The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-17
FEWER VESSELS FOR WATSON.
The Departments Plan to Rednce
the AsIatIc Naval Force.


the Asiattc Naval Force.
4 cabIegram viii be sent by the Navy
Department today to Rear Admiral Wat
son, commanding the United States naval
force in the Philippines. asking his opinion
as to the adyisabiiity OF reducing the force
under his command. and suggesting that
ne consult with Major General Otis on the
subject. The action OF the department in
the matter will doubtless be based on the
answer Of Admiral Watson. There are
now hfty-three Upited States vessels In
commission in the Philippines some OF
them are large ships sent to the islands at
the time when a show OF force was deemed
necessary and during the later period
when a close blockade Of the islands was
advisable. Large ships are not suitable
for blocksding work in the archipelago.
but as nearly all the small ginboats had
been sent there previously the Navy De-
partment was obliged to despatch some OF
the big cruisers.
The Baltimore the Concord. and the Pc
trel Of Dewey's Manila Bay squadron, are
still in the Islands aud are presumably In
need of repairs. OF these the Baltimore Is
not suitable to the character of blockade
work which the conditions in the Philip
pines call for. The battleship Oregon and
the armoted cruiser Brooklyn are the two
largest vessels over there Some time ago
1t was reported that the Oregon was to be
ordered home aud the department admitted
that she would probably not stay at Manila
much longer. The Brooklyn arrived al
Manila recently. She Is Admiral watsons
flagship and is not likely to be withdr lwn.
The monitors Monterey and Monadnock
will probably stay in the Philippines per-
manently. The cruisers Newark and New
Orleans are other big ships on the Asiatic
station
The enquiry to be addressed to Admiral
Watson by the Navy Department fits In
with the general impression in Govern
ment circles that opposition to the author
ity OF the United States in the Philip
pines has practically ended There is no
real necessity for any more ships on the
North Atlantic or home station except a
small cruiser or two to look after Ameri-
can interests il the West Indies Central
America. and along the northeastern coast
OF South America. But 1t has been the
prastice of the department to keep q
squadron of fair size In the home waters
OF the Atlantic for tactical drills and gem
eral exercises. Such a squadron Is not
now in existence. The flagship New York
Is cruising in the West Indies and later
will be Joined by the battleship Texas
and the gunbost Machias. but this will not
make squadron such as the department.
would like 20 have in commission as
nucleus for feet that might be necessary
in the event CT foreign complications. The
European station was discontinued at the
beginning OF the war with Spain, and has
not been re-established. The department
has 70 present intention OF re-establish-
inr It. but may do so II Admiral Watson
is OF the opinion that dozen or more
ships can safely be spared from the Philip
pines. On the Pacific coast there Is 10
occasion for an increase in naval force.
The Iowa. the Philadelphia. and the
Marblehead have been formed into a
squadron OF evolution. and are row
maneuvring In Magdelena Bay Lower
California.