The San Francisco call., 1898-04-30

SClluS lliC IOiOWlnSs 1HmcQldtely 1OI- lowing the receipt of the official infor- nation announcing the departure of the Spanish fleet from St. Vincent sailing orders were issued to the flying squad ron, under command of Commodore Schley. These orders are the result of discussion by the Naval War Board of the strategical considerations entering into the departure of the Spanish men of-war.
 Naturally the greatest secrecy is ob served as to the destination of the fly ing squadron, but 1t IS generally con ceded by naval experts having knowl edge of the plans of the board that the probabilities point to an immediate junction of the armored vessels under Commodore Schley and those com manded by Rear Admiral Sampson, and the placing of this formidable force at a central position where they can promptly resist any attack made by the Spanish fleet either upon the American coast or upon the blockading squadron surrounding Cuban ports.
 Tn addition to the orders to Commo- dore Schley's command, 1 learned to- day that telegraphic instructions have been sent to Cramps to hasten the com pletion of the American line steamer St Paul, and she will probably be ready for sea tomorrow Tte St. Louis and New York or Harvard are at Tomp- kinsville and the St Louis will be sent at once on scouting duty. The Paris Cor Yale), which is expected momen- tarily at New York, will be supplied with only four six-pounders, as were the St. Louis and the New York, and will be sent to sea 10 also act as scout.
 In determining the formation of a squadron composed entirely of ar mOred craft the department has been in fiuenced by a desire to have at hand force which could be depended on to de feat any fleet which might be sent to this side of the Atlantic by Spain. For some days past, as the Herald has stated. the War Board has been carefully consider ing the advisability of forming this squadron, and 1t needed but the depar- ture of the Spanish ships to cause the necessity of such action to appear press ing.
 Commodore Schley's fleet. as at pres ent constituted, is not sufficiently strong to meet the Spanish vessels. even the first division, composing four armored cruisers and three torpedo boat destroy CTS. Two of his ships, the Minneapolis and Columbia, are on scouting duty and under orders to pick up any Span ish merchantmen which they might hap pen to meet Commodore Schley. there fore, has at Hampton Roads only the armored cruiser Brooklyn (the flag ship) the first class battle-ship Massa- chusetts and the second class battle-shiD Texas. Under Rear-Admiral Samp- sons command are the armorcd cruiser New York (the fagship), and the first class battle-ships Iowa and Indiana. The junction of these vessels with those of Commodore Schley's force will place under Rear-Admiral Sampson's command four first class battle-ships, one second class battle-ship and two ar mored cruisers. Commodore Schley would retain command of his force as a division under Rear-Admiral Samp- son.
 In withdrawing armor-clads from the Cuban blockade the force on that duty while 1t would be greatly weakened would still be of ample strength to de- stroy Spanish vessels in various ports and enforce the blockade as strictly as it is now maintained. It will be poss- ible to retain on blockading duty all the protected cruisers, gunboats, con- verted gunboats, etc, now in Cuban waters, and these vessels would still be superior to those of Spain there. It is therefore considered practically. feasible and desirable by the naval experts that an armored fleet should be formed at once, in view of the fact that 1t IS not at all certain where the Spanish fleet is bound It Is appreciated at the depart ment that when the armored fleet IS finally assembled 1t will be desirable to attach to 1t a number of sea-going boats to act as patrol boats and prevent Spanish torpedo boat destroyers and Spanish torpedo boats from attempting to sneak in on the vessels at night on hostile errands. The Scorpion, for merly the Sovereign, which is now at Hampton Roads with the flying squad ron, will be one oi the vessels detailed to this duty
 As to the point where the armor-clads will be stationed, nothing can be learn ed, but 1t will undoubtedly be in south ern waters, so that they can be equally convenient to Cuba and Porto Rico and to Northern points of this country Whiie they are stationed at that point SIX vessels, which will be engaged on scouting duty, will be steaning about the seas endeavoring to obtai.. informa- ton concerning the whereabouts of the IL q