The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1895-11-20
DRILLING A FLEET.
The way In Which the English Navy Is
Trained and the Need of 1t.

The Way In Which the English Navy Is
Trained and the Need of 1t.
The drilling of fleet is fascinating
spectacle, suggesting as snothing 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 suddenly haRled down.
Instantly the huge ships begin to turn,
to sweep around in great curves and 10
rearrange themselves in new torma-
tion. Or scattered cruisers nearly hull
down on the horizon respond to sum
mons, and in half al hour come flying
back to the fleet, take up their appoint
ed stations and conform to It's move
ments. The ease with which the $4,000
ton battleships swing round TO their
helms, the speed with which they take
up their new stations, the quick re-
sponse and the regularity Of movement
are extraordinarily impressive.
For a shore going parallel to this fleet
one must imagine q cavalry regiments
n1aneuvering at a canter, each individ-
ualIy responsive to orders rapidly trans
missible over long distances. But on
shore it would be impossible, except
from balloon or commanding hill,
to take in the movements at glance.
At sea one can follow the evolutlons OF
each ship. 4 mistake, loss or gain Of
distance. a superfuous or an inadequate
turn, is Immediately seen, and such sig
nails as retaliation badly executed"
quickly fy from the flagship to be read
by the whole feet.
Unouestionably an admiral wields
power for which general cannot hope.
A public rebuke is a thing to be avoid
ed, and even if this is not forthcoming
any small lapse will be noted by hun
dred pairs of eager eyes. Moreover,
comparatively small mistake may in
yolve disaster. We may club our cavalry
without real harm, bat 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 serl-
ons undertaking, and the accuracy Of this
drill is the measure of the maneuverlng
power of the whole assemblage OF ships.
All turns therefore upon the capacity of
the captains and their training. Merely
to keep a station in cruising formation,
following in the wake of { leader, is by
no means easy.
Attention never for moment re-
laxed 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 OF astern Of her sta
ton. IN evolutions, however, many
more qualities must be brought into
play. The theorist talks glibly Cf turn
ing circles and affects to believe that
the handling of ship can be reduced
to mere geometry. The turning circles
of each ship are of course recorded IN
every charthouse, but variety of other
conditions arise. The evolutionary quail
tiles Of other ships must be observed.
Wind, tide, speed or even the crossing
of the wake of another vessel materially
affects the turning circle. Here is no
mere question of referring to the signal
book and giving certain definite words
of command. All the conditions con-
.stantly vary; Judgment is needed at ev-
cry moment; the education Of the eye
IN estimating distances and exact knowl-
edge of the capabilities of the ship are
alike called for. The mere theorist will,
in fact, find himself hopelessly incom-
petent, and the efficient handling of
ship implies qualities which it is not
given to every one to acquire. i is an
art rather than a science, and its posses-
sion largely determines the fighting
capabilities of a nayy.-London Times.