of the other bat
tleshipa at Key West and the arnorea
cruiser New York. i'll which case Admiral
Sicurd, IL is believed, viii command inc
new force. In place OF the cruiser New
York, the people of Key West VIII lcok
upon the grim outlines of the Bis monitor
Puritan, supposedly the most powerful
ship in smooth water in the world. Sho
VIII have to assist her ON guard the
double turreted monitor Miantonomoh and
the monitor Amphitiite. The puritan IL
now at Norfolk almost ready for sea- the
Miantonomoh Ii at League Island. quite
ready, and so is the Amphitrito ut Port
Royal, $. G. So the order In the end viii
result in The gathering Of the pick OF the
North Atlantic squadron at Hampton
Roads. The point Is said TO be the best
strategic point on the Atlantic coast. 1t
is almost 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 iiotilla OF torpedo destroyers or a
fast cruiser may turn up with hostile in
tont to attack town Resides, the sec
ond best navy yard In tho country is there
to fall hnck on for repairs TO the ships.
plenty OF the best coal is at Newport News.
there is easy water to navigate and finally
tho forts at Hampton Roads may serve as
q base of operations in case OF need for
protection. These are the considerations
which animated the navy department In
making this new order II is announced
that the commander Of the new squadron
has not yet been selected and pending that
selection or the arrival In port OF Admiral
Sicnrd, II is expected that Captain Higgin-
son, the commander OF the battleship
Massachusetts and the senior officer. Will
hold the command Of the squadron.
Remaining at Key West after the de-
pariure OF the Massachusetsg and Texas,
Admiral Sicard will still hESA fleet of
his own In waters when. the spectacle VIII
be presented OF fleet and a squadron on
ono station. something not seen since tho |
civil war.
Tho monitors which Il IL designed to sond |
to Key West are to be well fitted Tor tho |
service. Owing to their light draft of from
fifteen to sixteen feet they viii be able to |
navigate safely the shallow waters Of the |
Florida coast aud viii not be Obliged, like |
the Iowa, 10 He six miles out at aaa from |
Key West to secure enough water under |
keel
II Is now said that Il has been definitely |
determined to bring the bstteship Oregon |
ooutu AntrlCh 10 Key west,
The naval recruiting officers IN the South |
are meeting with SUCCESS NJ New Orleans
esterday they secured forty men who Will |
be iltted professionally for tho navy.
Inc Spanish minister called at the state
department at o'clock and remained with
Judge Day something over an hour Both
parties to the conference were extremely |
retieent, Az its conclusion Il Is UNDERSTOOD |
timt II developed NO new phases. but was |
uauarQt fatlf lt, ,pI,
were exchanged and hopeful view OF tho |
situation expressed. AZ the time the naval |
orders taking tho battleshlps Toxas ana |
sIassachusetta from Key West md assigns I
lug them TO the fleet at Hamnton Roads |
was not known Mt the state department so |
mat the minister was not officially IN.
formed OF the fact He heard II later, how
ever ana was naturally much graft |
lied as the gradual strengthening Of the
American fleet al Key West has been tho
'ource OF grave apprehension BY the Span
sh government.