Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-18
ANOTHER MOVE IN THE PREPARA-
TIoN FOR DEFENSE.
TO FORM AT HAMPTON ROADS.
MASSACHUSETTS AND TEXAS ARE TO
LEAVE KEY WEST.
Their Places to De Taken by Monitors
Rest of the Squadron to BE
Made Up of Cruisers-Ore.
Eon Coming Around
the Horn.

Washington. March 1.-THE event of the
day in official circles was the issuing of
an order for the formation OF a new squad
ron of naval vessels to be stationed at
Hampton Roads. The squadron, in the be-
ginning. will consist of five ships, all the
best OF their types. Two of them, the bat
tleships Massachusetts and Texas. are
withdrawn from the present North At
lantic feet at Key West and Tortugas.
In ordering this movement, the navy de-
partment is not animated by any purpose
of yielding to representations or intima-
tions that may have come from the new
Spanish minister. On the contrary. the
new squadron was brought about by purely
strategic considerations, although it ap-
pears. from the nature of the force SO far
under orders to rendezvous at Hampton
Roads, that this strategy Is of the defen-
sfve nature. The new squadron cannot be
called a flying squadron" because the as
sociation of heavy battleships with fleet
cruisers like the Brooklyn, Columbia and
Minneapolis reduces the available speed of
the whole to the speed of the slowest ves-
sci, and the squadron could not do much
flying" in the naval sense. The indica-
tons 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.
Although the other ships to be added to
the squadron have not yet been definitely
selected, 1t is surmised that they will in
ciude some of the battleships 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
the big monitor Puritan, supposedly the
most powerful ship in smooth water in the
world. She will have to assist her on guard
the double-turreted monitor Mantonomah
and the monitor Amphitrite. The Puritan
is now at Norfolk almost ready for sea.
The Miantonomah is at League island.
quite ready. and so is tho Amphitrite, at
Port Royal, S. C.
So the order, in the end, will result in
the gathering Of the pick of the North At
lantic squadron at Hampton Roads. The
point is said to be the best strategic point
on the Atlantic coast. 1t is most centrally
located, and the ships from that point can
reach any portion of the coast in short or
der, which is regarded as desirable. since
no one can tell just where a flotilla Of
torpedo destroyers or a fast cruiser may
turn up with hostile 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, plenty of the best
coal is at Newport News. there is easy
water to navigate. and. finally, the forts
at Hampton Roads mad serve as a base
of operations in case of need for protec-
ton. These are the considerations which
animated the navy department in making
this new order.
1t is announced that the commander of
the new squadron has not yet been selected,
and, pending that selection or the arrival
in port of Admiral Sicard, it is expected
that Captain Higginson. the commander of
the battleship Massachusetts, and the senior
officer, will hold the command of the squad
ron.
parture of the Massachusetts, and the Tex
as, Admiral Sicard will still have pow
erful fleet of his own. when the spectacle
will be presented of fleet and 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 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 Florida coast. and will not ne obliged
like the Iowa, to lie six miles out at sea
from Key West in order to secure enough
water under her keel.
The gunboat Helena reported to the de-
partmnt that she had sailed to-day from
FunchaI, 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 will also
go southwark 10 join the fiotilla at Key
West.
The Columbia and Minneapolis are still
each 2so men short of their full quota. but
| it is expected that enough men will be Sc
cured in the course of a few days to en-
able the ships to be sent to Hampton roads
to execute the orders issued to-day.
| The naval recruiting officers in the South
are meeting with success at New Orleans
Yesterday they secured forty men who are
| well fitted professionally for the navy.
The Spanish minister called at the state
department at 3 o'clock and remained with
| Judge Day for something over an hour
| Both parties TO the conference. were eN-
| tremeiy reserved at its conclusion. 1t is
| understood however. that il developed nc
new phases. but was general talk in
! which pacific assurances We're exchanged
and a hopeful view of the situation eX.
pressed. At that time the naval orders TAX
| ing the battleships Texas and Massachu
sets from Key West and assigning them
| TO the fleet at Hampton roads was not
| known at the state department. so that the
| minister was not officially informed of the
| fact. He heard it later. however. and. nat.
| ura!!y. was much gratilied. as the gradua
Strengthening OF the American fleet at Key
| West has been the source of grave appre
hension by the Spanish government.
A new TORPEDO BOAT.