The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-25
VOL. I2-NEW SERIES. NO. 3O4
original programme when It was order
THE NAMES COMMANDER.

lttis MAINE = tOAhh.NDiiN'
The Commander Of the Maine. Captain
Sigshee is a favorite in tho Navy De-
partment. For four years ne was chief
of the hydrograhpic Office and by his
energy brought the Office up 10 high
standard.
lie was lucky 10 get so important
ship as the Maine is considered TO be.
considering his rank, but he has jusIihed
the Naval Departments selection by run
ming his ship straight into dock in New
York harbor TO avoid running down
packet excursion boat. This was dis
play Of quick judgment, nerve and pluck
that pleased the Department so highly
that the captain was sent compliment
ary letter. His officers are also a good
lot including Lieutenan. commander
Richard Wainwright 4ieutenants @. i.
Holman. John l.ccd and c. w. Yungen;
Licutenants Ounior grade) G.. W. Blow,
j. 7. Blandin, L. W. jenkins. Cadets J.
H. Holden, w. r. Cluverus, Amos
Bronson and ID. +. Boyd JT; Surgeons,
l.. G.. Heneberger; Paymaster c. W.
Littlefeld. Chief Engineer c. +. Howell,
Passed Assistant Engineer L. c. Bow
ers. Assistant Engineers. j. X. Morris
and d. r. Merritt. Cadet Engineers Poe
Washington and Arthur CrCpshaw, Chap
lain j. +. Chidwick and Lieutenant Of
Marines a. ". tdLllu.
THE MAINE.
The Maine is n battleship Of the second
class and is regarded as one Of the best
ships in the navy. she was built AT the
Brooklyn navy yard ana is 3lS feet long.
81 feet beam. 2iG mean draught and 6t2
tons displacement. She has two ten-incn
vertical turrets and military mosts. and
her motive power is furnished by twin
screw vertical triple expansion engines
having a maximum horsepower OF s,2sd'
capable OF making a speed Of il45 knots.
She carries four ten-inch and six six
inch breech-loading guns IN her main
I battery. and seven siX-pounder ana eighL
one FOUNDER rapid-hre guns and four gat-
lings in her secondary battery and four
Whitehead torpedOes.
While administration officials miss no
opportunity Of declaring their confidence
I'm the promise OF the maintenance OF
peace. il may be a matter of interest
that the United states now has assem-
bleI near Key West the most formidable
fleet Of warships thai has been gotten to-
gcthcr in our home waters for many
yel g. IL IS made up of the North Al
lantic squadron under command OF Ad-
miral Sicard-Flagship New York first
class bdttleships Iowa. Indiana, Massa-
causetts. secOud-class battleships Maine
and Texas: cruisers Detroit ana Mont
gomcry, dispatch boat Fern, and the tor-
pedo boat notilla, composed of The Cusn-
ing. Ericsson, Dupont and Porter, when
viii be reinforced In d few days by the
/ FOOtc.
OTHER VESSELS.
The big protected cruiser Brooklyn. all
most oquap to a battlcship herself, IS INT
ting out at the Now York navy yard.
Ca,tllu cook. who Comands The ship. was
al .ho Navy Department this morning
ana 4, poets to sail the latter part of TINS
week 20 Join Admiral Scards SQUADRON
The gunboat Nashville and the train-
inr-ehip Essex are al Port Royal, 5. g.,
within easy call. and the entire navy may
be said TO bc i'm "a state OF preparedness
that IS gratifying 70 the officials in view
OF the limited resources placed at the
disposal by Congress
To-day the members OF tho senate
Committee on Foreign Relations were in
session when the Associated Press buile-
fins announcing the orders TO the Maine
were issued. They expressed great salts
faction. Senator Foraker was parucu-
larlv pleased to hear the news. lie said
ne wished the Texas and other vessels
of tbe SQUADRON would be ordered 10 fol-
low the Maine.
OPINIONS OF CONGREsSMEN,
senator Cull0m said: Il am glad 10
near il. ] hope the Maine will bc followed
by other vessels
Senator Teller SAID he would like 10 see
the horbor of IIayana filled with Ameri-
can ships
Senator Daniel: or am glad OF it. II
ought TO have been done two years ago
There was qualification expressed
among the members Of the House Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. especially
bv Messrs. Smith and Pearson. who had
expressed some unrest at the non-action
of the committee or the House in the
matter of cuba.
THE FLEET SAILS.
KEY WEST. FLA. Jan. 2i.-At 9.'O
this morning The United states fleet in
cludine the Maine. sailed from this port.
The announced destination was Tortu-
gas. and until news came from Washing
ton this afternoon 10 was not generally
known here that the Maine was destined
tor Havana.
Two torpedo boats arc left in this port
10 be used as dispatch boats TO commit
nicate with the fleet