The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-16
FLYING SQUADRON READY
TO STOP SPANS FLOTILLIA
The ElotilIa VIII flake Slow Progress
Across the Ocean. The Torpedo
Boats are not Of Modern Take. .
The New York Press says:

The New York Press says:
Washington, March 15-That the 10
tilla of Spanish torpedo boats now ON its
way from Cadiz ever will reuch its desti-
nation will depend largely on whether it
gets to the Atlantic coast before war is he.
gun. That it will not, If hostilities are be.
gun before it sights Cuba, might DO as
sumed with safety.
In the event of war IL would be one of
the duties of the flying squadron, which
will be commanded by Commodore Schoy
to intercept and capture or sink such u
ilotilla. The flagship Of tho squadron vii.
be tho Brooklyn, and its centrepieces, in
Columbia and the Minneapolis. TO this
squadron will be attached also the St.
Louis or the st. Paul, or both, If they
should DO drafted.
The ilotillu will make slow progress
across the ocean. The torpedo boats are
not of modern make, arc not good seago-
ing vessels, and the coal necessary for them
to make Roadway of even moderate speed
has to BIO carried by the cruiser conveying
them. If they reach this side within three
weeks they will be performing better than
most of the experts anticipate.
Lieutenant Very, of the Howell Torpedo
Company, has submitted proposition.
which, if deemed advisable and practicable
will supplement materially the defenses
VI tlc larger UDuSb Ills pan Is W
equip with torpedo outfits number of
light draught steam launches He argues
that by means of such defences the harbor
in time Of siege ought to DO kept open to
the last moment for commerce, which
would not be the case if the reliance solely
were upon the fixed mine or ordinary tor.
pedoes. The army has regarded the auto
mobile torpedo so long as the proper in.
strumcnt for marine work that 1t is doubt.
full if 1t will regard the suggestion favor
ably.
MILITIA ASKS FOR MODERN ARTILLERY.
Washington, March 10 The New York
Press says: The War Department is in
receipt Of communication daily from tho
officers of the National Guard in the
several States which attest that they are
inspired by the war sentiment. These
communications, in th8<nuin, refer to the
allotmcnts of armament and ammunition
III the event Of ho>tilitiei, and end with
assurances that the citizen soldiers il need
be, will be in the field the instant the Gail
for volun. GERS is made.
Their letters to the War Department are
along the line of preparation, and particu-
larry with reference so the artillery branch
of the service This, in case Of II war such
as that which threatens with Spain,
would be most important, but the militia
organizations MS II rule, hlvo been salts
12-puunder5. which fire solid shot. 'Thcsu
have been superseded in the regular army
by guns of modern make, and the guards
are eager now to De equipped with these
latter-day machines. Unfortunately, how.
ever, there has been an appropriation an
nually of only about 100000 which was
allotted among the militia of the several
states according to their numerical
strength.
In cases where that appropriation has
not been exhausted the guards will b. put
in position to fit out with modern guns.
For others there is nothing in sight unless
they will combine In what has beon de-
de- cribod fclicitously as "a patriotic con.
spiracy" and get uniform aud up-to date
armament out of the s5O, 600 OO3 apDropria-
ton for the national defence.
The artillery strength of tho National
Gu ri in each State in time of peace is
four Held pieces, .anl in time ofwar, six
pieces.
The states of New York. Illinois. Penn
sylvania and Vermont will have the new
held artillery pieces used by the regular
army.
1t is Il matter which should mako
every New Yorker proud Of the National
Guard of this State. that in numbers in
the time in which it could be concentrated |
i'll tic percentage of its members who |
would volunteer, in the matter Of its arm |
ament and general equipment, and finally |
in point of efficiency, the War Depart |
ment holds its Standard up for highest
commentator.
There are regiments in New York and |
in New Jersey that tho War Department |
would rely son with the same confidence
it would rtpose in tho Regulars.