The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-30
Action Of the Torpedo Flo
tiJIa Considered Almost
Hostile.
Naval Strategists Say Flotilla
Should Not be Allowed
to Reach Western
Waters.


The United States Fleet Is Put On
War Footlngs.
Washington, March "a The last
day before the arrival of the report
Of the Maine court Of inquiry was
one of unexampled activity in all off
| cial quarters Advices came early
that the Spanish torpedo fotiila had
sailed from the Canaries for Puerto
Rico and from this moment the most
energetic werlike measures followed
one another in constant succession.
The movement of this feet had been
watched with the keenest, interest
as it was felt to involve
| serious possibilities which might
compel the United States gov.
ernment to protest against the
movement as of hostile character.
Immediately upon the receipt Of
the official dispatch from Que of our
naval attaches abroad, briefly an
| nouncing the sailing of the feet. :he
fact was made known to the Presi-
dent and an earnest conference was
held between him and Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt.
The seriousness of the movement was
fully considered and the President
was advised that naval s.rategists re
garded It as essential that this tor
pedo feet should not be allowed to
reach western waters What. if any
conclusion was reached, is not known.
Later in the day the Spanish minister,
Senor Poloy Bernabe, called at the
state department. and spent some time
with Judge Day. 1t was naturally
inferred that the approach of the
Spanish fotilla was one of the sub
jects referred to. Whether, however
there was any suggestion against this
move was not disclosed by either
Judge Day or the Spanish minister.
both of whom maintained the strictest
reticsnce regarding their conference
Following the fotilla announce
ment, Important news came rapidly
The first was this announcement by
Secretary Long indicating the plac-
ing of our squadron and feet on a
war footing:
admiral Sicard has been granted
leave very much 60 the regret Of the
navy department, on account Of his
health.
"Cap.. Sampson has been made
commander of the feet at Key West
Capt Evans has been ordered to take
command of the battleship Iowa
"The orders to the squadron in
Hampton Roads have not yet been is
sued !"
Although the announcement did
not state, it soon became known that
Commodore W. s. Schley was slated
to command the "fying squadron %
This announcement was recognized
as of unusual Importance at this
juncture. Admiral Sicard has been
in command of the feet at Key Weet
throughout the critical period of the
Maine disaster. Capt. Sampson has
been in command of the Iowa, but
more recently has been conspicuous
before the public as president of the
Maine court of inquiry. Capt. Robley
Evans is better known as Fighting
Bob"
Tie next important move was de
termination to create a joint com
mission from the war and navy DC
partments so as to Bring them into
harmonious action on all measures
Capt Barker, the naval aide of Sec
retary Long, was designated to rep
resent the navy department in this
common plan of action. The repre-.
sentative of the war department has
not yet been named 1t will not be
necessary for these two officers tc
leave Washington, as they can best
arrange a joint plan of action in con
ference with the bureau chiefs of the
two departments here. Then at the
close of day came an announcement
that the navy department bad sue
ceeded in purchasing eight steam
yachts and four steam tugs. presuna
bly, at and near New York, for use il,
the auxiliary naval feet The boats
are about 400 tons each, and in an
emergency would be suitable as tor
pedo boats The yachts purchased
are among the feetest along the At
laptic coast and ere said to be some
what similar to the Mayhower re
Gently purchased by the Ogden Goe
let estate This acquisition to the
navy is regarded as an exceptionally
valuable one at the present time, as
the greatest need is felt for email