Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-10-26
DRILLING a ELEET.
a Few Flags Guide the Many K<pid EvolE
tfOns.

Few Flags Guide the Many Rxpid Ev0lg
lions.
The drilling OF fleet is fascinat4
ing spectacle, suggesting as nothing
else can the subordination of great
force to the control of a single will.
A few gayly-colored flags futter to
the main truck of the flagship, remain
for two or three minutes, and are sud-
denly hauled down. Instantly the
huge ships begin to turn, to sweep
around in great curves, and to rear
range themselves in a new formation.
Or scattered cruisers, nearly hull
down on the horizon, respond to
summons, and in half an hour come
flying back to the fleet, take up their
appointed stations, and conform to its
movements. The ease with which the
fourteen-thousand ton battle-ships
swing round to their helms, the speed
with which they take up their new sta
lions the quick response. and the regu-
larity of movement are extraordinarily
impressive. For a shore-going paral-
lei to this fleet, one must imagine
twenty one cavalry regiments ma
neuvering at a canter, each individual
ly responsive to orders rapidly trans
missable over long distances. But on
shore it would be impossible, except
from a balloon or a commanding hill,
to take IN the movements at glance.
At sea, one can follow the evolution OF
each ship. A mistake, a loss or gain
of distance, superfuous or an in
adequate turn, is Immediately seen,
and such signals as "Retaliation badly
executed" or "Clytemnestra keep sta
ton" quickly fly from the flagship to
be read by the whole fleet.
PROFESSIONALLY an admiral yields a
power for which a general can not
hope. A public rebuke is thing to
be avoided, and even if this is not
forthcoming any small lapse will be
noted by one hundred pairs of eager
eyes. Moreover, a comparatively small
mistake may involve disaster. We
may club our cavalry without
real harm, but the contact of two of
| these great ships moving at ten knots
may mean the loss OF one or both. The
drill of feet is an eminently serious
undertaking, and the accuracy of this
drill is the measure of the maneuver-
ing power of the whole assem- blage of
capacity of the captains and their
training. Merely to keep station III
cruising formation, following in the
wake of a leader, is by no means easy.
Attention never for a moment relaxed
and the judgment which comes only
with long experience are alike re-
quired. Helm and speed need perpetual
alterations. and the requisite changes
must be carefully estimated, or the
| ship will continuously oscillate to
starboard or port, in advance or astern
OF her station. In evolutions, how
ever, many more qualities must be
brought into play. The theorist talks
glibly of turning circles" and affects
to believe that the handling of a
ship can be reduced to mere
geometry. The turning circles OF
ZACH ship are, of course, recorded
every chart house, but a
variety of other conditions arise. The
evolutionary qualities of other ships
must be observed. Wind, tide, speed,
or even the crossing of the wake
IF another vessel materially affects
the turning circle Here is no mere
question of referring to the sig
nal book and giving certain definite
words Of command. All the conditions
constantly vary; Judgment is needed
at every moment; the education of the
eye in estima ting distances and exact
knowledge of the capabilities of the
ship are alike called for. The mere
theorist will, in fact, find himself hope
lessly incompetent, and the efficient
handling of a ship implies qualities
which it is not given to everyone te
acquire. It is an art rather than e
science, and its possession largely de
termines the fighting capabilities o.
of a navy.-London Times.