The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-18
NEW SQUADRON FORMED
And Ordered to Rendezvous at
Hampton Roads.
A FINE STRATEGIC POINT
Any Place on the Coast Can Be Reached
in Short Order-Spain Gratified at
the Change - Intervention
Will Lead to War.

Washington, March 1.-THE event of
the day in official circles was the issu-
ing of an order for the formation of a
new squadron of naval vessels to be
stationed at Hampton Roads. The
squadron i'm the beginning will consist
of five ships. all the best of their types.
Two of them. the battleships Massa
chusetts and Texas, are withdrawn
from the present North Atlantic fleet at
Key West and Tortugas. In ordering
this movement the navy department is
not animated by any purpose of yield
ing to the 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 conditions. although
it appears from the nature of the force
SO far under orders to rendezvous at
Hampton Roads that this strategy is of
the defensive nature. The new squad
ron cannot be called a flying squad
RON because the association 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 vessel. and
the squadron could not do much fly
ing" in the naval sense The indca-
tions are that. when reinforced by some
smaller cruisers, the squadron will con-
stitute a squadron of naval defense.
For the past two months influences
have been at work in the navy depart
ment about this change and as a policy
board, headed by Captain Crownn-
shield, has been in frequent session of
late at the department. 1t is believed it
has endorsed the plan at last. Although
the other ships to be added to the
squadron have not yet been definitely
selected, it is surmised that they will
include some of the other battleships
at Key West and the armored cruiser
New York, i'm which case Admiral ST.
card. 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, supposedly the most powerful ship
in smooth water in the world. She will
have to assist her on guard the double
turreted monitor Miantonomah, 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 the Nfi1-
phitrite at Port Royal, s. c., so the
order in the end will result in the gath
ering of the pick of the North Atlantic
squadron at Hampton Roads. The point
is said 10 be the best strategic point
on the Atlantic coast. 1T is almost CEN
trally located and the ships from that
point can reach any portion of the
coast in short order. Besides the Sec
ond 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 Hampton Roads may serve as a base
of operations in case OF need for pro-
lection. These are the considerations
which animated the navy department
in making this new order. 1t is an
nounced that the commander of the
new squadron has not yet been select
ed, and pending that selection. or the
arrival in port of Admiral Sicard, it is
expected that Captain Higginson. the
commander Of the battleship Massa-
chusetts and the senior officer win hold
the command Of the squadron.
Remaining at Key West after the
departure of the Massachusetts, and the
Texas. Admiral Sicard will still have a
fleet of his own in numbers. when the
spectacle will be presented OF a fleet
and squadron on one station. something
not seen since the civil war.
The monitors which IL is designed to
send to Key West are said to be well
fitted for the service. Owing to their
light draught of from IL to Is feet they
Will be able TO navigate safely the
shallow waters of the Florida coast, and
VIII liOi w 3biibtis iihf TIE IONd- III Lt
six miles out at sea from Key West TO
secure enough water under her keel.
The gunboat Helena reported to the
department that she had sailed to-day
from Funchal. Madeira. for Key West.
TO join the squadron II Is now said
that it has been definitely determined
to bring the battleship Oregon around
South America east. The navy depart
ment 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 to join the fiotilla at
Key West The Columbia and Mime
apolis are still each 260 men short of
their full quota but ii is expected that
enough men will be secured in the
course of a few days 10 enable the ships
to be sent to Hampton Roads to execute
the orders Issued to-day.
The Spanish minister called at the
state department at o'clock and re-
manned with Judge Day something over
an hour. Both parties to the conference
were extremely reserved at it's conclu-
sion. II is understood. however. that II
developed no new phases. but was a
general talk. in which pacific assur-
anees were exchanged and a hopeful
view of the situation expressed At
that time the naval orders taking the
battieshtps Texas and Massachusetts
from Key West and assigning them 70
the fleet at Hampton Reads was not
known at the state department. 50 the
minister was not officially informed OF
the fact He heard il later, and was
naturally much gratifed as the gradual
strengthening OF the fleet az Key West
had been the subject of grave appre-
hensicn BY the Spanish government.
The semi-efficial statement given out
.lNs.gz
that a demand for indemnity based on
Spanish responsibility for the Maine
explosion would be Indignantly re-
PEELED by Spain. attracted much interest
in official circles. There has been little
doubt for some time thar Spain was
preparing for the contingency OF an
adverse report by the American court
OF inquiry. and 10 that cad was pre-
pairing go anticipate and offset IL by
making clear the governments policy