The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-18
A CHANGE OF BASE
Mckinley Seemingly Yields
to Spanish Demand.
TO FORM NEW SQUADRON
WILL BEGIN WITH FIVE SHIPS
IN HAMPTON ROADS.
MANY RUSES GIVEN FOR MAKING CHANGE
MANY RUSEs GIVEN FOR MAKING CHANGE
There May Come Clash from
Diversity of Reports.
REPORT, PROBABLY TODAY
Captain HigginsOn win Probably Be in Com
mand-.Battle- Ships Massachusetts and
Texas 10 be Withdrawn from Key
West--BuSy Recruiting Men.

Washington, ID. c., March 1.-THE
event of the day in official circles was
the issue 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 battle ships Massa-
chusetts and Texas, are withdrawn
from the present North Atlantic feet
at Key West and Tortugas. 1t would
be Il grave mistake to suppose that in
ordering this movement the Navy De
partment is animated by any purpose
of yielding to representations or intima-
ti0nS that may have come from the,
Spanish Minister as to the mischief
caused by the gathering of so large n
Naval force as Admiral Sicard's feet
in the vicinity of Cuba. On the con-
trary the formation of the new squad,
ron was brought about by purely strate,
gic considerations, although ii appears
from the nature of the force so far under
orders TO rendezvous at Hampton
Roads, that this strategy is of the de-
fensiYe nature. The new squadron
cannot be called flying squadron" be.
cause the association of heavy battle
ships with fleet cruisers like the Brook
lyn, Columbia and Minneapolis reduces
the available speed of the whole TO the
speed of the slOwest vessel, and the
Il Il h ssars5f
in the Naval sense. The indications
rather are that, when reinforced by
some smaller cruisers, the squadron will
constitute an ideal Naval defense. For
the past two months influences have
been at work in the Navy Department to
bring about this change. and as a policy
board, headed by Captain CrOwninshield
has been in frequent session of late at
the department, it is believed that it
has endorsed the plan at last. Although
the other ships to be added to the squad
ron have not yet been definitely selected,
ii is surmised that they will include
some Of the other battle ships at Key
West and the armoTed cruiser New
York, in which case Admiral Sicard, it
is believed, viii command the new force
In place of the cruiser New York, the
DEOIht VI IAtg w est VIII lOOk upon IHt
grim outlines of lie big monitor Puri-
tan, supposedly the most powerful ship
in smooth water in the whole wOrld.
She will have 10 assist her on guard the
dOuble-turreted monitor Mia ntonomah
and the monitor 4Amphitrite. The Puri-
tan is now at Norfolk almost ready for
sea, the MiantOnomah is at League Is
land quite ready and so is the Amphi-
trif ~ bopt c. h. ,vIn
in the end will result in the gathering
Of the pick Ofo the North Atlantic squad
ron at Hampton Roads. The point is
said to be the best strategically on the
Atlantic coast. ii is almost centrally
located and the Ships from that point
can reach any portion of the coast in
short order, which is regarded as de-
sirable since no one can tell just where
a flOtilla of torpedo destrOyers or fast
cruiser may turn up with hostile intent
to attack town. Besides, the second
best Navy yard in the country is there
TO fall back upon for repairs to the
ships, plenty of the best coal is at New
port News, there is easy water to navi-
gate and finally the forts at Hampton
Roads may serve as base of operations
in case of need for protection. These are
tii' WHICH animated Iue
Navy Department in making this new
order 1t is announced that the COM
mander of the new squadron has not
yet been selected and, pending that Sc
lection or the arrival in port of Admiral
Sicard, ii is expected that Captain hig-
ginson. the commander of the battle
ship Massachusetts and the senior of
ficer, will hold the command of the
squadron. Remaining at Key West
after the departure of the Massachusetts
and the Texas Admiral Sicard viii still
have IA fleet of his own in numbers.
when the spectacle will be presented Of
II fleet and squadron on one station,
something not seen since the civil war.
Tho monitors. which it is designed to
send to Key West. are said to be well
tilted for the service. Owing to their
light draft of from fifteen to sixteen
feet. they will be able to navigate
safely the shallow waters of the FlOri-
da coast and will not he Obliged like.
the Iowa, to lie six miles out at sea
from Key West to secure enough water
under the keel.
The gun boat Helena reported 10 the
department that she had sailed today