The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-18

| WASHINGTON. March f7-Ti2e event OF
| the day in official CIRCLES was the issuing
| OF an order for the formation Of a new
| squadron OF naval vessels 10 be stationed
at Hampton Roads. The squadron in the
| beginning will consist of five ships. all the
best OF their types. Two of them. the bat
| tieships Massachusetts and Texas. are
withdrawn from the present North Allan
tic fleet at Key West ard Tortugas.
In ordering this movement. the navy de-
partment is not animated by any purpose
| Of yielding to the representations or inti-
nations that may have come from the new
Spanish minister. On the contrary, the
new squadron was brought about by pure
| ~ strategic conditions. although it ap-
| pears from the nature Of the force so far
| under orders 10 rendezvous at Hampton
| Roads that this strategy Is OF the defensive
| aature.
| The new squadron cannot be called a
flying squadron because the association
| Of heavy battlesnips with fleet cruisers like
| the Brooklyn. Columbia and Minneapolis
| reduces the available speed OF the whole
| to the speed OF the siowest vessel. and the
! squadron could not do much "fying' in the
naval sense.
The indications. rather are that when re-
inforced by some smaller cruisers. the
squadron will constitute an ideal naval de-
Tense. For the past two months influences
have been at work in the navy department
10 bring about this change. and as a poll
icy board. headed by Capt. Crownnshieid.
| has been IN frequent session of late at the
| department. 1t Is believed that Il has in
| dorsed the plan a. last.
Although The other ships 10 be added 10
! tie squadron have not yet been definitely
| selected. It IS surmised that they VIII In
| clude Some OF the other battlcshtps at Key
! West and the armored cruiser New York.
| in which case Admiral sicard. II IS believ-
/ cd. VIII command tnc new force.
/ III place of the New York the people Of
| Key West viii look upon the grim out
| lines 'cf the big monitor Puritan. sup
/ possibly the most powerful chip in smooth
water in the world. She viii have To
/ assist her on guard the double-turrated
/ monitor Mantonomoh ana the monitor
/ Amphltrite. The Puritan IS now at Nor
folk almost ready for sea; the Miantono-
/ inoh a. League island. quite ready, and 50
J Is the Amphtrlte at Port Royal. s. c.. so
! the order In the end Will result in the gath
er!ng Of the pick Of tae North Atlantic
! squadron al Hampton Roads.
: The point IS said 70 be the best Strategic
point on the Atlantic coast II is aimos.
! centrally located and the ships from that
/ point can reach any portion OF the coast
( IN short order. Besides the second best
! navy yard IN the country Is there to fail
! back upon for repairs 10 SHIPS. There is
/ plenty OF the best coal az Newport News.
/ there 5 easy water 10 navigate. aud finally
/ the forts a. NamploB Roads vnay serve
- a base Of operations IN case OF need
+ f2r protection. These are the eonsids "a
/ lions wf.3ch animated the navy department
II making this NV or,isr
Il s. announced that the cornnandev of
the new squadron h8s not yet besa se-
lecIed. aad pending ;he sgleeiion or the
arrival ia port 4 Admiral S.cagd X IS
expected that Capt. Higelnson. tte Gem
m3udsr % ,ha hat,lsshlp Massachusetts,
/ a2d ;he Senior officer. #il. hold the cora-
nard q tie squadron.
+ Remaining az Ky West. after the de-
/ rss:fufs az ,1@ Nsssacnasrti< an1 tfts.
. ! xas Admiral S.e2rd 7al s,4l have a f1set
os ISIS oySa In nuUaevs. when the spee:a-
oie ~.H I.e presented of feet aad i