The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-24
SPECIAL INSHORE
FLEET ORGANIZED
Rear Admiral Winslow Of the
War College Is Put In
Command.
MAY SAIL TOMORROW
DreadnOughts New York and
Texas in Squadron With
H. Smaller Vessels.
MAY SAIL TOMORROW

WASHINGTON, April 2S.--Secretary Dan
iels announced to-day that he had issued
orders for the formation OF n special ser
vice squadron OF the Atlantic fleet for In
shore work on the east coast OF Mexico
Il u to be composed OF the great new
dreadnoughts New York and Texas
which have Just been comnrts stoned and
fourteen ships. including reserve cruisers,
dsDtroyers and torpedo boats and scouts
The special squadron will ba COM
manded by Rear Admiral winslow. now
81 the War College. who until last De-
csmber commanded the first division OF
the Atlantic feet.
Admiral Winslow> will have the New
York a. his flagship and will sail for
Mexican waters on Saturday or Monday.
Mr.. Daniels announced the formation OF
the squadron In the following statement:
the Secretary Of the Navy to-day Is
sued orders forming q special service
squadron for service In the east coast Of
Mexico. Rear Admiral Cameron Mel
Wlnslow has been selected to command
and will hoist his nag on the New York.
which will leave Sunday or Monday to
join the feet now in Mexican waters.
The special service squadron will con-
JUL VI tuc -uotttcshipo WV AOiN eho
Texas, the armored cruisers Washington
and Montana, the Tacoma Des Mones,
Chester, Salem. Nashville. Dolphin. Cas-
tine, Machias. Paducah. Wheeling Petrol.
Eagle and other vessels as they become
available from time to time.
The most Of these vessels arc well
adapted for inshore work In the Mexican
coast and the experience and ability OF
Raar Admiral Winslow eminentiy At him
for command OF this squadron"
Rear Admiral Winslow has requested
that Lieut.. Lindsay II. Lacy be ordered
to duty a. his aid and the request has
been granted. Lieut.. Lacy 10 at present
detailed temporarily to duty at the Naval
War College at Newport. r. !.
When special orders from Washington
reached the navy yard last night to get
the battleships New York. Texas and
Wyoming ready for sea duty At the earli-
est moment the captains of those ships
SAINT lack vord to Secretary Daniels that
they will be ready when wanted.
The New York needs ammunition for
the fourteen inch guns and additional
food supplies. She will be entirely finished
tomorrow afternoon at s o'clock hut she
could 10 to sea at any hour The work
rema ming 10 be done could be finished by
the crew on the voyage to Mexico. In all
the essentials the dreadnought Is COM
pieted now.
Capt Thomas 8. Rogers said last night
that the order for active duty was well
coined by all the officers and the crew.
His ehip does not have an Official trial
because she is Government built. From
New York she will steam to Newport ~
take on torpedocs
Rear Admiral Winslow is expected any
time after 1880 this morning.
Rush Work on the Texas.
The Texas il due to leave the yard on
May 10, but beginning to-day work OIL
her will proceed continuously night and
day and she will be ready much befoi e
the Set time Her crew is complete and
her equipment in admirable condition
with the exception OF the sights on the
fourteen inch guns, which are being ro-
adjusted. She Is also having n new sys-
tenn of ventilation installed but IL Is moi
necessary TO finish that before she leaves
Capt Grant answered Secretary Daniels
order by saying that he ard his men were
eager 10 get away at once.
the wyoming came to the yard TO n
into drydock for a thorough overhauling
which would have taken until July /
VOW she VIII leave for Mexico on May Z
at the latest.
special service squadron s,n,,.
Iar 10 this one was organized during the
spanish war and was really srparat e from
the Atlantic fleet that smashed Ceryera's
meet at Santiago.
The Washington to 90 Som.
,.oraers were received at the New York
10y fafd late yesterday afternoon &c
set the hrst class armored cruiser Wash.
'hgton, which has been used as re-.
ceiV!ng snip ready for sea. Capt. Eberle
Immediately got busy and expects 10 hs
ready Tomorrow or Sunday.
the Washington Is In good condition
now. but Will go into dry dock TODAY "a
ne locked over She will proceed i'm.
msdiately To Mexico, but whether 10 Tam.
pieo or Vera Cruz has not yet been de
term,ned "'
The cruisers crew In ordinarily abou,
eoo men and as receiving ship she ha,
accommodates $500. but at present sh,
has only about 200 men aboard. Las,
night, however, she received n de,ocb
ment from the Texas and to. day ESQ r..
cruts from the offices In Chicago will Az
'"ve so that she will carry about 7bf
men when she leaves.
The ward Ii almost destitute Of ma.
ranes now. seventy-eight having left yes
terday for Philadelphia. The scene at IN,
departure OF the finely drilled men CAV,
warlike appearance to the yard Cant
Brown marched his detachment abonrd ,
naval tug, which took the marines to IN,
Pennsylvania station in Jersey civ
whence they boarded q special train
Among the men were twenty men from
lena Island, UP the Hudson. All vii
become part OF tho Twelfth Regimen
Of marines.
As the tug moved away the yards ma
rine band played farewell. That wa,
the only formalty. as the seamen work
Ing on the New York and Texas did no
have time TO stop They raised somethin,
Of cheer and then went at their task
harder than ever.
The supply ship Culgoa arrived yester
day morning. She tied up In the bas',
and work was begun AT once filing he
with the 5000 tons OF fresh mot an,
other supplies she will take to the aect I,
Mexico, II 10 exps cted that aboht thre
days will be needed to load her and theI
she will sail at once.
D<TTI rCfyTDC nrr