Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1898 — FLEET READY FOR ACTION. [ARTICLE]

FLEET READY FOR ACTION.

Warships Could Be Quickly Sent Into Service Again. Though confident that hostilities will not be resumed, Secretary Long has made it a point since the peace protocol was signed to put the men-of-war of the service in the best possible condition. It would not take long to mobilize a strong fleet. The New York is now at Hampton Roads fully coaled and ready for sea; the armored cruiser Brooklyn and the battle ship Massachusetts, which are at New Y'ork, can sail within a short lime, and the second-class battleship Texas is having her propeller sleeve repaired. Besides these vessels, the department would probably attach to a fleet sent abroad the cruiser New Orleans, which will be ready for service in a few weeks, several gunboats and a fleet of colliers. The battleships lowa and Oregon, which are at Rio, are also available for operations in Spanish waters.