The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-08-08
SHAM NAVAL BATTLEs.
To Be Carried Out by the Navy
Department ON Large Scale.

To Be Carried Out by the Navy |
Department ON a Large Scale.
For the first time in the history
of this country we are to have a
series of naval maneuvers, involv-
ing the problems of actual warfare,
as presented In the attack on one
of our great maritime ports by a
foreign naval force and it's defense
by the American navy. For years
past Great Britain, France, Italy
and other European powers have
annually practiced similar maneu-
vers, sometimes, as in the case of
Great Britain, at heavy expense,
but the results have been so impor-
tant as to justify the expenditure.
In the case of the United States
there has been since the war no
naval force adequate to carry out
maneuvers of any value. The
squadron of evolution was formed
with such a purpose in view, but
until recently it was not sufficient
ly numerous to undertake the
solution of the larger naval war
problems, and it's operations were
limited to great gun practice and
feet evolutions. With the recent
additions to the naval list, how
ever, this obstacle has disappeared,
and Secretary Tracy has prepared
a scheme to carry out his views,
which will be gwen effect at once.
JUST LIKE ACTUAL WAR.
The first move will be to attach
the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius and
the torpedo boat Gushing tempor-
arily to the squadron of evolution,
and orders to that end have already
been made out. Admiral Walker
has also been directed to prepare
Immediately a programme of man
euvres for the summer and early
autumn, which will dispose of the
forces under his command to the
best advantage, and confer prac-
tical training on the officers and
men, under conditions following as
closely as possible those of actual
warfare.
It is intended that the maneu.
vers shall follow as soon as may be
upon the preliminary operations al
Boston and New York, to take
place in July, the practical object
of which is to examine the cOndi
tions of the maratime defense o.
New York, Long Island Sound anc
the coast of New England. 1t il
expected that the double-turreteC
Miantonomah, now at New York
will be completed in time to take
part in the man9uvers.
ToRPEDoEs WILL BE USED.
There will be but one torpedo
boat engaged, so that full demon
stration of the efficacy of this class
of offensive vessels cannot b.
thoroughly demonstrated, but ar
rangements have been made tt
supply her with Fisk torpedoes
which will thus be given their frs
, trial in American naval operations
under conditions approaching thos'
: of actual warfare
The proposed evolutions, accor
ding to Secretary Tracy's view
will be of large practical results
; The defects of the new ships, if they
have any, will be fully revealed am
their actual capacity as offensiv
,, and defensive forces will be demon
a strated. There will also be oppor
! tunities in plenty for the display Q
individual enterprise and tactica
=, skill on the part of the officers, an
.. of discipline and craftsmanship o.
' the part of the men.
y Among the results of the Englis
| naval man9uvers were the revela
t tons of startling effects in system
: : of coaling, engine construction an
marine designs by notable change
3 in the English navy, and it is pre-
b. sumed that valuable results vii
D follow Admiral Walkers maneu
: vers.-[Pittsburg Dispatch.