The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-24

Vessels Available i'm Case of Trouble
on the Atlantic Coast.


CHICAGO, Feb. 23.-The Tribune's Wash
ington correspondent says: Eight thousand
men are now at work in the various navy
yards and government gun factories rush.
ing work on armament and repairs so as to
put the ships of the navy in condition for
immediate service if it becomes necessary.
A formidable fleet is being gradually con-
centrated for use in Cuban waters when
ever needed. The so-called North Atlantic
squadron is at it's rendezvous between Key
West and the Dry Tortugas. Some of its
ships were dispatched TO the nearby ports
in the South for local celebrations, but
they are all within easy sail and some
which are nominally away have already re-
turned to their patrol duty. There are fif-
teen ships in this fleet. Detached from them
are three ships, including the big Brooklyn,
which are now TO the south and east of
Cuba.
Coming up the South American coast and
now at the Barbados and at La Guayra,
Venezuela, are the three ships of the South
Atlantic squadron. Across the bridgewater
are the four vessels of the European squad
ron, which is usually kept in the Mediter-
ranean. Three Of them are at Lisbon, where
they can be reached by cable, and one was
last reported at Madeira, on it's way home.
Held in reserve for coast defense are eleven
more ships. Some of them are undergoing
slight repairs, but they could all be ready
for active operations within a week or two.
From this it is seen that formidable fleet
of thirty-siX ships, embrac cling monitors
battle ships, cruisers, gunboatS and dis
patch boats can be put at sea ready for
fighting work inside of ten days. and more
than half the number are practically cleared
for action at the present time. The strength
of the different squadronS and the location
of ships now ready for service in Atlantic
waters are as follows:
Squadron of Attack
Cushing torpedo boat. at rendezvous.
Detroit, ten guns, at Mobile.
Dupont, torpedo boat, at Mobile.
Ericsson, torpedo boat, at rendezvous.
Fern, dispatch boat, at Havana.
Indiana, sixteen guns, at rendezvous.
Iowa, eighteen guns, at rendezvous.
Marbehead, ten guns, at New Orleans.
Massachusetts, sixteen guns, at rendez-
vous.
Montgomery. ten guns, at rendezvous.
Nashville, eight guns. at Galveston.
New York, eighteen guns, at rendezvous
Porter, torpedo boat, at Mobile.
Texas eight guns, at Galveston.
Vesuvius, dynamite gun vessel, at Bruins
wick, Ga
Squadron of Observation
Annapolis, six guns. at St 3, Thomas q41
Brooklyn, twenty guns, at st. Thomas
VickSburg, six guns, at ST. Kits.
South Atlantic Squadron
Castine, eight guns, at Barbados.
Cincinnati, eleven guns, at Barbados
Wilmington, eight guns, at La Guayra.
European Squadron
Bancroft, four guns, at Lisbon.
Helena, eight guns, at Lisbon
Machias, ten guns, at Medeira.
San Francisco, twelve guns, at Lisbon.
Coast Defense and Reserve
Terror four guns, at Norfolk.
Amphitrite, six guns, at Port Royal, 5. {.
Miantonomah. repairing at League island.
Puritan. ten guns, at Norfolk.
Columbia. eleven guns, at League island.
Foote, repairing at Norfolk.
Minneapolis at League island.
Winslow, torpedo boat, at Norfolk.
Essex six guns, at Port Royal S. G.
Newport at Greytown, Nicaragua.
Stiletto, torpedo boat at New York navy
yard.