Old Battleships To Become Targets.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 31, 1913:
Indiana Expected to be the Next to be Riddled by the Atlantic Fleet.
HELPED WIN AT SANTIAGO
Of Early Types Oregon Is the Only "Spanish War Veteran" Likely to be Saved.
    Within a few years all of the first-class battleships that fought in the Spanish-American war, with a single exception, probably will have been destroyed by the shells of the great dreadnoughts and superdreadnoughts of the present Atlantic fleet. The Texas, which Commander Philip caused to fight gloriously, has met her doom already in this way, and now there is a well-founded report that the battleship Indiana, which was one of Sampson's first-line ships at Santiago, is to be dismantled of her guns and towed to some convenient spot where she can be used as a target for the newer and mightier ships of the Arkansas, Delaware, Michigan, Florida, and Connecticut types.
    For almost two years, off and on, the battleships of the Atlantic Fleet have been firing at the hull of the old Texas until to-day there is little of the Texas that could be made use of as a target, and the officers in charge of the naval target work are looking about for something to take the place of that famous ship of 1898. And it is said that they have about decided that the Indiana, to build and equip which the Government spent $5,983,371, has been tentatively selected as the next ship that will be offered as a sacrifice to show what the gunners of the great Atlantic Fleet can do.
    Twenty-two years ago the keel of the Indiana was laid and the newspapers printed long articles descriptive of the mighty offensive and defensive power of the ship that was then dubbed "the coming queen of the seas." Four years later the Indiana was finished and turned over to the Government. The following April, 1896, the Indiana steamed for the first time into the Harbor of New York, and went to the New York Navy Yard, where she was visited by thousands, all of whom "looked, marveled, and admired the wonderful floating-fortress."
    Then followed the Massachusetts and the Oregon, the last named being the ship referred to as probably the only one which will not meet the fate of the Texas. All America rejoiced and boasted of their country's possession of what was then believed to be the finest fighting trio on any sea.
    But the Indiana has long since become obsolete, and when she goes to her last anchorage to await the bombardment of the ships of the Atlantic Fleet, she probably will go under a name other than Indiana, just as did the Texas, which was riddled under the name of the San Marcos when the name Texas had been given to the mighty superdreadnought Texas, a sister ship of the New York, two vessels which are nearing completion, and either of which is equal in battle efficiency to a dozen vessels of the old Texas type. Indiana undoubtedly will be the name given to one of the superdreadnoughts that will be authorized during the Wilson Administration.
    When the Indiana is wrecked beyond use for target purposes no one will be surprised to see the Massachusetts and the Illinois and the Iowa follow her into oblivion via the target route. Like the Indiana, all these ships are obsolete survivors of the battle of Santiago.