Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-18

the navy department is animated by any
purpose of yielding to representation
or intimations that may have come IRON
the Spanish minister, as to the mischie
caused by the gathering OF SO large
naval force as Admiral Sicard's fleet II
the vicinity of Cuba.
On the contrary the formation of the
new squadron was brought about by
purely strategic considerations, al
though it appears from the nature OF
the force so far under orders torendez-
vous at Hampton Roads, that this STRAIT
egy is of the defensive nature. The
new squadron cannot be called the fly
ing squadron, because the association OF
heavy battleships with fleet cruisers
like the Brooklyn, Columbia and M1nne-
apolis. reduces the available speed of the
whole to the speed of the slowest vessel,
and the squadron could not do much
flying" 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 in
fluences have been at work in the navy
department to bring about this change
Although other ships to be added to
the squadron have not yet been definite
ly selected, it is surmised that they will
include some of the other battleships at
KEY West, and the armed cruiser New
York, in which case Admiral Sicard, it
is believed, will command the new force.
In place of the cruiser New York, the
people Of Key West will look upon the
grim outlines of the big monitor Puri-
tan, supposed to be the most powerful
ship in smooth water in the world. She
will have to assist her on guard the dou-
BILE turreted monitor Miantonomoh, and
the monitor Amphitrite. The Puritan is
oh ~ a almost Tna9U for
the Miantonomoh is at League Island,
quite ready, and so is the Amphitrite at
Port Royal, S. c.
The order will, in the end, result in the
gathering of the pick of the North At
lantic squadron at Hampton Roads. The
point is aid to be the best strategical
one on the Atlantic coast. 1t is almost
centrally located, and the ships from
that point can reach any portion of the
coast in short order, which is regarded
as desirable since no one can tell just
where flotilla of torpedo destroyers or
a fast cruiser may turn up with intent
to attack a town. Besides, the second
best navy yard in the country is there
to fall back upon for repairs to the
ships.
There is plenty of the best coal at
Newport News, there is easy water to
navigate, and finally, the forts at
I1dUlDlOu IAOotl0 may SNA ' z o. q be19t VI
operations in case of need for protec-
ton.
1t is announced that the remainder of
the new squadron mas not vet been Sc
lected, and pending that selection, or the
arrival in port of Admiral Sicard, it is
expected that Capt Higginson, the
commander of the battleship Massachu-
sets and the senior officer, will hold
command of the squadron. Remaining
,,r.Ex,
Massachusetts and the Texas, Admiral
Sicard will still have fleet of his own
in numbers, when the spectacle will be
presented of fleet and a squadron on
one station, something not seen since
the civil war. The monitors, which it
is designed to send to Key West, are
said to be we'll fitted for the service.
Owing to their light draught OF from Is
to Is feet, they will be able to navigate
safely the shallow waters Of the Flor
ida coast, and will not be obliged, like
from Key West, TO secure enough water
under keel.
The gunboat Helena reported to the
department that she had sailed today
from Funchal, Madeira for Key West
to Join the squadron. 1t is now said
that it has been determined to bring
the battleship Oregon around South
America to Key West. The navy de-
partment has issued orders that such
trial as may be made of the new tor
pedo boat Rodgers, shall take place while
the boat is under way Saturday next
from Baltimore to Norfolk She also
will go southwark to join the fiotilla at
Key West. The Columbia and Mime
apolis are still each 260 men short of
their full quota, but it is expected that
enough men will be secured in the