The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-04-16

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take charge, and his acceptance as
marked by his active operation Of
Monday last, Is an epoch-making event
in the history OF the present difficulty.
No other action of this government
since the Maine disaster so actively de-
terr,:nes the fac: that actual warfare
has been expected. The North At
lantic squadron is always organized,
and the appointment of Capt. Sampson
to it's command is but the natural Sc
quence of the retirement Of Rear Ad-
miral Sicard from active duty. So
the assignment of ships of war to that
squadron are but moves toward mo-
bilization that might occur at any
time. But flying squadrons are the
direct outcome Of dangerous condi-
items; are necessities Of standing
navies in times Of peace and are ex-
petitions Of an extraordinary nature
created only when the government full
ly decides that there is fear Of attack
or that the time is ripe for an attack
from here. 1t is, therefore, not only
possible, but highly probable, that the
new American flying squadron has
work cut out for 1t.
The fleet practically gathered and al
together proposed that will bear this
euphonious title was one of the most
formidable that a be gathered to-
gether by any nation. Egotistically
in favor of the United States as that
statement may be, the facts bear it
out. In average rate Of speed, in ar
mored protection, in caliber and num-
Der of guns, and in fighting quality and
discipline of men, it can be proven
that the composition of. this
Flying Squadron IL Superior,
point Of numbers being equal, to any
organization Of like nature to be
formed by a foreign power. When, on
Monday morning, Commodore Schley
raised his flag on the Brooklyn, evil
dence Of the unmistakable character
vas apparent that every man from
stoker to commandant was not only
fearless of battle, but hoped it would
come. The email caliber gun that
fired the c~ommodore's salute with
blank cartridges sang out a high
pitched paeon of welcome and peace.
About the land-locked water of Hamp-
ton Roads, where thirty-fve years ago
the Monitor and Merrimac fought
their terrible battle sunshine touched
the hills just assuming their emerald
garb and nature awoke, after her hi
bernation, caressing the hills, spoke
only Of peace. But rs the smoke blows
by, in every eye was the kindling
spark of vengeance for fellow seamen
hurled to death and the hope that the
cannon's tenor note might be changed
to the dreadful one of
In the makeup of the flying squad
ron speed and fighting qualities have
been considered. A summary of the
points in comparison with those Of the
best boats that Spain can offer in max
ing up a similar squadron follows:
Name. Tons Power Knots
Brooklyn ........ 0,271 $1,000 %
Columbia ........... 6,315 1900 %
Massachusetts, 5000. 1925 1900 II
Spnin's Crack Ships.
The four best armored cruisers that
Spain has. compared with this fleet Of
flyers, would be as follows:
Horse Speed
Name. Tons Power Knots
vizcaya ........... 1000 5000 70
Infanta Maria 1000. 1000 1900 20
Peiayo :'..' . 9, 90" , e'0o0 ~
The total displacement tonnage Of
the United States flying squadron is
43, 100, and of the Spanish only 10000.
The average horse power Of the United
States vessels is 1880, and that Of the
Spanish 11,75O. The average rate of
speed of the four United States ships
is 21 3-8 knots per hour. while the
Spanish feet has to content itself with
10 knots. The great point of vantage
of this fleet, however, is in thickness Of
armor caliber Of guns and the fighting
qualities Of the men. There r five
~thirteen-inch guns on the proposed
American flying squadron, while the
whole Spanish navy has not one, and
only two twelve-inch guns. OF twelve
inch guns our squadron has four, and
of eight-inch guns, fourteen. Spain's
four selected vessels have five eleven
inch guns and the rest are mainly FIVE
inch. These are the points Of adj
vantage that Commodore Schley's feet
would like to demonstrate In an actual
fight.
COMES DOWN SOME.
Spain Accepts an Armistice Upon
Advice of the Pope.
st. Paul, April 5. = The New York
Herald's special cable to the Pioneer
Press from Madrid Says:
Last night the situation looked as
black as it could be, but 10Y it has