Year: 1875

OPERATIONS AT THE BROOKLYN YARD-sIGNIFI-


CANT NEWS FROM FOREIGN sTATIoNs-THE


SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON ORDERED HOME


AND THE EUROPEAN SQUADRON DRAWN OUT


OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.


The air at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is filled with
Of active naval preparations in distant yards fo
warlike movements but then, affairs move on monot-
onously and without perceptble stir. strong gang
OF men are briskly preparing the rgae Trenton for the
day fixed for her launching, and it really looks like war
times on her decks and sides There is a vigor and
zeal exhibited on this ship which really suggest haste
and even anxiety TO get her anoat the part Of the
naval authorities.


Besides the men engaged on the frgate a gang
OF calkers and riggers are at work on the Supply a
storeship fitting for the Mediterranean squadron
'or elsewhere" to carry provisions &c On the Hart
ford, also, a large number of calkers are at work
putting the decks order and the old ship will doubt
less, be in excellent condition within ten or fifteen
days, II necessary. The has not yet been or
dered to the ship, but will be ready to be placed on
board as soon as she is prepared 70 receive them.


While there appears TO be- and really is, no hustle or
push in any department al the Brooklyn yard to sug-
gest thought OF any possibility OF war with foreign
Power the last intelligence from the department. and
rom foreign nations would seem to point 10 the Tact
that the government is concentrating on this coast
nearly its entire naval force Orders have been sent to
the south Atlantic squadron, Rear Admiral lie Roy, TO
return home at once leaving only the despatch steamer
Frolc 70 fy our flag that station. This order will
bring home the sloop-of-war Brooklyn, flagship
Of the South Atlantic squadron, the corvette
Monongahela and the sloop ofwar ossipee the latter
on her way out, but intercepted by telegraph. From
the European station the frgate Congress has been
ordered homo, and, what is the most significant of any
order yet to light the balance OF the squadron
consisting of the frgate Franklin flagship OF Rear
Admiral Worden, and the corvettes Alaska and Juniata
have been ordered of the Mediterranean where
their winter quarters are, to the Tagus of Lisbon,
there to await the development of events.
leave tho active cruisers of the European
squadron in veraDle ctt de sac, where they may be
captured or shut up by more powerful enemy, with
out being able to fight with good prospects OF success or
to run away with reasonable hope OF escape.


The Mediterranean is not at rs ussle the place for
small squadron of American men-of.war, even II
SPAN is our antagonist. She has numerous and pow
eriul fleet in her waters, and II behooves the
cautious Admiral 10 keep roomy ong with his ships
their fast English built iron-clads Lisbon Is there
fore, better place, Oh trouble for European
naval headquarters than Villafranche.


Al Norfolk it is'understood orders have been
ceved TO fit out the iron cads collecting there, although
large number Of officers have rendeZvoued under
ders TO serve at a number of monitors there.
Supplies and said to be at hand TO put the feet
OF monitors at sea at very early day.


Some officers have suggested that perhaps Venezuela
was the point of naval attack If the claims OF the
United States not paid but the return Of the South
The orders sent the European squadron would
point clearly TO Spain as the country which govern
ment taking precaution against and that is the
mon belief In naval clrceS