The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-05-11
SIMPSONS FLEET.

Admiral SIMPSONS two big battleships
are equivalent to any four vessels the
Spanish may have in the viciniay of
Porto Rico There is considerable con-
lecture as to the ships Sampson is ex-
pscted to fight to-day and it may be, that
none of those reported to have left Cape
Verde, had any intention of crossing the
Atlantic. Sompsons two best vessels,
the Iowa and Indiana, are each of over
10000 tons displacement and have aspeed
of about sixteen knots an hour. The
Iowa has four l2-inch, eight S-inch, six
4-inch rapid fire, twenty pd., besides
four machine guns and six torpedo tubes.
The Indiana's armament is very similar,
except that she carries four 13-inch guns
and seven torpedo tubes, These vessels
are heavily armored and are expected to
stand the brunt of the fighting. The
cruiser New York is as big as the Wis
caya, and good deal swifter. 1t is only
lightly protected and carries six s-inch,
twelve 4-inch rapid-fire, eight 6 pd., four
l pd., and four machine guns. SIMPSONS
other cruiser the Montgomery, has two
6-inch, four 4-inch, four pd., three pd.
and two machine guns. The two moni-
tors, the Terror and the AmphiIrite are
each of about 4 200 tons displacement and
each carries tonr lOS inch and four ma
chine guns. The torpedo boat May yflower
has speed of twenty knots an hour and
carries two 5-inch guns in addition to the
usual torpedo tubes and smaller guns.
The Spanish squadron that is now
probably in Porte Rico harbor, consists
of the Infanta Maria Teresa, the Almi-
rante Oquendo, the Crstobal Colon and
the Viscaya and three torpedo boat de-
stroyers, the Furor, the Pluton and the
Terror. All four cruisers are of nearly
the same displacement, 1000 tons and
carry about the same armament. Each
one is armed with two l1-inch, ten 81 o.
S-inch Honoria guns and from twelve to
sixteen guns of the smaller type and
from four to eight torpedo tubes. They
are all very swift vessels and could easily
keep out of reach of our battleships and
monitors if they chose. Seventeen Span
ish vessels have been reported as hover
ing about Porto Rico but it is not at all
probable that the actual fighting force OF
of the squadron is much greater than
given above. And it may be that Spain
is still pursuing her old tactics and keep
ing her fleet within easy reach of Madrid.
Ia that event Admiral Simpsons
squadron will have to hurl itself against
the Notifications in San Juan harbor.
His entire fleet, with the single exception
of the New York are full iron clads, COW
cred with nickls-steel Harveyized plate.
Nine inches of this is more than equal in
resisting power to twelve inches thick
ness ofthe older armor of the Spanish
vessels.
The engagement will be awaited with
the greatest interest. 1t will give Amer
lean gunners their first opportunity of
hurling thirteen-inch shells, at modern
fortification. Upon Admiral Simpsons S
success depends the speedy termination
of the war. If Porto Rico is subsided,
there will be little necessity for Havana
making fight of it. Spain may en-
deavor to oppose treaty of peace but it
will be only short time, before she is
| compelled to succumb,-DeTTicE.