The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-03-25

To naval Dflaa - Fsasassaa.
The following order from he Navy
Departments instrncts = y pian and pro-
gramme 81 The naval exercises which
will attract thousands Of people 70 Pensar
cola. A fIset Of steam and sailing vessels
will be there from other ports, bringing
many visitors aud reinforcing Pensacolas
feet of numerous craft in the service OF
taking spectators out to near view OF
the naval operations:
sNAvY IDEPARTlGKNT,
aWAs4NaTov, March 4, 1855.
SIR: When:the vessels under your command
are in readiness proceed with them 70 50 Tor the
purpose Of instruc,ing the officers and men.
The exercises will take place at sea- except snose
which are connected with landing the seamen
and marines Of the squadron, and which neces-
sarily take place in port During the time occu-
pied by those exercises all mail communications
for your squadron will be sent to the Navy'yaro'
Pensacola, Fla, in which vicinity you will carry
out these instructions, particularly those con-
nected with the landing Of officers and men LOT
exercise on shore. Although the ships and guns
of your squadron are not of modern construction
the principles governing naval warfare may oe
clearly illustrated by the vessels thus brought TO-
gether, and the importance of exercising In squad
ron cannot be overestimated in the opportunities
afforded for instructing both officers and men.
"The exercises will consist of steam tactics
torpedo exercise with ships and launches, target
practice with great guns, machine guns ana
rifles, stripping the vessel for combat in Enclosed
waters under steam, and landing and encamping
the naval brigade of the squadron for I'VE days
During the time devoted to steam tactics each
line officer of each ship is to be given an oppor-
tunity to handle the vessel under steam, about
buoys to be placed by the commandments to
indicate dangers or vessels al anchor, and to take
them alongside wharves, the latter being repre-
sented by buoyed SPAR
days. which will be days for rest, there Is to be
morning and afternoon. exercise, when not
exercising at steam tactics. The evolutions in
steam tactics shall always OCCUPY twenty-four
hours; that is the day and following night. The
torpedo practice from the ships will take place
while under way, the targets to be floating OBJ
jects and a spar moored to represent the side of
a ship. The torpedoes to contain at least five
pounds of powder, TO be extemporized by each
line officer, who is to be permitted to explode at
least two, controlling unassistcd the movements
of the ship while so doing. In addition each
ship shall explode five service torpedoes
"The boat torpedo practice will be divided in
tacks on the squadron by fleet composed OF
two boats from each ship, carrying spar torpe-
does containing torpedo fuse Ouly. Torpedo
squads should be organized, one from the gun.
navgators' and powder divisions of each ship,
with petty officer in charge each squad should
extemporize two torpedOes of five pounds each,
and they should be exploded by the petty Off
GERS IN charge of the steam cutters while un-
der way, at floating targets. The great gun tar
get practice will take place while under way at
full speed, and at floating targets; portion OF
the target practice in a seaway, the distance to
be ascertained by methods which could be used
in actual warfare. Each ship is to make up for
all target practice omitted during the commits
sion in addition to the target practice directed
by the commander-in-chief for the instruction
of the squadron. For this purpose the COM
mander.in- chief is authorized to use as much
ammunition for the great guns as he may desire,
not to exceed the amount allowed each ship for
one year.
1.-The marines will be given opportunities to fire
at targets with great guns and machine guns.
Officers will be instructed in the use of the TEL
emeter The naval brigade will be landed in the
ships boats, which will be organized in a fleet
and maneuvred from the ships to the shore by
signals from the boat containing the command
ing officer Of the brgade. The officers and me n
will carry with them two days cooked rations,
and the landing will be made as though tn e
country was that of an enemy and unknown.
No additional supplies will be furnished the
force until the third day During the encamp-
ment the brigade will be divided into two par
ties one party in numbers one-fifth of the whole
force, will prepare to defend position on shore
against the remaining four-ffths, who will de-
monstrate against the position by day and by
night with view Of effecting a landing and
holding the position. Umpires will be appointed
10 determine which of the parties is entitled to
be declared successful. A line Of defence will
be prepared on shore, with targets representing
men, guns, &C. embark the naval brigade in
their boats from the squadron and direct its
commanding officer to advance and attack it with
ball, cartridge, shrapnel, &c. On landing, have
the attacking line taught the use of cover in ad-
vancing Report on the total expenditure of
ammunition and the number of hits. On the
completion of the exercises the commander-in-
chief will submit to the Department detailed
report of the daily exercises, with the results &C
complished and the relative proficiency of all
the line officers under his command during the
period occupied in carrying out these instruc-
tions Very respectfully, w. c. WHITNEY,
Secretary of the Navy.
Rear Admiral j. E. Jouett, U. 3. N; Com
manding U. 3. Naval Force on North Atlantic
Station, Key West, Fla"
New Orleans Times Dsmecratl
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