The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-22
THE VAR COLLEGE.
IT'S Contributions to the study of Coast De-
fence and OF Naval strategy and Tactics.

| fence and OF Naval STRATEGY and I"ctes'
| WASHINGTON. Oct. 2i.-The value and succe IS
| of this years course at the Naval War Colleg,
on Coasters IIarbor Island will, II Is hoped, moi
only settle tho question of the permanency oi
| the institution, but secure for It liberal annual
| support. It is known that Secretary Herbert
has been pleased with the degree of success:
| already attained by II.
The most characteristic feature of this year:
course was the introduction Of the practical
| problem of the defence of tho water approache.
| OF New York against un enemy. One great pur.
pose thereby served, rs explained in the closing
address Of Capt. II. c. Taylor, the able successor
| OF Capt. Mahan rs President OF the college, was
| the promotion Of mental activity among the
| officers attending. A course consisting wholly
| of lectures fosters no doubt, a condition of re-
captivity, but the introduction of a war problem,
| in which solutions are to be received from the
officers themselves stirs up the creative and
constructive faculties Moreover, in setting forth
at the outset, in printed form, the conditions
and "details nj tho summers problem. which
80 -, " - -. -,
contingencies. the lectures, with the exception
10 a single courso ,yore sure IN have mora mr.
OF single course were sure 10 nave hor0 UT
eT Rn, besso uP tbc mental training and the
citing of individual interest in tactical and
strategical studies looked for from this source
the collection of data and the actual prcpara-
ton of plans were most valuable fruits Of the
seasons work. Capt. Taylor we'll suggested in
his closing address that some of these might
prosooi great "so III 'ne cor iusion Vi u eu'oeh
outbreak of war because they represent the re-
suits of deliberate and metnodical study under
,a,,arniio c,ndi,;n,s rho an,,.I circu,ns,anoas
I"vor"oi' eonu'.'uha ine "e,ua, .unls'"'leeS
ninred on one si,Ic or the other might he varied
hr, ,,,,h dn. ,,iIn,ronoo f,r such % riotors ,ha
put, WIN u"e "''1mnn'o ~, suon s"asons, w.
remain the same in war as In this peaceful study
=, wa,,.ror, drri,,, ,I,o rnst sn,n,rnr
Besides the general questions OF strategy and
tactics involved in the naval defence of New
-, -, y, %,a,, 49, v, w"
YORK there are points Oh uetaii which would re-
main the same probably, whatever might be the
general plan adopted for meeting the enemy.
as to what would be an adequate defence OF the
80 -. :, - - -. 80
places whiie tne se'ect'ohoi pases Oh supply ana
points of refitting and repair and various mat
tiers Of coast defence also brought out many val
liable suggestions.
But even this main nal prob problem as appeSsrs from
in the study OF strategy and tactics. Com.
mander Train discussed the plans and possible
ties of war between the United states and
Spain. and Commander Lyon those OF the ex-
to Corea, on the hypothesis that Germany
should take the side Of China and our
country that OF japan. stu another i'm;
discussed by Lieut. Commander Beecker.
was that which would occur In the Car
Nicaragua Canal were completed and that
struggle for its possession should ensue be-
tween England and spain on one side and the
United states and France on the other. 1t is
readily seen how many valuable hints could be
3 as Slaese r" S
cise OF ingenuity and also OF foresight in
volved, the geographical and other studies thus
them Of use in the practical pursuit OF the naval
marine is referred to by Capt Taylor as dis
cussing thoroughly the problem OF the Carib-
bers Of the class are mentioned as having sub
and tactical questions.
The attention paid To war charts has been
Capt Taylor we'll suggests that The prcparations
cease but should go forward slowly with the per-
manent staff ~ the college during the winter,
during the summer. The accuracy and value
OF these charts and plans depend much on be
coming personally acqnaihnted, through freauent
operations press this upon your attention. 1t
Is defect OF the day one of the defects OF a
desk instead Of the examination of the plan on
the ground itself The chart Is a substituted
ons q four sn3S ata pof DC our
location OF the main problem OF the summer In
waters that could easily be visited from New
mort was n noint ~ vreat value '
san 10y ,,n,sai Taa,ura has hoo,, ,ho, -,
SUI ahot.nti, HoNeI leu has uech tnnt "
giving TACTICAL INSTRUCTION oy means OF steam
launches. Thus Tar little more than n Begin
ming has been effected. under Commander
Perry, but i has at least been made cyl
tba riaca 81 sbi,a In tonchino avoIu,ions -,
they viii throw light on what drills i may be
desirable Tor ships 70 undertake, In other
them are not 50 for large vessels yet at eas those
shown n he imnracticahle even for launc hes can
~ ,Ii,,ina1ai -, az NC ~ -, -
- ,+hiph a. ~ II, 80 80 r. III - 'i''H-''-
VIII "nlch II point khlheu;
Inc instructive series OF lectures on inter- |
professor at Harvard, was a valuable new fea- |
turs OF the year Indeed so valuable was ID |
thar Secretarv Herhert mas wisely determinsi |
10 have the lectures published Tor the gem |
eral use of the navy which, as experience shows,
often has need of knowledge OF this subject, |
when cruising in foreign waters or stationed at |
foreign ports.
Capt. Taylor also notes that at the beginning |
Of the summer " course Of reading in various |
branches OF the art OF war, and international
law was mapped out by NV colleague. Com
mander Stockton. whose long experience and |
intimate knowledge, OF the subjects treated