The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-16

One of the most interesting pTopoSlloiS
now under serious consideration by the
naval authorities relates TO the immedi-
ate formation of the flying squadron
which was described in The Times on
March 4 to threaten the coast of SPAN
as AN offset to the dispatch of Spanish
torpedo boat flotila to Havana. There
are grave possibilities involved in the
project; but a reliable authority asserts
the flying squadron undoubtedly VIII be
formed and sent out on it's important
mission If the Spanish flotilla which lett
Cadiz on Sunday for the Canaries con-
tinues its voyage from the latter point
with Havana or Porto Rico as its desti-
nation.
However warlike this plan may seem,
there is no doubt that the naval authori-
ties are making preparations for putting
IL into execution. They think. however
that it will be a week. and perhaps two
weeks. before the intentions Of the Span
ish government in regard TO the fotilla
will be known. This delay is fortunate.
for the greatest difficulty is being en-
countered in securing full crews for the
commerce destroyers Columbia and
Minneapolis, which will form part Of the
flying squadron. Both Of these ocean
creyhounds have been placed in commits
sion at the League Island navy yard.
They are ready for active service, but
require more men than the Navy Depart
ment is able to obtain at this time with
out drawing on other ships.
The Columbia and her sister ship re-
ouire 40S men each. Only 525 men have
been secured for both ships, leaving 8>l
vacancies in the crews. A number OF
apprentices from the training ship Es-
sex viii assist in filling up the gap and
men from the receiving ship Vermont
will also help lessen the difficulty. but
there will stil be short compliments.
Enlistments for the naval service are not
being made rapidly. and the Spanish 10
tilla may have started on its way from
the Canaries to Havana before the Co
lumbia and the Minneapolis are ready to
Join the flying squadron.
The departure OF the lotilla from Ca
diz. with the announcement that it is
going to Havana. has excited much in
terest i'm naval circles. Naval officers
contend that there is only one eNplana-
ton of this movement. 1t means. they
assert. that the little desroyers are in
tended for an offensive movement
against American vessels, which is to be
construed as an unfriendly act on the
parT Of Spain.
Torpedo boats and torpedo boat-de-
stroyers cannot be used in suppressing
the insurrection in Cuba. They are not
available for fighting the insurgents.
It has been concluded. therefore, that
they are 70 be devoted to offensive ma
neuvering against the American naval
force a belief which is borne out by
the fact that torpedo craft are intended
for operations against big warships.
Their movement to waters near the coast
Of America Is viewed with concern. to
use a diplomatic term, and the naval au-
thorities are making preparations that
viii correspondingly concern the
government Of Spain.
The proposition mentioned has been
under consideration during the last forty
eight hours at the Navy Department. but
enough progress has been made to jus
tify the assertion that a plan for the for
nation Of a flying squadron. and its as
siEnment to the Spanish coast. has been
practically arranged. President McKin-
ley Will decide whether it shall be carried
out.
The Spanish flotilla sailed from Cadiz
at o'clock on Sunday evening. 1t con-
sists Of the Arute, Rayor, Pluton, Azor,
Terror, and Furor, and is being escorted
by the Transatlantic company's steamer
Ciudad de Cadiz. vessel that would be
used for auxiliary purposes by Spain in
the event Of war. The Cuidad de Cadiz is
said to have been protected and armed.
Notice of the departure of the Goulla was
sent 10 the Navy Department, with the
additional information that the boats are
bound for the Canaries where they are
due on Wednesday. Every movement Of
Spanish warships is reported promptly to
the State and Navy Departments by
American representatives abroad. and the
office of naval intelligence keeps account
Of where these vessels are. Press dis
patches say that the flotilla will go to
Porto Rico or Havana. but the Navy De-
pa tment wants continuation Of this state
ment before taking the radical measures
just as soon as il is known that the
fotilla has started for the West Indies
the flying squadron will be sent to the
Spanish coast. provided always that
President Mckinley consents, probably
taking the route that viii be Travelled by
the torpedo craft in the hope Of letting
the Spanish officers and men see that
America means business. Its purpose
will be to harass Spanish commerce if
hostiities are to be declared. but its pres
ence will also serve as a warning to
Spain that this country has left nothing
undone TO make the struggle short.
Information was received at the Navy
Department yesterday that more torpedo
boats would leave Cadiz for the Canaries
today to accompany the first division to
West Indian waters. This has made surer
the probability that the flying squadron
will be sent to Spain If the flotilla should
proceed TO Cuban or Porto Rican ports
The present intentions of the Naval au-
thorities for a quick formation of the
flying squadron contemplate that it shall
be composed of the armored cruisers
Brooklyn and New York and the COM
merce destroyers Columbia and Mime
apols, and perhaps the St. Louis and St
Paul of the International Navigation
Company's steamers, but whether the two
American liners will be impressed before
hostilites occur has not been determined.
An indication Of how critical is the
present situation was given by the hesi-