The Washington herald., 1914-04-20
TORPEDO FLEET
OFF TO TAMPICO
Orders Indicate Intention to
Blockade Mexicos
Eastern Ports.
CAN GET NEAR TO COAST
Able to Make Twice the Speed of
Battleship-Capt. Sims in
Command.

The order issued yesterday to the por-
tion OF the torpedo fotilla at Pensacola
to proceed at once to join Rear Admiral
Badgers feet en- route to Tampico clearly
indicated the Presidents intention to
blockade Mexican ports on the East
Coast
1t originally was intended that all of
the destroyers comprising the third,
fourth, and fifth divisions of the fiotilla,
be sent, but the Mayrant, of the third
division, was prevented from leaving, ow-
ing to injuries to her engines, which can
not be repaired for several days.
At the same time. the Navy Department
ordered 500 marines at Pensacola TO sail
for Tampico on the battleship Missis-
sippi The department also ordered the
two hydroaeroplanes at Pensacola to be
put aboard the Dixie with spare motors
and pontoons and to proceed at once to
Tampico. The original order also in
structed the entire corps of navy aviators
at Pensacola to embark with their six
machines on board the Mississippi. but
later this order was rescinded and the
aeroplanes and their operators were held
in reserve at Pensacola.
Make Fast Time.
The long low torpedo destroyers are
able to make twice the speed of q
battleship, and can go many knots faster
than the swiftest scout cruiser in the
navy. They are, therefore, superior in
many ways for blockading purposes. The
fiotilla probably will be distributed along
the Mexican coast IL the blockade is or
dered, with a view to darting from port
10 port as their services may be needed
1t was expected last night that the
torpedo fOtilla would join Rear Admiral
Badgers Atlantic fleet, now steaming
for -Tampico, sometime last night or to-
day in the Gulf. The hydroasroplanes
will be used for scouting purposes.
All OF the ships that sailed yesterday
from Pensacola, under command of
Capt. William S. Sims, are equipped with
three torpedo tubes
1t was reported at the Navy Depart
ment yesterday that Capt. Sims has been
requesting for several days that the fio-
tilla be permitted to take part in the
naval demonstrations at Tampico, or L
blockade, # one is intended. When the
order was received at Pensacola yester-
day every ship of those intended fo-
Mexican service was able to get under
way Immediately, in spite of the fact
that no ihtimation of probable need for
the fotiIla was wired other than the
general order sent out Tuesday to be
ready 1or any emergency.
Can Go Close to shore.
The torpedo-boat destroyers, because of
their light draught, will be able to ap-
proach the coast closely without fear
Of grounding, while the larger vessels
under ArIniral Badgers command Will
he compelled to lie miles out at sea.
This was one of the principal considera-
tions taken into account by naval Of
fiCials in deciding to add the fiotilla to
Badgers feet, it was authoritatively
stated today
Here are the commanders and make
up of the flotilla:
Commander of lotilla, Capt William S.
Sims.
Commander William V. Pratt, aid to
commander and chief of stan.
Lieut.. Commander Dudley w. Knox, aid
to commander.
Lieut.. John V. Babcock. fotilla torpedo
officer.
Passed Assistant Paymaster Brantz
Mayer.
Paymaster's Clerk George W. Arm
strong.
Birmingham, cruiser, flagship of hotiIla.
Commander Benjamin F. Hutchinson,
commanding.
THIRD DIVISION.
Lieut. Commander William L. Little
field. commanding division.
Henley, Lieut. Commander William l.
Littlefield. commanding.
DraytOn. Lieut.. William d. Puleston,
commanding.
Mccall. Lieut.. George P. Brown, COM
manding.
Warrington. Lieut. Commander Daniel
p. ManniX. commanding.
FOURTH DIVISION.
Lieut.. Commander Stafford H. r. Dovle
commanding division.
PauldiDg, Lieut. Commander Stafford
H. R. Doyle. commanding.
Ammen, Lieut. Charles Belknap, jr.
commanding.
Burrows. Lieut.. Joseph F. Daniels,
commanding.
Patterson. Lieut.. Harold R. Stark, COM
mandng.
Trippe, Lieut.. Commander FrankSsD.
Berrien, commanding.
FIFTH DIVISION
Lieut. Commander William n. Jeffers,
commanding division.
Jouett, Lieut.. Commander William P.
Cronan, commanding
Beale, Lieut. Charles T. Hutchins, CON-
manding.
canning. Lieut. CommandeE William y.
Jeffers. commanding
Jarvis, Lieut. William F. Halsey, tr.,
commanding.
Jenkins, Lieut.. Commander john P.
Jackson, commanding.
FEAR ANTI-AMERICAN