The San Francisco call., 1908-05-09
TORPEDO FLOTI[LA
FOR COAST SERVICE
Six Destroyers to Remain Here
When Atlantic Fleet Starts
on World Cruise :

Even though it may be a long time
before the Pacific coast has for it's own
a battleship fleet as powerful as that
which guards the Atlantic coast, it is
practically assured that the present
visit of the armada means for this coast
the immediate and permanent addition
of another f1otilla of torpedo boat de-
stroyers
When the Atlantic fleet leaves for it's
cruise around the world there will re-
main behind the six torpedo destroyers
which have made the cruise thus far
with the fleet. Since the arrival of the
feet in San francisco bay there have
been several conferences between Sec
retary Metcalf and the admirals of the
two fleets relative to the plan of form
ing a third fotilla from the torpedo
boats and destroyers now attached to
the second and fourth fiotillas, and so
far has the matter gone that this addi-
tion TO Pacific naval power has been all
but finally determined upon. The de-
tails of the proposed Encouragement
and assignment of lne mosquito boats
is still under consideration. but the
rough details of the change are gener-
ally understood among the commanding
officers of the fleet.
The proposition as 1t now stands con-
templates the grouping of the destroy
ers Preble, Perry and Paul Jones of
the present Pacific fotilla with the de-
stroyers Whipple. Truxtun and Hop
kins, which made the trip with the At
iantic fleet under command of Lieuten-
ant Cone. This flotilla wouldn take the
place of what is now the fourth. flotilla,
and brand new mosquito fleet for the
coast would be formed of the remaining
destroyers, Lawrence, Hull and Stew
art which also came from the east, to-
gether with three of the largest torpedo
boats of the Goldsborough type. The
three selected would probably be the
Farragut, Davis and Fox. which are now
In San Francisco bay as part of the
fourth fiotilla,
With this change put into execution
the Atlantic feet would continue on
its journey without its accompanying
squadron of little black terriers. The
Solace. II knot auxiliary, would prob
ably be pressed into service as mother
for the new fotilla. and this would give
strong force of the small but danger
Gus vessels to the Pacific coast.
The principal object of the proposed
change is TO give the officers of the
hotiIla an opportunity to develop here
a torpedo defense similar to that main
tanned in the Atlantic ocean along lines
worked out by Commander c. D. Marsh.
While the long trip from Hampton
of inestimable value In demonstrating
the ability of the destroyers to sue
cessfully negotiate a cruise of any dis
tance and has in many other ways af-
forded an opportunity for studying the
strength and weaknesses of construc-
tion, it has included no opportunity
for the study and development of tor
pedo tactics.
Now that it is planned to leave the
little vessels behind on this coast, they
will probably set to work at once on
exhaustive practice and their command
ers will be given the opportunity to
perfect the crews in lines of work
which have been neglected on cruise.
The officers and men OF the mosquito
fiouna, while sorry that they are not
to be given the opportunity to prove
that the little craft can circumnavigate
the globe as we'll as their larger sisters.
are pleased at the prospect of getting
down to the work of tactical develop
ment and defense.
The details of the plan for forming
the new fiotilla, will be discussed at
more length while the secretary of the
navy remains here in touch with the
ranking commanding officers of the
navy and the men in active command
OF the torpedo boats and torpedo de-
stroyers, and it is probable that the
final arrangements will be made for
the proposed division of the vessels
before Secretary Metcalf returns east
and that formal orders establishing the
new fotilla Will be given some time in
advance of the time set for the depart
r1rs- of the fleet for the orianf