The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25
"BOb" Evans Given the Battle Ship
Iowa, and Capt. schIey to Control
the Flying Squadron.
FLEET OF YACHTS AND TUGS
PURCHASED AND TO BE CONVERTED
INTO TORPEDO BOATS.
Captain Sigsbee and other Officers
Maine and Ordered Home.


WASHINGTON, March 24.-The last day
before the arrival of the report of the
Maine court of inquiry was one of unex-
ampled activity in all official quarters. Ad-
vices came early that the Spanish torpedo
fotilla had sailed from the Canaries for
Porto Rico, and from this moment the most
energetic warlike measures followed one an
other in constant succession. The move
ment of this fleet has been watched with
the keenest interest, as it was felt to in
volve serious possibilities which might COM
pei the United States government to pro-
test against the movement as of a hostile
character. Immediately on the receipt of the
official dispatch from one of our naval at
taches abroad, briefly announcing the sail
ing of the fleet the fact was made known to
the President and an earnest conference
was held between him and Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. The
seriousness of the movement was fully con-
sidered and the President was advised that
naval strategists regarded it as essential
that this torpedo fleet should not be al
lowed to reach Western waters. What, if
any conclusion, was reached, is not known
Later Sin the day the Spanish minister,
Senior Polo Bernabe, called at the State
Department and spent some time with
Judge Day. It was naturally inferred that
the approach of the Spanish flotilla was one
of the subjects referred to. Whether, how
ever there was any suggestion against the
move was not disclosed by either Judge
Day or the Spanish minister, both of whom
maintained the strictest reticence regarding
their conference and refused to speak con-
cerning it.
Following the f1otilla announcement i'm
portant news followed rapidly. The first
was this announcement by Secretary Long,
indicating the placing of our squadron and
fleet on a war footing:
Admiral Sicard has been granted leave.
very much to the regret of the Navy De-
partment. and altogether on account of his
health. Captain Sampson has been made
commander of the feet at Key West. Capt.
Evans has been ordered to take command
Of the battle ship Iowa. The orders to the
squadron in, Hampton Roads have not yet
been issued"
Although the announcement did not so
state it soon became known that Commo-
dore w. S. Schley was slated to command
the flying squadron" This announcement
was recognized at once as of unusual i'm
portance at this juncture. Admiral Sicard
has been in command of the fleet at Key
West throughout the critical period of the
Maine disaster. Captain Sampson has been
in command Of the Iowa, but more recently
has been conspicuous before the public as
president of the Maine court of inquiry
Capt. Robley Evans is better known as
Fighting Bob"
Orders were also issued detaching Captain
Sigsbee and other officers from the battle
ship Maine, at Havana, and ordering them
to proceed home and await orders These
officers are: Capt. Charles d. Sigsbee
Chief Engineer C. P. Howell Surgeon l.. G.
Heneberger, Paymaster Charles M. Raw
Chaplain j. p. Chidwick and Naval Cadets
]. H. Holden and w. T. Cluverus. This list
includes all the surviving officers of the ILL
fated battle ship who have remained on
duty at Havana since the destruction of the
nj wit
ton of Lieutenant Commander Richard
Wainwright, executive officer of the vessel.
Commander Wainwright is in special charge
of the wrecking work and will remain until
it is concluded.
The next important move was determi-
nation to create joint commission from
the War and Navy Departments so as to
bring them into harmonious action on all
measures Captain Barker, the naval aid OF
Secretary Long, was designated to represent
the Navy Department in this common plan
of action The representative OF the War
Department has not yet been named. 1t will
not be necessary for these two officers to
leave Washington, as they can best arrange
joint plan of action in conference with the
bureau chiefs of the two departments here.
Then, at the close of the day, came an an
nouncement that the Navy Department had
succeeded in purchasing eight steam yachts
and four steam tugs, presumably at and
near New York, for use in the auxiliary
naval fleet The boats are about four hun
dred tons each. and in emergency would
be suitable as torpedo boats. The yachts
purchased are among the fieetest along the