The herald., 1898-04-23

these while in the harbor. or the fleet
lying close to the shore, the Amphitrite was
the leader. She numbered along after the
Machias, her immense guns stretching
above her low free-board. She was the
nrst of the monitors to join the warlike
procession, looking the deadly instrument
she is. Then came the Nashville, her three
smokestacks distinguishing her from the
others, with the gunboat Wilmington
alongside. The Castine, which was next,
was little compared with the other men,
bers, but looked game for bloody work,
should the fortunes of war demand The
Cincinnati was delayed a little, as she was
in the act of taking coal from q schooner
Off Fort Taylor when the signal to sail
was given. But she got into the jagged
line next. The other ships of the fleet fol-
lowed in mathematical formation. The
MayiloWer brought up the rear Of the
parade and was one of the last to fade from
view. The torpedo boats did not start
until o'clock, but as If to exhibit their
capabilities they darted ahead and were
lost to sight in the forward group. The
monitors Puritan and Terror lay side by
side coaling from barge which was be-
tween them, their decks crowded with Off
GERS and bluejackets observing the naval
pageant. 1t is believed that the two moni-
tors are to follow the rest of the squadron.
Following the floating forts was the fleet
of newspaper dispatch boats, numbering
al txya ntxr C,,l, tlnt
accompanied the fleet.
The Flying Squadron
WASHINGTON, April 22.-There were
many rumors at the Navy Department TO-
day as to the movements of the flying
squadron, but careful inquiry has dis
closed the fact that, so far, Commodore
Schley has not received his sailing orders
Even should the department abandon its
original intention of maintaining this
naval force at Hampton Roads, ready foi
immediate service at any point, it is un
derstood that the change will not be
made until other provision is made fol
just such service as that. To allow Com
modore Schley to go to sea on lons
cruise, leaving exposed the great cite;
of the Atlantic Coast and numberless up
protected small towns without some kline
of a naval force to keep off the torpedo
boats and gunboats, would be very bat
strategy, so that unless something un
expected happens, Commodore Schley /.
likely to be detained near by Hampton
Roads until Commodore Howells patro
fleet is ready to replace it,
On Waiting Orders
FORT MONROE, Va, April 22.-"Or
|
said of the Flying Squadron early today
The routine duties on board are gon'
through with the same manner as any
other day, the only difference beint
that officers were not given shore leaves
Every officer was on board last night ant
anticipated starting orders. The definite
news of the movement of the Key Yves
fleet created little excitement as 1t ha(
been anticipated.
Pilots are here ready to take out tn,
ships at moments S notice, fires are up ant
engines coupled and a start can be mad
in an hour
One of the GOLFERS Of the fleet, the Saturn
came back from Norfolk yaru this morn
ing with full complement of coal and OF
for the use of the squadron.
Monitors Movements
PHILADELPHIA, April 22-The double
turreted monitor Miantonomoh sailed from
League Island Navy Yard at 2:3O p. M, he
destination to be Charleston, S. c. Th
Miantonomoh has on war paint and is full
prepared for action.
The monitor Catskill, with the Massachu
setts Naval Reserves on board is ready fo
sea and will steam away from Leagu
Island Navy Yard as soon as the tug whic
is to convoy her down the Delaware rive
arrives. The Catskill will go direct t
Boston.
Pacific Coast Defenses
MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD, Cal
April 22.-"We are prepared today to cap
ture or destroy any force that Spain coul
possibly send against the Pacific coast,
said Rear Admiral Kirkland.
"In the first place the Spanish govern
ment has no vessels in the Pacific water
nearer than the Philippines. We have
greater force there than Spain and ca
easily take care OF the opposing fleet.
1.-THE next possibility lies in sending
fleet through the Straits of magellan
Even If Spain had the ships to spare the
would be practically useless after the
got into the Pacific through lack of Goa
We have two monitors, the Monadnoc
and the Monterey, that are more than
match for any vessel in the Spanish navy
Besides these two we have the Benning
ton and Mohican, which are now en- rout
from the Hawaiian Islands. The Charles
ton will be in commission by May and
it were necessary we could have the York
town and Philadelphia in fighting trim b
the 1st of June.
"What rely upon largely to complet
our coast defense are the three torped
boats now nearing completion in tn
sound. This number can be increased ma
| terially If the necessity presents, sine
| each requires only sixty days for build
ing"
The Oregon's Cruise
| BUENOS AYRES. April %, 1920 pm.-
| The Spanish torpedo gunboat Temerair
| left here today. 1t is believed she ha
gone to attack the United States battle
| ship Oregon and the United States CUR
boat Marietta which left Valparaiso O
Monday last for Montevideo.
| The Oregon and Marietta, at a roug
| estimate, have about 5000 miles steamin
| between Valparaiso and Montevdec
| The battleship will necessarily keep com
pany with the gunboat as the latter 1
| better able, owing to the quicker manne
| in which she can be handled, to success
fully engage the Spanish torpedo gun
| boat Temeraire, which has a speed of ;
knots against the 16 knots speed credite
| to the Oregon. The Marietta has a spec
of about II knots. Therefore, the Orego
| should take from twelve to thirteen day
| In making the trip from Valparaiso
Mnntiyeden she left Xalna raisn q