The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-15
OUR SQUADRON IN PACIFIC.
additions to be Made to Admiral Kautz's
Command.
Baltimore Sum

establish a squadron of evolution on the
Pacific station. owing to the demand for
vessels elsewhere and the small number
available, promise now to succeed. 1t is
probable that squadron comprising four
ships of the new navy, with the addl-
ton, by the close of the year. of several
others which are TO be brought home
from the Asiatic. will be assigned to the
Pacific Coast. 1t has been the Navy De-
partments desire for years to have the
same general work performed by ships
attached to the Pacific station as is car
ried out on larger scale by those on
the home station. Every time a plan
has been formed, however. it has been
necessary to withdraw ships for service
either at Hawaii, Samoa or on the China
station, so that no maneuvers worthy
of the name have been executed by the
navy on the Pacific station.
Now that respectable fleet is being
gathered there. which will include the
Iowa and Newark. the Marblehead and
the Philadelphia. it is intended to form
Il squadron late this summer under Adj
miral KautZ for practical fleet work and
evolutions similar to those conducted by
the White Squadron years ago, when
the Chicago. Boston. Atlanta and York
town We're the only representatives of
the new navy. The execution of the
departments program indicates that the
Pacific station will be more important
in the future
STATION GROWING IN IMPORT
ANCE.
1t is recognized that the acquisition of
Hawaii and the possibility of trouble in
Samoa requires the maintenance on the
station of more ships than it has been
the Governments policy to retain there
previously, and now that it becomes
equally important that the Asatic feet
shall be continued as one of the strong
est of all those abroad, it is deemed de-
sirable that the Pacific shall be the sta
ton upon which vessels may be drawn
for this duty rather than the Atlantic.
For many years the number of naval
vessels at the disposal of the Govern
ment has been small compared to the
demand for their services, and there
has practically existed but one fleet,
which has been often reduced by detach-
ments of ships for special duty.
1t is now beginning to be appreciated
by the naval officials that the North At
lantic of the two home stations may
become less important perhaps than the
Pacific, and that eventually the Pacific
coast will become station of unusual
naval activity and growth. At present
the force there consists of the battleship
Iowa and the Philadelphia The New
ark and Marblehead are now on their
way to San Francisco. Tentative plans
have already been made by the naval
officials for the proposed maneuvers and
orders will shortly be sent to Admiral
Kautz. The Boston. now on the way
home from Manila. will be overhauled
at Mare Island, and may join the Pa
cific squadron later in the year, but
there is no probability of several of the
large ships now at Manila. and which
are to be ordered home, arriving in time
TO form a part of the first squadron Of
evolution.
VALUE OF THE MARIA TERESA.
The Navy Department has ordered an
appraisal Of the captured Spanish cruiser
Maria Teresa and of all the war mate
rial recovered from the other ships en-
gagged in the battle of Santiago bay.
This step is due to a question raised as
to the right of prize money growing
out of the capture of this ship. The
Teresa was the one cruiser raised, and,
although she went adrift while on the
way to this country. and is an aban-
doned hulk on Cat Island, it is claimod
in some quarters that the raising was
sufficient to warrant the payment or
prize money. The appraisal of the ship
will be based on it's value az tne time
it was raised. The property to be ap-
praiSad includes fh4a cannon and amin.
ment recovered from the other Spanish
ships. The board which appraised the
Spanish ship Reins Mercedes has re-
ported her value at $4,000.
WILL NOT MOVE THE WAR coll
LEGE.
Captain Stockton, president Of the
Naval War College at Newport. has been
here this week to consult the Navy De-
partment regarding the work at that in
stituti0n and to learn what truth there
is in reports alleging that the college is
to be removed to Annapolis, where many
naval officers think it should be located
Captain Stockton was informed by Sec
rotary Long that there was not the
slightest intention OF the college being
removed, and, even il desired. it could
not be accomplished without the appro-
val of Congress. which specifically ap-
propriates for the institution at New
port. For years certain officers have
advocated the transfer of the War Cal
lege to the Naval Academy, where it
was contended better results might be
obtained than at Newport. Secretary
Herbert seemed once inclined TO aban-
don the school entirely, owing to the
representation of certain high ranking
officers on duty at the Navy Department
1nnt II was not necessary nor desirable
but fortunately its advocates were TOO
strong.
AN EPIDEMIC OF DIARRHOEA.
Mr.. A. Sanders, writing from Cocoa
nut Grove. Fla. saws there has haan