The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-23
NAV|S PR[PAREDFOR WAR.
FLEET COULD BE QUICKLY MOBiL-
lied TO CROSS ATLANTIC.
During Peace Negotiations All War
ships Have Been Put in First
Class Shape-PlanS of Department
In Case of SPANS Withdrawal.

NEW YORK. Nov. "a dispatch 20 the
Herald from Washington says:
Though confident that hqStilities will not
be resumed, Secretary Long has made Il a
point since tbs peace protocol was signed
TO put the men-of-war of the service in the
best possible condition. During the latter
part OF last week instructions were sent 10
the commandments of the navy yards al
which ships were undergoing repairs. d.
rectiug them 10 expedite the completion OF
the vessels in order that they might he in
condition for immediate use should devel-
opments in the international situation re
quire their employment.
The departments attention was first d.
rected TO the battleships and armored cruis-
ers, ard as a result OF extra work put on
them they are well advanced and some are
ready for service. The Indiana is the only
armorciad which is now undergoing extern
sive repairs. and In case of necessity over
time work would promptly place her in
condition to Join the squadron to De sent 10
Spain.
Secretary Long is now endeavoring to get
the smaller vessels away from navy yards.
He has given instructions TO commandments
OF navy yards 10 rush the smaller cruis-
ers and gunboats, which are wanted for
service IL Cuba and Porto Rico for patrol
purposes. The decision not 10 use the Old
single-turreted monitors for service in
Southern waters has caused the officials 20
look around for more serv!ceab!e vessels
and the smaller cruisers and gunboats will
be used for that purpose.
1t Is authoritativeiy stated that no over
time work has been authorized on any of
the ships, except in the case OF the Indiana
and this was only for a few hours each day.
So far as the North Atlantic squadron is
concerned. therefore, ii would not take long
to mobilize a strong fleet. The New York
is now at Hampton Roads, fully coaled and
ready for sea- the armored cruiser Brook
lyn and the hattleship Massachusetts,.
which are at New York can sail within
very short time, and the second-cIass bat
tleship Texas is having her propelle. re-
paired.
Besides these vessels the department
would probably attach 10 a fleet sent
abroad the cruiser New Orleans which will
be ready for service in the course of a few
weeks, several gunboats and fleet of coll
lers. The battleships Iowa and Oregon,
which are at Rio. are also available for OPP
erations in Spanish waters being about the
same distance from Spain as are the ships
now at New York.
Should hostilities be resumed, il Is ex-
pected that Secretary Long will again call
together the naval war board, consisting of
Rear Admiral Sicard, Capt Crowninshield
and Capt. Mahan. Before the adjourn
nent OF the board plans had been prepared
for the dispatch Of Rear Admiral Sampson
and squadron under his command TO the
Spanish coast X was not contemplated
last August that the Canaries should be
seized. but there is reason to believe that
IL peace negotiations are interrupted the
authorities viii seriously consider the ad-
visibility Of directing the capture of these
Islands
The withdrawal OF the Spanish commits
sloneFs from Paris would be the signal for
the dispatch OF instructions TO Rear Admit
raj Sampson To come north on the eurboat
Topeka and resume duty as commandment
chief OF the North Atlantic squadron. II
may he that, as the result OF an agree
ment between Spain and the United States
decided through The medium Of the French
government. the protocol referring Ia the
evacuation Of cuba would b. carried aut
without molestation on the part OF the
American nlen-of-war
Rear Admiral Dewey would send h,s YES
sells 70 destroy the Spanish Qualifications 3,
lloilo; troops would be transported % that
city and it would be occupied. win the
tal a. this point the last stronghold Of the
Spanish IN the Philippines would he cccn
pied Besiaes the Philippines. n. r,eo-,f-
war wo;ld also hoist the Tag over the car
oliues II would ba impossible for Snafp ~
preveat the United States from ca~ry.ns~
oat it, wiH either In the Atlantic or in the
far f9St
IN expectation Of the arrival Of she Ger
Iaan emperor ar4 for the purpose q i'm
pressing him. as Vel as the people o. Spain
wifA the size az the rerauau; 0f the Snaris1
navy Admiral Camara has been airoc,aa
~ mobilize his shirs AZ Cadiz There are
now a. that posn. the ba.tleshgn pelayo the
ar1noTed cruiser Carlos Y. ihe Protected
cruiser Alfonso XIII, The rec0r=,rro,s3
hatti@ships Numancla and Nlttoria hes rs
torpedo boar destroyers ana torQe1o boats
IN TIE Philippines Spain has several small
s9h3oa's ard ore auxiliary cruiser. the
I}ue0as AyYes
Since the war the S7an;~ government
Has done nothing toward completing fha
arfnhred cruisers - the Astur.as class
which are under construction.