The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
THE SPANISH FLoTILLA
Its Movements Watched by Naval Off,
Gers with Keen Interest

GERS with Keen Interest
WASHINGTON, March 26-No protest or
representations of any kind respecting the
advance of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla
have been made up to the present time, so
far as can be learned in the best-posted
quarters. The movements of this fiotilla
continue to be watched with the keenest in
terest by naval officials, and close estimates
are being made as to their location to-day
and the time intervening before their arrival
at Porto RiSc. The Navy Department cal
.9latss that the run from the Canaries to
San Juan, Porto Rico, which is expected
to be the first stopping point, is 1850 miles.
1t is believed they have already covered
about four hundred miles of This distance.
They are moving slowly, being retarded by
a collier which accompanies them, and the
rest of the trip will take from twelve to
fourteen days.
Although the movements are gravely dis
cussed by the highest naval officials, it is
not accompanied by any intimation that
steps toward actually intercepting the flo
tilla have been matured or even considered
except in the most general way. 1t is stated
on high authority that the reports that the
flying squadron under Commodore
Schley, might be utilized in this connection,
are not warranted by any steps thus far
taken. On the contrary, it is pointed out
the entire plan of the flying squadron" was
developed before the torpedo f1otilla left the
Canaries, and it was designed for quite an
other line of work.
In this connection Representative Hilborn,
of California, one of the senior members OF
the House committee on naval affairs, was
at the Navy Department to-day, and talked
of the Spanish fiotilla Mr. Hilborn pre-
scented new phase of the case, and one not
in line with the current view of naval
officials. 1T is not for us to interfere in
any way with the movement of the Spanish
torpedo 1otila or other Spanish vessels
said he. THE high seas are an open high
way to the ships of the world, and while
there is no declaration of war we are not in
position to say that these torpedo boats
shall not move as Spain sees fit to direct
them. When we are assembling our own
ships at Key West and other points it is
not the time for us to intercept the move
ments of Spanish ships. That would be an
overt act, and not permissible in the absence
of declaration of war"
The Navy Department has been advised
to-day that the monitor Terror had arrived
al Hampton Roads en- route to Key West
where she will join Captain. SIMPSONS
squadron. The Vicksburg has also reached
Hampton Roads. The flying squadron will
not complete it's organization until the mid
die or latter part of next week, although
its nucleus will be at Hampton Roads when
Commodore Schley hoists his pennant on
the flagship Brooknlyn next Monday. At
that time the Brooklyn and Massachusetts
will be the only ships of the prospective
flying squadron" the Texas being at the
New York navy yard to receive her ammu-
milton hoists, while the cruisers Columbia
and Minneapolis are expected to be ready
to leave League Island navy yard in time
TO reach Hampton Roads about the middle
OF next week. Already men and supplies
have been forwarded to League island for
the two cruisers Of this squadron. Sixty
sailors have come on from the old ship
Michigan, stationed on the great lakes, and
seventeen coal passers from the receiving
ship Wabash at Boston. These men are now
at League island and will be distributed be-
tween the cruisers Minneapolis and Column
bia. BY the end of next week the flying
squadron viii be complete in its organiza
ton of ships, men and armament.
Secretary Long has deferred to the judg-
ment OF Assistant Secretary Roosevelt as
20 the color which vessels of the navy are
to be painted. Yesterday 1t was announced
that snowy white, which has been the dis
tinctive color of and has given the name
20 the naval squadrons of the United States,
was to be changed to a piratical black. To
this color some objection was made by
naval officers as it was thought to afford
too striking a target for an enemy's guns.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt this morning
had q conference with Captain -rownin-
shield. chief OF the Bureau of Navigation.
al which Mr.. Roosevelt announced that he
would leave the matter OF painting the ships
ta The Squadron commanders. and orders to