The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-22
TO FORM NEW SQUADRON
WILL BEGIN WITH FIVE SHIPS
IN HAMPTON ROADS.
MANY BUSES GIVEN FOR MAKING CH1kGE
Captain Higginson Will Probably Be in Com
mand--BattIe-Ship Massachusetts, and
Texas 10 be Withdrawn from Key
West--Busy Recruiting Men.

West-busy Recruiting Men.
Washington. u. c., March 1.-THE
event Of the day in official circles was
the issue Of an order for the formation.
of Il new squadron of Naval vessels To
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-
chusctts and Texas, are Withdrawn
from the present North Atlantic fleet
at Key West and TortugaS. It would
be 4 grave mistake to suppose that in
ordering this movement the Navy De
partment is animated by any purpose
of yielding to representations or intima-
tons that may have come from the
Spanish Minister. as to The mischief
caused by tie gathering Of SO large a
Naval force as Admir Sicards fleet
in the vicinity OF Cuba. On the con
trary the formation of the new squad,
ron was brought about by purely strate-
sic considerations, although it appears
from the nature OF the force so far under
orders to rendezvous at Hampton
Roads, that this strategy is of the de-
fcnsive nature. The new squadron
cannot be called Il 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
squadron could not do much dying
i'll 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 1T work in the Navy Department 10
bring about this change. and as Il policy
board, headed by Captain CrowninshielI
has been in frequent session of late at
the department, it Is believed that it
has endorsed the plan at last. Although
TIE other ships to be added to the squad
ron have not yet been definitely selected,
it is surmiScd that they will include
some of the other battle ships at Key
West and the armored 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 lie big monitor Puri-
tan, supposedly the most powerful ship
in smooth water in the whole worlu.
She will nave to assist her on guard the
douhlc-turrcted monitor NTiantonomah
and the monitor .Amphitritc. The Puri-
tan is now at Norfolk almost ready for
sea. the M:antonomah is at League IS
land quite ready and so is the Amphi-
trite at Port Royal. s. G.. SO the order
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. 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 de-
SRA bic since no one can tell just where
4 fiotilla of torpedo destroyers or Il fast
cruiser may turn up with hostile intent
10 attack a 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 rs Il base of operations
in case of need fer protection. These are
the considerations which animated the
Navy Department in making this new
order. 1t is announced that the com-
manler of the new squadron has not
yet been selected and. pending that 81
lection or the arrival III port Of Admiral
Sicard. it is expected that Captain ing
SIfStIl. 10 toililIttIItltI VI LIZ bdlt'
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 will still
have Il fleet Of his own in numbers.
when the spectacle will be presented Of
a fleet and q squadron on one station,
son ching not seen since the civil war.
The monitors. which it is designed TO
send to Key West. are said to be well
fitted 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 be 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 to the
department that she had sailed today
from Funclal, Madeira. for Key West
to join the squadron. 1t is now said
/ that it has been definitely determined to
bring the battleship Oregon around
South America to Key West. The Navy
Department has issued orders that such
trial as may be made Of the new torpedo
boat Rodgers shall take place while the
boat is under way Saturday next from
Baltimore to Norfolk. She also will 20
southwark to JOIN the h0tllla at Key
West. The Columbia and Minneapolis
are still each 8 men short of their
full quota. but it is expected that enough
men Will be secured in the course Of q
few days to enable the ships to be sent
to Hampton Roads to execute the or
ders issued today. The Naval recruiting
officers are meeting with success at
New Orleans. Yesterday they secured
40 men who We're professionally fitted
for the Navy.
The ~semi-Official statement given out
at Madrid advancing the governments
view that a demand for indemnity based
on Spanish responsibility for the Maine
explosion. would Indignantly be repealed
by Spain, attracted much interest III
official circles. There has been little
doubt for some time that Spain was