The times., 1899-06-28
a SOUTH PACIFIC STATION.
Changes Which the Navy Department
Has Decided Upon.

t""hSts W men the Navy department
Has Decided Upon.
The Naval authorities. 1t was stated
yesterday, have decided to re-establish the
South Pacific. station. and for the present
the cruiser Newark will be the flagship
OF the American forces on the west coast
OF South America. The headquarters of
the feet will be Callao, Peru. Ii is pro-
posed TO embrace in the cruising radius
OF the South Pacific command Australia
and the South Sea islands The northern
limits of the station will be Panama Cal
lao is selected as headquarters because of
its outtt facilities Coal can be obtained
there as cheap as at Valparaiso. and as a
oase Caiiao II Is claimed. possesses strate-
gic advantages over Valparaiso. The Brit
ism recognize this latter feature. and such
British warships as are maintained on the
western coast Of South America make Cal
lao headquarters.
For the present the cruiser Marbiehead
VIII do duty with the Newark in the South
racine IL is understood that the Navy
department contemplates sending two yes
sells or the Newport type to Join the above
ships' Ihe Newport. Annapolis and Vicxs-
/ burg are provided with large sail area
| and are designed for deep sea cruising
under canvas. Their sail power is aux
/ mary IN character. but Is OF sufficient
| spread to provide good sailing qualities
| The Newport and her sisters have lately
| been employed as practice vessels for the
| naval apprentices, but reports agree that
the ships are not adapted for apprentice
training work. For this reason, it Is re-
/ ported that one, and in all likelihood two,
of the gunboats will be assigned to the
| Southern Pacific. Such gun vessels as are
| added will be available for distant cruises
among the South Sea islands
| The North Pacific station. under the new
arrangement. will embrace all waters ly-
| ing to the northward of Panama. and iu-
Guiding the islands of Hawaii and the
Alaskan coast. The headquarters OF the
North Pacific fleet will be San Francisco.
Rear Admiral Kautz, the present com
mander-in- chief of the Pacific fleet will, it
is said. command the North Paicfic forces.
| II is not expected that any officer senior to
! Captain Goodrich. OF the Newark. will be
sent to the South Pacific to supercede the
latter officer. II has been a frequent prac-
tice in the American service to permit a
| captain to serve as a feet commander.
| The old South Atlantic station has now
| been fully established again. The ships AT
| present on duty in that command are the
Chicago, Montgomery, and Wilmington.
The headquarters OF the feet is Monte
video. First-class deck and repair facli-
ties are to be found there. and English
Cardiff ccaI is obtainable in abundance
der existing orders. made TO embrace Cape
| Town, Madagascar, st. Helena and the
| west coast of Africa as far north as St
| Paul de Loando. The cruiser Chicago is
now on the eastern coast of Africa She
| was due to leave Tamatave on June 25,
and to arrive at Mozambique June 80 The
Chicago will stand over to Rio de Janeiro
and then TO the West Indies after leaving
the African coast. and will report at New
| York by October ). Between now and the
| latter date she will visit among other
places. Delagoa Bay, Natal. Port Elizabeth
| Cape Town. ST. Helena, Rio de Janeiro AMI
Barbados. The Navy Department an
nounces that she is due at Cape Town on
July 2S. Rio de Janeiro on August 27, and
| Barbados on September 90.
| The Wilmington, at present at Rio de
Janeiro, is due to reach Montevideo about
July l. Certain repair work will be ex-
ecuted on her machinery there. after which
she will make an extended inland cruise
it is stated. up the Rio de la Plata River
and its principal tributaries. IL is the
purpose of the Navy Department to keep
constantly at Montevideo one ship. For
the present the Montgomery will be dele
gated to remain there. Montevideo pos
sesses the advantages of being healthy and
central. Should sudden demand for ad-
ditfonal ships for the Pacific ever arise a
cruiser at Montevideo could reach VAL
paraiso easily in twelve days time
The question of re-establishing the Eu-
ropean station has been considered. 1t is
learned, by naval officials. but as yet no
announcement can be obtained on the sub
| 1ect. 1t is konwn that number of flag
officers would be glad of chance to com
mand fleet in the Mediterranean. II the
station is revived. It's limits will embrace.
1t is learned. the eastern coast of Africa
as far south as and including, Zanzibar.
and on the West African coast as far as
south as St Paul de Loando The opinion
prevails in well-informed naval circles
and on the West African coast as far as
that European squadron will be organ
lied in the early autumn