Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-03-30
PAINTING Them BLACK.
The White Squadron is Under
going Last Preparations.
CAPT. SAMPSON PLACED IN COMMAND.
The Spanish FlotiIla Moving Westward But
May be Intercepted--The Flying Squad
ron Lies OFF Hampton Roads
Prepared to Fly"

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 24-Lieu-
tenant Commander Mark and his
naval companions, bearing the re-
port of the Maine court of inquiry,
reached Washington al 9:35 tonight,
the train being exactly on time. The
crowd was SO dense at h depot
that the party left the train outside
of the shed and took carriages for
the Ebbitt thouse, where the officers
will spend the night. They were
met at the station by an official OF
the navy department, who informed
them that the Secretary OF the Navy
would not receive their report to-
night. The last day before the ar
rival of the report Of the Maine court
of inquiry was one of great activity
in all official quarters. Advices came
early that the Spanish torpedo 10
tilla had sailed from the Canaries for
Porto Rico, and from this moment
most Industrious warlike
followed each other in constant sue
cession. The movement of this fleet
was watched with the keenest in
terest, as it was felt to involve Sc
rious possibilities which might COM
pei the United States government to
protest against the movement as OF
a hostile character. Immediately
upon the receipt of the official dis
patch from one of our naval attaches
abroad briefly announcing the sail
ing of the fleet, the fact was made
known to the president and an earn
est consultation was held between
him and Secretary Long n Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt. The Sc
robustness of the movement was fully
considered, and the president was
advised that naval strategy re-
garded it as essential that this tor
pedo fleet should not be allowed to
reach western waters. Admiral 81
card has been granted leave, very
much to the regret of the naval de-
partment, and altogether Oh account
been made commander of the fleet at
Key West. The next important
move vas the determination to Gre
ate a joint commission from the war
and naval departments, 80 as to
bring them into harmonious action
on all measures. The announcement
is made that the naval department
has purchased eight steam yachts
and Jour steam tugs. The yachts
are among the fieetest along the At
lantic coast. The report of the
board of inquiry will be sent to con-
gress on Monday, with a very brief
message relating the facts leading
up to that point and informing con-
gress that the facts contained in the
report have been cabled to Madrid
to be laid before the Spanish govern
ment. No demand will be made
upon Spain but the laying of the
will be equivalent to calling upon
Spain for an explanation and such
action as she may deem proper. The
second part of the presidents pro-
gramme, which is the main question,
and involves intervention on human
itarian grounds within q week or
ten days after the report of the
board goes to congress. 1t will be
intervention to relieve starvation in
Cuba, and upon SPANS acquiescence
in or objection to this act, will de-
pend peace or war.
The orders issued by the navy de-
partment during the day covered
every branch of naval armament.
The flying squadron" was definitely
established, with Commodore w. s.
Schley In command. He will hoist
his commodore's flag on the flag
ship Brooklyn next Monday. The
squadron is to consist of exactly five
ships. Those of the sqadron will be
the crack armored cruiser Brooklyn,
the battle ships Massachusetts and
Texas, and cruisers Columbia and
Minneapolis. Other ships which are
now or hereafter at Hampton Roads
will not be of the flying squadron,
but will belong to the North Attain
tic station under Captain Sampson.
The flying squadron is to be a small
fleet of the best ships in the
for quick service at any point
the Atlantic.
Late today the navy department
out the following list OF vessels
rs showing the exact character of
each fleet as it stands today: 1.-THE
vessels compose the North
Atlantic squadron: New York,
Indiana, MiantonOmah, Fern,
Terror, Marblehead, Mont
yomery. Delaware astine, Nashville,
Helena, Wilmington, Vesuvius; tor
,edo boats Foote, Dupont, Ericsson,
;ushing, Porter, Winslow; tugs Ley
len and Samoset. |
THE following vessels compose the