Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-08
FLEET TO MOBILIZE.
Secretary Long Calls it an Ex-
pertinent, But
There Arc Those Who Believe tho Navy
Department Is Preparing to Send War
ships to China Indiana and Massachu-
setts to Coal Here.

The fact that q squadron of war ships
is to be modified at Newport. r. L..
Hampton Roads or some other point on
the Atlantic coast. has given rise to
more Or less speculation as to the pur-
port of this mobilization. The trouble
la China and and the probable out
break in that empire demanding the
presence of American warships, Is the
basis of belief that the squadron to be
hurriedly modified Is an emergency
fleet organized with particular refer
ence to the China situation.
CALLS IT AN EXPERIMENT.
Secretary Long. however, IN an in
terview published in the New York Sun
IS careful to contradict this impression
petore 1t prevailed generally The Suns
dispatch says:
IN order to prevent any mlsappre-
henSion as to the purpose of these or
uers' Secretary Long said that the only
idea or the department in issuing them
was to determine how quickly a portion
or the fleet may be modified, and he
denled' In answer to questions, that the
departments action had any bearing on
me Chlnese situation or the efforts of
the government to collect the Armenian
indemnity. The experiment of determin-
ing how quickly q number of modern
war vessels might be concentrated was
suggested by Admiral Crowninshield
the Secretary explained. 1t had been in
Admiral Crowninsheld's mind for some
time. and advantage of the first oppor-
tunity of conducting the experiment had
been taken.
COMPLETE EQUIPMENT.
The fact remains. nevertheless, that
the Navy Department is going TO n
great expense in Inobilzing the "eX-
perimentaT squadron. Each bureau OF
the department has been called upon to
perform certain duties, as for instance
the Bureau of Equipment was obliged to
furnish charts, the Bureau OF Medicine
and Surgery the necessary medical sup
plies, the Bureau of Navigation. officers
and men. the Bureau of Construction
n force of workmen to put ships into
sea-going condition and the Bureau Of
supplies and Accounts, rations, cloth
Ing and other stores.
TO COAL HERE.
The Indiana and Massachusetts have
been given their orders to come here
and coal. A Virginian-Pilot reporter
called on the Cashier. Curran & Bull
lit. coal people. yesterday, but they had
| received no orders to coal these vessels
| as yet 1t is understood that they have
been asked how long it would take to
load each vessel with 1000 tons of coal.
This large quantity Of coal would in
dicate that n long voyage is expected.
RECEIVED HURRY ORDERS.
| Lieutenant Brainard, who was detail
ed to conduct the trial trip OF the tor
pedo boat Stringham, is among the Of
| ficers who have received hurry orders
to report aboard the Massachusetts at
| League Island. Lieutenant Brainard
left Norfolk Wednesday morning for
| Philadelphia.
The squadron to be mofbilized will
| probably not include the new battle
ship Kentucky. which has not been suf-
ficiently tested as yet. The squadron
will consist of the New York, Kear-
sarge. Indiana. Massachusetts and
Texas, and will be under command OF
Rear Admiral Farguhar, formerly in
! command at the Norfolk Navy Yard
| 1t is given out by the Navy Depart
| ment that after the mobilization Is
completed the squadron will engage In
manoeuvres and squadron exercises for
about six weeks. Secretary Long
Mental reservation" was probably to
this effect. however
That is If something doesn't happen
In China"