The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-18
STRATEGIC MOVE ON THE SEA.
NEW SQUADRON OF NAVAL VESSELS
TO BE FORMED.

the Finest Ships of Their Glass I'm
the Navy-niu Prepared to Put the
Army ON a War Footing-0rgnn-
ized Militia of the Nation Num-
bers 1I4,302 Men.
Washington, March 17.--The event Of the
day in official circles was the issue OF an
order for the formation of new squadron
OF naval vessels to be stationed at Hamp-
ton Roads. The squadron in the Begin
ming will consist of I've ships. all the best
of their types. Two of them. the battle-
ships Massachusetts and Texas, are with
drawn from the present North Atlantic
feet at Key West and Tortugas.
1t would be a grave mistake to suppose
that In ordering this movement the navy
department Is animated by any purpose OF
yielding to the protestations or intimations
that may have come from the SpanislB
minister, as TO the mischief caused by the ,
gathering of so large a naval force as ADJ
mlra Slcards fleet In the vicinity of Cuba-
On the contrary, the formation OF the
new squadron was brought about by
purely strategic considerations, although
It appears from the nature of the force sU
far under orders to rendezvous at Hamp-
ton Roads, that this strategy Is of the de-
fensive nature. The new squadron cam
not be called ''hying squadron" because
the association OF heavy battleships with
fleet cruisers like the Brooklyn. Columbian
and Minneapolis reduces the availabls
speed of the whole to the speed OF the slows
est vessel, and the squadron could not do
much flying" in the naval sense.
The Indications rather are that, wheu
reinforced by some smaller cruisers, the
squadron will constitute an ideal naval de-
fense. For the past two months influ-
ences have been at work In the navy de-
partment to bring about this change, and
as a policy board. headed by Capt. Crown
insheld has been in frequent session of
late at the department, IL Is believed thac
IL has indorsed the plan at last. Although
the other ships to be added TO the ssuad-
ron have not yet been definitely selected, it
is surmised that hey will include some oe
the other battleships at Key West and ths
armored cruiser New York, on which Ad-
miral Scard. 1t 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 whole world Sho
will have to assist her on guard the doubie
turreted monitor Mantonomoh and the
monitor Amphitrite. The Puritan Is now
at Norfolk almost ready for sea, the Mi
antonomoh is al League Island quite ready
and so is the Amphltrite at Port Royals
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 20 be the best strategtcally
on the Atlantic coas3. IL II almost CEN
trally located, and the ships from that
point can reach any portion of the coast
In short order, which is regarded as de-
sirabIe. since no one can tell just where al
fiotllla of torpedo destroyers or a fass
cruiser may tsrn up with hostile intent tn
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 may serve as
base of operations In case Of need for
protection These are the considerations
which animated the navy department in
making this new order
IL is announced that the commander OF
the new squadron has not yet been se-
lected, and pending that selection or the
arrival In port of Admiral Sicard, Ii is
OF the battleship Massachusetts,, and the
senior officer, will hold the command of
the squadron.
Remaining at Key West after the de-
parture of the Massachusetts, and Texas.
Admiral sicard will still have a fleet OF
his own In numbers, when the spectacle
will be presented of a fleet and squad
ron on one station something not seem
since the civil war. The monitors which,
IL Is designed to send to Key West ore.
said to be well fitted for the service Ow<
ing to their light draft of from fifteen to-
sixteen feet, they will be able to navigata
safely the shallow waters Of the Florida
coast, and will not be obliged, like ths
Iowa, 10 lie six miles out at sea from Key
West to secure enough water under tha
keel.
The gunboat Helena reported to the de-
partmcnt that she had sailed to-day from
Funchal, Madeira, for Key West TO Join
the squadron. IL Is now said that II las
been definitely determined to bring the
battleship Oregon around South Americas
to Key West. The navy department has
issued orders that such trial as may Ia
made of the torpedo boat Rodgers shalB
take place while that boat is under way
Saturday next from Baltimore to Nor
folk. She also will go southwark to join
the fotilla at Key West.
The Columbia and Minneapolis are stllB
Il Is expected that enough men will be se-
cured in the course of few days to enable
the ships to be sent 10 Hampton Roads
to execute the orders issued to-day.
The naval recruiting officers are meet
ing with success at New Orleans. Yester-
day they secured forty men who were pros
fessIonaIly fitted for the navy.
The largest measure of preparation yet
made by the war department to meet the
contingencies of the future probably has
Just been completed. It Is the prepara-
ton of q bill providing among other Sec
tions for the placing of the army on "a
war footing for the full strength of 100000
men. The bill has been carefully gone
over by the war department and was In
troduced In the House by Representatives
Hull chairman of the House COMMITTEES
on military affairs who, 1t Is expected,
win urge It vigorously. lnasmuch as II Is
an administration measure.
In view OF the possibility of a conflict
with Spain. considerable interest centers
Just now in the strength Of the militia
force, should they be called on In case OF
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