The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-08
FOR A FLYING SQUADRON.
THE PLANS PERFECTED FOR As
SBMBLIN9 SUCH A FLEET
n Will Ne Cou,posed or the Armored Cruiser
Brsokiyn. the swirt Cruisers Coiunbia ana
Nzinpeapoiia and tho Fleet shire st. louis
and 81. Paui. All Under Commodore schiey.

Minneapolth ana tho fleet ships bt. Louis
and ct. Faui. All Undsr Commodore schiey.
WASHINGTON, March 7.-ArranRements have
boon completed by the Navy Department for
placing In service q number Of feet war vessels
and merchant ships to act as n flying squadron
in the ovont of hostilities. They will compose
tho most powerful aggregation Of the kind ever
commanded by an American officer. This fieot
10 to consist OF the swlftest of the cruiser type
Of wsrships and the st. Paul and st. Louis Of
tho international Navigation Company. and
IL sent to sea It will be in omman
OF Commodore Winfield Scott Schley. at
present the Chairman Of the Lighthouse Board.
Consideration OF the subject OF forming such O
squadron to hsrass Spanish commerce and pre-
vent departure from Spanish ports Of unprotect-
cd ships has been under advisoment for several
days. but not until this morning, after the con.
ference at the White House between Secretary
Long. the President, and the leaders in Con-
gress. was II definitely determined to take the
necessary stops for assembling the required
ships should occasion arise to bring them to-
gether under q separate and distinct
Immediately after the White House session
Secretary Long called to his Office Capt. Crown.
inshield. chief of the Navigation Bureau, COM
modore Schley, and Capt Bradford, chief Of the
Equipment Bureau. and for an hour the ques'
tion was discussed and the whole details Of the
plan gone over. It was evident that while tho
Secretary did not propose forming this squad.
ron at once. tho advisability OF considering all
the details Of the scheme was deemed urgent, 20
that, should there DO necessity for sending such
O fleet across the ocean. tho officer to command
1t and the vessels to comprise 1t might be all do
termined beforehand and thus prevent any delay
in getting them Off In event Of q sudden emer-
Rency. Four merchant ships flying the American
A. - l---.- A -
and of this number It was decided that the st.
Paul and st. Louis are best adapted. although
the New York and Paris Of tho same line would
prove equally efficient as destroyers
when armed with 5.inch and 6.inch gums. In
this flying squadron 1t 10 intended to have at
least one fine fighting ship in the armored
cruiser Brooklyn.
Orders Issued yesterday for placing the cruisers
Minneapolis and Columbia in service have In
view the assignment Of both these ships to tho
flying squadron, because of their high speed and
great steaming radius. which permits them to
cruise thousands OF miles. 1t 10 recognized by
all naval experts that these ships would make a
poor showing in regular line-of.battle fight. but
would DO very valuable to prevent supplies
being forwarded in merchant ships to q Spanish
feet In American waters and to hold In check
any but heavily armored craft. Their high
speed would enable them to escape IL pursued
by ships with which they could not successfully
give battle.
Mr.. Long intimated at to.day's conference
that while It was not yet certain whether such
a fleet would be required. it was deemed adj
visable to take under consideration this i'm
portant feature Of the naval programme. which
would DO adopted Immediately on the announce
ment Of hostilities. 1t was explained to the
seosetary what duty would be expected OF q
Aytpn canadian and fha diranf{nn lea p,oriy
would assume, and from charts and maps It
was shown where It's field Of operations would
be most valuable. During the Venezuelan war
scare two years ago Great Britain assembled
such o squadron as Is now contemplated
and had It ready to sail from Portsmouth on
three hours notice. Commodore Schley and
Capt. Crowninshield pointed out that In prepar-
ing such q squadron speed and great steaming
radius must be considered, and no ships which
could not take the seas and keep them for a
month. or three months II necessary. should be
assigned to the duty. 1t was decided that such a
squadron, il formed. shall comprise the armored
cruiser Brooklyn, the twin triple-screw cruisers
Minneapolis and Columbia, possibly one of the
smaller cruisers of the Montgomery class, and
the two American liners st. Paul and st. Louis.
which would DO at once impressed.
Commodore Schley had been spoken of rs the
possible successor Of Admiral Sicard II the lat
ter's Ill health prevents him from retaining his
squadron. Reports lately received indicate.
however. that the Admiral has improved and
will command his ships from the New York
| hereafter instead of from shore ct Key West.
Commodore Schley will have as his flagship.
| should this squadron take tho seas. the big
armored cruiser Brooklyn, the fastest armored
vessel in tho American Navy. With o speed of
over 81 knots. the Brooklyn could get away
from any vessel in the Spanish Navy, but as her
| heavily protected sides and enormous gun fire
| make her almost as formidable az some second
class battleships, there would DO no necessity
for her running from any ship in the Spanish
service. Tho Minneapolis and Columbia are
well known to the navies Of tho world as tho
fastest triple-screw ships ever built. and per-
| haps the ~feetest vessels of their displacement
aloat when under forced draught and excessive
steam pressures. On their trial trips each made
more than % knots for four consecutive hours.
and at some parts of the course the Minneapolis
leaped through the water at q speed Of moro
than "a knots. The American liners st. Paul
and st. Louis have a speed Of less than 81 knots,
but their large coalcarrying capacity would
enable them to cruise three months at economi-
cal speed.
Naval officers say the first step to DO taken In
assembling the ships would DO to impress tho
two twin flyers mentioned of tho American line
and ct once proceed TO install on them the fivo
ana sig inch guns now stored at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. Constructor Hichborn has COM
pletsd plans for Strengthening the bulwarks. In
order that conclusion from the guns would not
weaken them and for arranging coal bunkers
around tho machinery for protection. Each
ship would mount thirteen guns. six on a broad
side and one forward. They would be manned.
from the Captain down. by officers and seamen
OF the regular navy. Each vessel would have an
oficer of the Commanders grade. Commodore
Schley was In charge Of the Baltimore during
the Chilian troubles, and previously had served
as head of tho Equipment Bureau, and was on
the Greedy expedition as Commander of one Of
the relief vessels.
SIX OF THE MAINE DEAD.