The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-10
BIG
WAR
FLEET.
Sixteen Fighting Vessels Gath
er at Port Tampa
To Convoy the Troop Ships to
Cuba.
INDIANA AT THE HEAD
No Chances to Be Taken on
Spanish Attack.
Fleet is Taken From 'WatsOn's
BlOckading Squadron.
INDIANA AT THE HEAD
No Chances to Be Taken on a
Spanish Attack.
Fleet is Taken From 'WatSOn'S
BlOckading Squadron.

Washington, June 10.-Another form
idable American fleet has been assem-
bled consisting of 16 warships of var
ious classes, headed by the big battle
ship Indiana, which for all around ef-
fectiveness stands at the head of the
navy. This fleet is assembled at Port
Tampa and is to serve as a convoy for
the troop transports from that port.
The formation of this formidable
convoy fleet is due to the reports more
or less indefinite that Spanish ships
were lurking between Florida and Cuba
with a view of intercepting the troop
transports. The navy department has
not given serious credit to these re-
ports, yet they were more or less cir
cumstantial. In order to avoid the
slightest possibility of a dash by some
Spanish ships against the troop trans
ports, this new fleet of 16 warships was
determined upon. Whether it was or
dered from Washington, or due to the
precautionary measures of the officials
in command in the south, is not dis
closed 1t is known only that Commo-
dOre Remey, commander of the naval
base at Key West has brought together
this powerful fleet of conveys. 1t is
strong enough in both number of ships,
size of individual ships and armament
to cope with any Spanish vessels that
may be at large in the West Indies and
it entirely eliminates any possible dan
ger that might attend the transporting
Captain Taylor, who commands the
Indiana, is available as commander OF
this squadron, although it is not dis
closed definitely who will be its chief.
Commodore Watson is with the block
aiding fleet off Havana and cannot wei
be spared from that position, which
will be maintained efficiently notwith-
standing the drafts made to create this
large convoy squadron. Captain Tay-
lOr is regarded one of the most ju-
dicious and capable officers in the ser
and should SQUADRON
fall on him, it is felt that it will be in
able hands. The Indiana probably viii
be the flagship of the convoy squadron
There probably will be other battle
ships but it is not deemed advisable
for prudential reasons, to give the full
list. sThe Indiana is one of the most
formidable ships afiOat, being regarded
by naval experts as superior as a. fight
ing machine to the ships of the same
terrible class in the British navy She
has a displacement of 10,2SS tons and
has main battery of 16 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 tur-
| rets, two forward and two aft
| The desfra bility of forming this fleet
| was suggested by the information.
| coming through official sources, 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 war
| ships and one transport. The informa
| tion was regarded trustworthy. 1t
was communicated to the navy de-
| partment and led to careful conSidera-
| ton. A little later came report from
the ships off Florida, that suspicious
| looking vessels with military tops had
| been seen in the Offing. These last re-
| ports were received with some creduhty
| but naval officers were disposed to
| dismiss them as myths. 'They were
treated lightly and some officials spoke
! of the matter as another case Of phan-
! tom ship Flying Dutchmen." But the
| better advised ones, knowing of the
/ reports as to the sailing Of the Spanish
| ships from Barcelona, looked upon the
matter as one which should not be dis
missed too lightly. single troop
transport carrying no armor, might De
at the mercy of some stray Spanish
| ship and there was no purpose to naz-
| ard the lives of 1,5O0 men on any of
| our ships when reports came from two
! widely separate sources, one of them
| quite in detail, of the approach OF the
| Spanish ships.
| While it is inexpedient to give the
! makeup of the convoy fleet, yet some
! general idea may be given of the war
! ships which might be drawn upon for
| this service. There are number OF
/ ships which have been doing scout duty
and others held in reserve while Com
! nnodore Watson's large blockadiEg fleet
| in front of Havana gives another source
! from which the convoy fleet can be
| made up.