New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-05

RE ORDERED SOUTH
IN, TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1nuxEl
.,r,ort News Va. May 4.-The Tribune to-
~, wrought to Old Point Comfort the first
.m,ben,ic information OF the important changes
~ no r1ade IN the makeup Of both the Flying
c,usdron. under Commodore schley. and the
xnr,hcrn Patrol Fleet. under Commodore
Howell
Tho exclusive publication OF the orders which
..oched the crack cruiser Columbia from Com
-.oaore Schley's command and transferred 1t
a. the Patrol Fleet as Howells flagship, In
.,oce O, the San Francisco, and which detached
che cruiser New Orleans from the latter squad
ron 10 Hampton Roads. to replace the Column
,ia was new and surprising news at that. 70
.,s majority Of the officers and all OF the guests
a. Old Point.
The New-Orleans will be welcomed right roy
.uv BY Commodore Schley and his corps OF Off
csr.. who were beginning to fear that the fleet
.ser ships the Columbia and the Minneapolis
,ad been ordered TO PARKWAY waters as per-
nanent protection for Northern seacoast cities
,bus depriving the Flying Squadron OF its swift
.s, II not strongest. members.
The new addition the squadron will arrive
At Old Point It is expected, some time on Fri
day probably in the morning. This unexpected
change will naturally effect transfer OF cap
tains well as ships. Captain Folger Of the
New Orleans will become OF Commodore
schley's counsellors. while Captain Sand OF
the Columbia will be Commodore Howelrs
right hand man In the direction OF the move
ments Of the fleet OF protected and auxiliary
cruisers which will guard the interests OF New
York. Boston. Newport and other coast cities
OF the North
MINNEAPOLIS MAY ALSO GO.
The transfer Of the Columbia is not the only
surprise likely TO be sprung by Secretary Long
on the officers OF the Flying Squadron In the
near future 1t is possible that the Minneapolis
under Captain Jewell. which IS now cruising
around off the coast Of Massachusetts,. may be
permanently relieved from duty with the Flying
Squadron to join Commodore Howel's COM
mand in which event IT will be necessary for
the Department to select another warshp TO
make up the quintet Of fighters which Will
70 with Commodore Schley wherever ordered.
The cruiser Newark now et the Norfolk Navy
Yard Is likely 70 be the ship selected for this
duty. In case the Minneapolis follows Howens
fag and the Flying Squadron remains in these
waters until the work Of overhauling her is
completed The Navy Yard officials expect to
have the Newark ready for duty by Sunday.
Nav o. at the latest. She is practically a new
cruiser having been thoroughly renovated re-
fitted and partly rebuilt. She Is a sister ship
20 the San Francisco Of the patrol fleet. Among
the additions 10 her armament are four torpedo
tubes.
A naval officer. with whom the Tribune cor
,asnondent conversed several days ago. IS au-
thority for the statement that the Navy De-
partment would shortly get over Its desire 10
have the Flying Squadron composed or stanch
wErships and The patrol fleet OF nothing except
AUXILIARY cruisers barring the flagship. This
1T &c
the reason that the converted squadron would
be at the mercy Of few Of the enemys ships
carving guns CT heavy cabre
SQUADRON MAY BE DIVIDED.
II looks now as II the Department intends to
snr. IN the squadron, leaving the Brooklyn,
@ha Massachusetts, and the Texas with Commo-
dore Schley as his fighting strength. and II the
opinions OF naval officers count for anything. 1t
IS not at all unlikely that he Will get two or
more Of the big auxiliaries 10 be attached to the
Flying Squadron for scouting purposes. Com
1nodore Schley. Of course, Will nave nothihg 10
saw about the future Of his squadron In fact.
one Of the Commodores peculiarites IS 10 con-
firm as little as possible. but his reasons for
that are found in instructions from tho Depart
n.nt. which require all official news TO be
closalv Guarded An illustration CT this is the
manner in which Commodore Scnley kept the
secret of the exchange Of the Columbia Tor the
New Orleans from the host OK newspaper eo'
respondents at Old Point
HOPING TO GO SOUTH
The officers OF the Flying 5quadron are almost
4, rsge They are annoyed 10 think that the
,n,ure OF their command Is uncertain. and that
there is no knowing whether or not they VIII
,aka a hand In the Spanish American war FRO
motions come slow when ships are nuIuIeuS ~,
miles from the scene of action, ana -" ar ~.
officers who IRE not continue ''' ~
Tbere is a smothered hope in the breasts OF
Commodore Schleys commanders t!'ae ur' ~.
rort bulletined at Old Point tonight about tie
yossihle departure OF the New YORK. the 10" =.
and the Indiana meet the oregon may mn 1 49,
necessary send the three armored si'p1 ~ % na
Flying Squadron South 70 carry out IN =,
parfmert plans in regard TO the cdpIuiS VI
Porto Rico In fact. this seems to be ! last nope
with some OF the officers. IN, o,-.u,o,ae,
Richardson clover In command passed OAu
Point this afternoon. on her way lTon, 'he ~ 10
folk Navy Yard to Key Wes,. w n we ranairs
made and took on coal and supplies ior tire
rest Of her voyage. The cruiser fpselnt f ~,
leave the shiDyard to-moTo" eVehIut ~, a ~
NAVY Yard AT Portsmouth If no furfher oroerS
are received calculated 10 delay me |olh. dn
Dixie cannot get away before SATURDAY WI. ne
70 further changes made in the plans by me
Department The hospital ship Soece Is "a.
ready TO sail for Southern waters on receip,
OF orders The Red Cross nag has pren hos go
70 her foremost. all supplies are aooars am AM
she nov has s,eam I'D. in anticipation OF final
orders 10 Commander Duncan
TO JOIN THE FLYING SQUADRON.
THE CINCINNATI RELIEVED FROM CUBAN b'/'oN-
AIDE DUTY
Washington. May (specaD.-The Cincinnati
which has had continuous duty for two years III
The South Atlantic. and recently came hor'h - Jo''
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron, has been ren l ei
from blockade duty on the coast or CuDa anu W,
60 70 the Norfolk Navy Yard 10 have her Dgis h
fetubed Her crew mas been continually under tne
Tropical sun for over year. and IN c3,iisc! In
y not In az good health as the othcr s.iIp' ennl