Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-28
NAVAL MANEUvRES.
THE PROBLEMS oeAcTUAL WARFARE
TO BE SOLVED.
Maritime Defence of New York ana new
Engiand-Use OF the Torpedo
The Programme.
fBH telegraph to tho Dispa.ch.l

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Juno T.-For the
first time IN the history of this country we
are 20 have q series of naval mnn@uyres
involving the problems of actual warfare
as presented in the attack Of ono OF our
great maritime ports by n foreign naval
force andits defence by the American navy.
For years past Great Britain. France, Italy,
and other European Powers have annually
practiced similar maneuyres sometimes,
and in the case Of Great Britain at heavy
expense, but the results have been so iln-
portant as to Justify the expenditure. In
the case of tho United States there has
been since the war no naval force adequate
10 carry out mannuvres or any value: Inc
Squadron or Evolution was formed Win
such a purpose IN view, but until recently
IL was not sufficiently numerous TO under
take the solution of the larger naval-war
problems, and its operations were limited
10 ereat-gun practice and fleet oyolutIons.
With the recent additions to tho naval list.
however. this obstacle has disappeared and
Secretary Tracy has prepared a scheme TO
carry ont his views, which will be gwen
effect AZ once.
TIE PROGRAMME.
The first movement will be to attach the
dynamite cruiser Nesuyius and the tor
pedo-boat Cushing temporarily 10 the
Squadron of Evolution, and orders TO that
end have already been made ont. Adj
miral Walker has also been directed To
prepare Immediately q programme OF
manGuyres for tho summer and early
autumn. which will dispose OF the forces
at your command to the best advantage
and confer practical training on the off,
GERS and men under conditions following
Il. ,,gsstt,la thncn "a optnai
fare. II is intended that the manpuvres
shall follow as soon as may be convenient
upon tho preliminary operations at Boston
and New York to take place IN July. the
practical object OF which IL TO examine
the conditions Of the problem of the mari
time defence of New York. Long Island,
and the coast Of New England"
IL is expected that the double-turreted
monitor MiantonomGh, now 40 New York,
will be completed in time 20 take part IN
the manmuvrcs. There will be but one
torpedo-boat engaged, SO that n full demon.
stratlon of the efficacy of this class or
offensive vessels cannot be thoroughly
demonstrated. but arrangements have
been made TO supply her with tsh-torpe-
does, which WILL thus be given their first
trial in American naval operations under
conditions approaching actual warfare.
TUE ANTICIPATED RESULTS.
Tho proposed evolutions. according TO
Secretary 1racy's view. will be of large
practical results. Tho defects of the new
ships. # they have any. will bo thoroughly
revealed and their actual capacity as
offensive and defensive forces will be
demonstrated. There will also be oppor-
tun,ties IN plenty for the display OF lndl-
vldual enterprise and tactical skill on the
part of the officers and OF discipline aud
Workmanship on the part of the men.
Among the results Of the English naval
manuuyres were revelations of startling
defects IN the systems OF colling, engine
construction. aud marine design, which
have since been fully followed by notable
changes in the English navy, and 1t = pre-
sumed that like valuable results will fol-
low Admiral Walkers manUuyres.