The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25
NAVY DEPARTMENT DETAILS.
The Changes in Commands of War
Ships-MOyements of Vessels.

w z4.-AS stated
elsewhere, the Navy Department developed
important and new features to-day. The
sailing of the Spanish torpedo fiotilla from
the Canares for Porto Rico aroused the
most interest. The fleet consists of six tor
pedo boats and seven torpedo boat destroy
ers, thirteen in all-constituting one o. the
most formidable torpedo squadrons
now afloat. So far as can be
learned no demand has yet been
made upon Spain as to her purpose in dis
patching the fiotila at this juncture, nor is
it known what action if any will be taken
at this time by the United States either in
protesting to Spain or intercepting the fleet.
There is very decided current of sentiment
among naval officers. including some of the
highest, in favor of decisive and important
action They say that from naval stra-
tegic point of view it would be most unfor-
tunate at this time to have this great fiotilla
brought within easy reach of our squadron
at Key West This, it can be stated, is not
mere naval speculation but has been given
official cognizance and has been urged upon
the President. 1t was due to the big impor-
tance of the movement that instructions
were issued some days ago to keep the Navy
Department Immediately advised on the de-
parture of the torpedo feet from the Cana
ries. Captain Robley D. Evans, well known
as Fighting Bob" Evans, arrived in Wash
ington this morning from Key West and
had half an hours conference with SecIe-
tary Long He las been temporarily on
duty in the lights Ise service, but he told
the secretary that if there was to be fight
he wanted to be in it. Mr. Long appreciated
the suggestion and Immediately issued the
order that placed Captain Evans in COM
mand of the battle ship Iowa, which stands
at the very head of the ships of the Amer
lean navy, both as to tonnage, guns, arma-
ment and all the qualities that go to make
up first-class modern boat The Iowa is
now at Key West with Admiral Scard's
fleet. Captain Evans was aboard her only
few days ago. and during his visit to Key
West talked with Admiral Sicard and with
the members of the Maine court of inquiry.
He brought no information
CAPTAIN SAMPSON.
1t developed to-day that Captain Evans's
orders to take command OF the Iowa had
most important sequel in the assignment
of Captain Sampson, present commander of
the Iowa, to succeed Admiral Sicard in
command of the North Atlantic squadron
This is probably the most important as
signment the department has made in many
months. 1t is due mainly to the findings
Of a medical court now sitting at Key West
that Admiral Sicard is temporarily inca
pacitated from active duty, owing to long
continued illness Captain Sampson who
now assumes command of the North Attain
tic squadron, is regarded as one of the best
equipped officers in the navy, having seen
active service during the civil war and
since then having occupied many important
positions He is high authority naval
ordnance and before taking command of
the Iowa was chief of the Bureau of Ord
nance of the Navy Department. lie is be-
tween fifty and sixty years of age, a stu
dent of naval affairs, of genial tempera-
ment, and is considered an officer of ex-
ceptional executive ability. The retirement
Gf Admiral Sicard has the effect of raising
Captain Sampson to the rank of commo-
dore. He is a native of New York, en-
tered the service in September, 1857, and
has been forty years in active service, near
ly fourteen of which were spent on the sea.
He concluded his last cruise in June, 1892,
since which time he served as chief of the
Bureau of Ordnance up to the time of his
assignment to the command of the Iowa.
Hardly less important than the assign
ment of Captain Sampson was the practical
Schley in command of the fleet now assem-
bling at Hampton Roads. This will consist
of the battle ships Massachusetts and Tex
as. the cruisers Brooklyn, Minneapolis and
Columbia ard such other ships as may be
assigned. 1t is commonly known as the fly
ing squadron, the idea being to make Hamp-
ton Roads the base of operations and yet
to give Commodore Schley easy and ef-
Sip HiGfa of ba arfi firaS
of the Atlantic seaboard north of that
point. The two commands under Commo-
dore Sampson and Commodore ScEIey will
be of equal dignity and will be entirely in
dependent of each other for the present at
least.
Commodore Schley commands the fullest
confidence of the administration and of
Secretary Long for his good judgment
and ability. During the present crisis he
has been frequently called into consultation
with the navy chiefs, who recognized his
complete familiarity with every detail of
naval procedure. When the flying squad
ron was first suggested his name naturally
presented itself as probably the fittest man
in the service for that particular duty. He
came prominently into public notice by the
successful prosecution of the Greely relief
expedition and later as commander OF the
baltimore at Valparaiso at the time of the
Chilean revolution.
WHAT MASON WOULD DO.
Senator Mason of Illinois. was at the
Navy Department during the morning, and
was one of the first to learn that the Span
ish torpedo fotilla has left the Canaries
He talked with the officials on this move
and later when asked what he thought of
this action by Spain, he said: 1T means
that they are coming to this side either to
fight the insurgents or tc fight us The in
surgents are in the mountains and the tor
pedo boats will hardly be used to fight them
unless they succeed in putting wings on
them. That seems to narrow down the pur-
pose of their coming. l do not know what
the naval authorities intend to do about this
move, but If / had my way that torpedo
flotilla would turn back II 1t took every ship
in the United States navy to stop them"
Secretary Long had busy morning.
Aside from seeing the President, he saw
Continued ON Fifth PaEe.l