Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-08
A ROYAL WELCOME
Promised Our Warships If
They Visit England.
President Names New Battleships,
Armed Cruisers and Cruisers.
Less Than 1000 Volunteers in Cuba and All
will Soon Be Home.

Washington. April Since the sug-
Gestion was made some months ago
that the navy department should re-
establish the European squadron and
include among the vessels TO be de-
tailed to that station some of those
which took distinguished part in the
great naval battle of July !, the NUM-
cipal authorities of some OF the Eng
lSh ports have invited the department
to send the ships to these places. prom
Using a royal welcome. The depart
ment, however, has been unable to car
~ out its plans for the immediate es-
adjustment of the European squadron,
owing to the necessity of despatchinG
most of the smaller vessels OF the
North Atlantic squadron To reinforce
DeWey's fleet, and to the desire to avoid
the remission of the annual spring and
summer manoeuYers of the North At
lantic squadron.
Now it is suggested that If the Eu
ropean squadron is not to be re-estab-
ished it may be at least feasible 70 send
some Of the crack ships of the North
Atlantic squadron across the Atlantic
on a visit Of courtesy to the English
ports, as soon as the manoeuvers now
in progress in the Caribbean sea are
concluded and the ships have had an
opportunity to refit. The execution Of
this plan would, it is said, involve the
sending of Rear Admiral Sampson him
self in command Of the flying squadron.
This suggestion has not 50 far taken
anything like official form.
The President today. named the II
new warships recently provided by
Congress as follows: Battleships-
Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Georgia.
Armored crUisers-West Virginia. Ne
brassa. California. Cruisers-Denver,
Des Moines. Chattanooga. Galveston.
Tacoma. cleveland. Petitions by the
hundreds have been flowing into the
White House and navy department
ever since the new ships We're provided
urging the merits of various names
The President and Sec. Long enjoyed
the good natured rivalry and in max
ing the final determination considera-
tion was given not only to the urgency
Of the influence brought to bear. but
also to the several sections Of the cOun
try.
Pennsylvania petitionel through
Governor Stone, Senators Quay and
Penrcsc and the entire delegation in the
House of Representatives. New Jer-
soy made her plea through Vice Presi-
dent Hobart Attorney General Griggs.
Governor Voorhees,. EX-Sec. McAdoo.
Senator SewelI and many commercial
bodies. Georgia did not petition the
navy department ana it IL believed that
the choice of Southern state was due
to a desire by the President to cOmpli-
mcnt those with whom he visited on
his recent trip.
The battleships Pennsylvania. New
Jersey and Georgia are described in the
act authorizing them az follows: Three
seagoing coas. line bactleships. carry
ing the heaviest armor and most pow
erful ordnance for vessels Of their class
upon a trial displacement Of about 49,
| 800 tons. To be sheathcd and cuppered
| and 10 have The highest practicable
| speed and great radius of action. and 70
| cost. exclusive Of armOr and armament
| not exceeding $500. 600 each. The ar
mored cruisers are similarly described.
| except that they are to cost $4,000 00o
each ana are 10 have a displacement OF
! - 600 tons. The cruisers Denver.
| Cleveland and others described as pro-
tected cruisers Of about $500 tons trial
displacement and TO cost not exceeding
| $1.14i 500 each