The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-11

classes, headed by the big battleship In
diana, which for all-around effectiveness!
stands at the head of the navy. This fee
serve as a convoy for the troop transports
from that port. The formation of thi:
formidable convoy feet is due to tht
reports, more or less indefinite, that Span
ish ships were lurking between Florida
and Cuba with a view of intercepting the
troop transports. The navy department
has not given serious credit to these re-
ports, yet they were more or less circum-
stantial. In order to avoid the slightest
possibility of a dash by some Spanish
ships against the troop transports this
new fleet Of sixteen warships was deter
mined upon. Whether 1t was ordered
from Washington o rwas due 10 the pre-
cautionary measures of the officials in
command in the south is not disclosed.
II is known only that Commodore Remey,
commander of the naval base at Key West
has brought together this powerful fleet
of conveys Il is strong enough, both in
number Of ships, size of individual ships
and armament, TO cope with any Spanish
vessels that might be at large in the
West Indies and it entirely eliminates any
possible danger that might attend the
transporting Of the army of invasion to
Cuba. Captain Taylor. who commands
the Indiana. is available as commander
of this squadron, although it is not dis
closed definitely who will be It's chief
Commodore Watson is with the blockad-
ing fleet off Havana and cannot well be
spared from that position, which will be
maintained efficiently Notwithstanding the
traits made to create this large convoy
squadron. Captain Taylor is regarded as
one of the most judicious and capable Off
GERS in the service and should the squad
ron command fail TO him, it is felt that
it viii lbe in able hands. The Indiana
will probably be the flagship of the squad
ron. There probably Will be other bat
tleships but it is not deemed advisable,
for prudential reasons, to give the full
list Of The most formidable ships afloat,
being regarded by naval experts as super
ior as a fighting machine TO the ships of
the Terrible class in the British navy.
She has a displacement of 2,2SS tons and
has a main battery of 16 large guns, be-
sides many smaller rapid-fire and machine
guns in her secondary battery. Her
largest guns are of the 13-inch class, four
In number mounted in turrets, two for
ward and two aft.
The desirability of forming this fleet
was suggested by the Information. coming
through official shannols. that Spanish
left Barcelona some days ago, bound for
Cuban waters.
This information came 20 the state de-
partmen-. It was n the effect that the
ships included three Spanish warships and
one transport. Tie information was trust
worthy. It was communicated to the navy
department, and led to careful considera-
ton. A little later came the report from
the ships off Florida that suspicious ships
with military tops had been seen in the
ofIing. These last reports were received
with some credulity, but naval officers
were disposed TO dismiss them as myths. |
They were treated lightly end some Off !
Gals spoke of the matter as another case !
OF that phantom ship, the Flying Dutch /
man." but better informed officials looked
upon the matter as one which should not .
be dismissed too lightly. A single troop
transport carrying no armor might be
a. the mercy Of some stray Spanish snip,
and there was no purpose to hazard the .
lives of 1900 men on any of our ships
when reports had come from widely sep
arated sources. one Of them quite in de-
tail. Of the approach of the Spanish ships
While it is inexpedient 70 give the make
up of the convoy fleet yet some general
idea may be given Of the warships which
might be drawn upon for this service
There are a number OF ships which have
been doing scout duty and others held
in reserve. while Commodore Watson-s
large blockading feet in front Of Havana
gives another source from which the con-
voy fleet can be made up.
The fine auxiliary ships ---.e the Yale
and Harvard, with the torpedo boats,
could be used for scouc duty. their swift
ness permitting them 10 go far ahead as
pickets for the approaching fleet. The
smaller cruisers. gunhoats and torpedo
boats. are also available. Some of the
ships which could be used with the IN
diana are the Henela, Bancroft Marietta.
Wilmington. Castne. Cincinnati.
Detroit, Montgomery. Annapolis. Vicks-
burg. Ericsson. upont, Gushing. Foote.
As stated. there is no desire TO give this
rs an exact list Of the convoy squadron.
bat it merely indicates with what facility
the naval authorities can meet present
conditions. without in any way weakening
Admiral SIMPSONS command of Santiago
Or Commodore Watson's command off Ha-
Sana. Admiral Sampson viii SIN have
ZEN or more ships. Including the formula
bic battieships Iowa, Massachusetts and !
Oregon and the armore1 cruisers New l
York and Brooklyn. The blockading
squadron viii continue 20 have twelve or :
more ships, including the four big mon ,
tors Puritan, Terror. Amphitrite and
Nisntonomah Besides the fleet OF six !
teen convoy vessels there viii be from 50 {
10 80 transport ships making in all a re- {
hotila % transports and naval / 7
!
The war department today gave out an
official list of the transports thus far
hired, in order 10 clear up erroneous re-
ports. The list shows fifty ships char 7
cred along the Atlantic coast and ten on !
he Pacific. These along the Atlantic Will "
'e used in the main. for embarking troop {
rom florida. aud those on the Pacific for
ne troops for Manila. f
FOR FEAR 1T MAY BE TRUE :
Washington. June 1o.-An Of the mem n