New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-07
THE NAVAL VAR COLLEGE OPENED.
AN ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN MAHAN AND AND THE
FIRST LECTURES OF THE COURSE DELIVERED

AN ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN MAHAN AND AND THE
FIRST LECTURES OF THE COURSE DELIVERED
Newport, r. l.. Sept. CSpeciaD.-The new War
College building on Coasters liarbor Island was
opened today in the presence of large gathering
Of Naval Officers, ranging In rank from Admiral walker
to the junior officers on the Chicago. There were
present Admiral Walker and staff Captain Johnston
and the officers OF the Chicago; Captain buhoe ana
ofncers Of the training station; Commander Je"eii
and officers Of the torpedo station L'eu'en'n'
winsiow. OF the Gushing; Captain Mathews ana inc
officers ordered as instructors or Tor INSTRUCTION.
making about ninety in ALL together Win 'ap'oin
and Mrs Mahan and Commander and Mrs. stockton.
OF the War College, and Others
c.p,.in Naban president OF the college, read an
address which he opened by stating That IL had been
expected that Assistant Secretary Solely would BE-
present II was largely thought the strong support
q, Secretary Tracy and Assistant secretary Solely that
,hn couece had been raised from the slough into
which II had fallen and placed In its present position
In his absence the president had to open and With
only brief time for preparation had decided TO meet
some objections to the existence Of the college that
were urged by officers In the service After the close
OF the war, when the Navy had standing and IT.
great commanders still alive the word OBJ
solete, seemed TO have a deadly influence on It.
Officers and civilians alike were afraid TO do any
thing because ten years thence the march OF progress
would render the result obsolete. Nothing was done
and the Navy itself almost become obsolete
Ten years ago this had been changed and this
country Was now rapidly acquiring a Navy that would
BE- both creditable and useful. "Obsolete' having
been relocated to back seat, another word, prac-
tical,' was now working in much the same way. 1t
vas asked, Is this practicall VIII the War College
give the officers that practical knowledge which they
need If not, why shoud 1t EXIST This question
had to be met. That 1t had been successfully met
shown by the support accorded the college by
the secretary and assistant secretary by Admiral
Walker and other skilled officers, and by the writings
Of some Of the leading admrals of Great Britain. The
college, to give theoretical knowledge to develop
lines OF thought in the mind. TO prepare the Officers
as much as could be for the carrying out OF the
purposes for which the Navy existed the wagng OF war
When a war comes there will be no time 10 study.
The officers knew from the theory acquired at the
Naval Academy and the practice aboard ship how to
carry on the Navy In times Of peace. but the Navy
was meant for war; and 1t Is for war that It's officers
should be trained How to manoeuvre d squadron
for offence or defence, to avoid precpitate en-
eagemcnt, to convoy merchant ships, to manoe'ivre
even single ship In the face OF an enemy. were duties
in which the officers have not been drilled The great
naval leaders Of various ages have realized that there
was too little of this theoretical knowledge among
officers and have recommended Its requirement.
At the close OF Captain Mahans address the az
semblage took a short recess while the west lecture
room was arranged for the opening lecture OF the
course by Naval Constructor Woodward, VINO spoke
OF the construction of warshps and the effects on their
tactical qualities. that is. their ability to do certain
work of damages receiv ed IN action.
The lectures for the remainder OF this Week. as
posted In the college. are as follows WEDNESDAY
10 A. M Naval Constructor Woodward; IL 40 a. M,
Lieutenant Solely; Thursday. 10 a. M. Mr.. Soey
II :45 a. M. Mr.. Woodward Friday. 10 a. M: Lieu,
tenant DiehI IL AS g. ~, DR.. >ieGfred Lieutenant
soley will speak ON "The Naval Militia Lieutenant
De Comps: Errorsand Their c% MnTSH I Gn
auences Affecting Scanen Their Courses, sequences
and Prevention The members Of the class preSes
l.. C. Logan and C. II. Arnold. Iieuenants John a.
Rogers; W P Day. L. c. HeilncT TIC, e.: Ja'V Whfe
]. L. Durceh, J. c. Irvine and c. r. Richards: ana
Ensigns W. II. G. Buhrd. Philip Andrews y. a.
McCully, jr., and II. X. Hines.