The herald., 1898-06-11
NO RISK TO Be TAKEN
OF ATTACK BY STRAY SPANISH
CRUISERS
WARSHIPS NOW AT SANTIAGO
Have Cleared the Way for Landing
and Are Waiting for the
Troops
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, June 10.-Another for
midable American fleet has been assem-
bed, consisting of sixteen warships of va
rious classes, headed by the big battleship
Indiana, which for all around effectiveness
stands at the head of the navy. This fleet
is assembled at Port Tampa, and is to serve
as convoy for the troop transports from
that port. The formation of this formid-
able convoy fleet Is due to the reports more
or less indefinite that Spanish warships
were lurking between Florida and Cuba
with view of intercepting the troop trans
ports In order to avoid the slightest pos
sibiity Of a demonstration by Spanish ships
against the troop transports, this new fleet
of sixteen warships was determined upon
Whether 1t was ordered from Washington
or was due to the precautionary measures
of the officials in command in the South is
not disclosed. 1t is known only that Com
modore Remey, commanding the naval
base at Key West, has brought together
this powerful fleet of conveys. 1t is strong
enough, both in number of ships and of
individual ships and armament to cope with
any Spanish ships that might be at large,
and it entirely eliminates any possible dam
ger that might attend the transporting of
the army of invasion to Cuba. Captain
Taylor, who commands the Indiana, is
available as commander of this squadron,
although it is not disclosed definitely who
will be it's chief. Commodore Watson is
with the blockadng fleet off Havana and
cannot we'll be spared from that position
which will be maintained efficiently not
withstanding the drafts made to create this
large convoy squadron. Captain Taylor is
regarded as one of the most judicious and
capable officers in the service and should
the squadron command fall on him 1t is felt
that it will be in able hands. The Indiana
will probably be the flagship of the convoy
squadron. There probably will be other
battleships, but it is not deemed advisab BILE
for prudential reasons to give the full list.
The Indiana is one of the most formidable
ships afloat, being regarded by naval ex-
perts as superior as fighting machine to
the ships of the Terrible class in the British
navy. She has a displacement of 10,2SS
tons and has main battery of sixteen large
guns, besides. many smaller rapid fire and
machine guns in her secondary battery.
Her largest guns are of the 13-inch class,
four in number, mounted in turrets, two
forward and two aft.
The desirability of forming this fleet was
suggested by information coming through
official channels that Spanish ships left
Barcelona some days ago bound for Cuban
waters. This information came to the
State Department. 1t was to the effect that
the ships included three Spanish warships
and one transport. The information was
regarded as trustworthy. 1t was communi-
Gated to the Navy Department and led to
careful consideration. A little later came
the report from the ships off Florida that
suspicious looking vessels with military
tops have been seen in the offing. These
last reports were received with some cred
ulity, but naval officers were disposed to
dismiss them as myths. But the better ad-
vised ones, knowing of the reports as to
the sailing of Spanish ships from Barcelona,
look upon the matter as one which should
not be considered too lightly.
A single troop transport, carrying no
armor might be at the mercy of some
stray Spanish ship, and there was no pur-
pose to hazard the lives of 1900 men OF,
any of our ships when reports came from
two widely separated sources, one of them
quite in detail, of the approach of the
Spanish ships.
While it is inexpedient to give the make
up Of the convoy fleet yet some general
idea may be given of the warships which
number of ships which have been doing
scout duty and others which have been
held in reserve, while Commodore Wat
sons large blockading fleet in front of
Havana gives another source from which
the convoy fleet can be made up. The fine
auxiliary ships, like the Yale and Har-
ward, with the torpedo boats, could be
used for scout duty, their swiftness per-
mitting them to go far ahead as picxets
for the approaching fleet. The smaller
cruisers, gunboats and torpedo boats, are
also available. Some of the ships which
could be used with the Indiana are the
Helena, Bancroft, Marietta, New Port
Wilmington, Castine, Cincinnati, Detroit,
Montgomery, Annapolis, Vicksburg, Err
lesson, Dupont, Gushing and Foote. AS
stated there is no desire to give an exact
list of the convoy squadron. but 1t merely
indicates with what facility the naval
authorities can meet the conditions, with
out in any way weakening Admiral Samp-
sons command off Santiago, or Commo-
dore Watson's command off Havana.
Admiral Sampson will still have ten or
more ships including the formidable
battleships Iowa, Texas, Massachusetts
and Oregon, and the armored cruisers New
York and Brooklyn. The blockading
squadron will continue to have twelve or
more ships, including the monitors Puri-
tan, Terror, Amphitrite and Minantono-
nah.
Besides the fleet of sixteen convoy vcs-
sells there will be from 80 to so transport
ships, making in all remarkable fotilla
Of transports and naval conveys.
Waiting for Troops
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT WANDA, OFF SAN
TIAGO. June 0, 4 p. n.. via Kingston, Ia
maica, June 10. 7:40 a. m-The navy
awaits the army. The fighting ships of
Rear-Admiral Sampson and Commodore
Schley have battered down the coast de-
fenses of Southern Cuba and have sealed
UP Admiral Cervera's fleet in the harbor
of Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier
Merrimac in the channel running under
the shadows OF Ell Moro; have cut the
JIaytien cables, and now hold thirty-five
miles of the coast east of Santiago de
Cuba, including Guantanamo Harbor.
Under the cover of the guns of the fleet
Eastern Cuba may be safely invested by
land and sea, Admiral Cerveras feet an