The Washington times., 1895-06-23

ister or consul conveys the Information
TO the Secretary that a foreign warship
has gone from Nagasaki 10 Tientsin The
well-regulated department has a list OF
all the vessels of every other country, in
addition TO its own, together with full
description Of each. and knows at once
the significance OF such move.
Perhaps II is a squadron that has been
transferred. The department knows its
strength 10 q fraction and the Importance
OF the change is as quickly estimated.
Immediately the message finds its lodg-
ment in the office OF naval Intelligence,
where there is q complete chart OF the
Seas, with the name OF every port given,
and a tab bear ring the name Of the vessel
o. tde squadron is placed upon the chart
opposite the port OF destination When
necessary, and in time of war il aIway is,
I be comma nder-in-chief Of the nearest
squadron is notified
UNCLE SAM WIDE AWAKE.
Whether this country be involved in war
OF not, Uncle sam may be largely inter-
ested in a foreign complication, and it
thereby becomes an interesting, not 70 say
important, point that the movements OF our
neigbbors shall be watched The United
states may not prompt either OF the
chess players, but it may he quite as i'm
pOTtant for her representatives TO be on
hand TO see that no others ma Ike suggestions
Here is where the two divisions OF the
Secretary : official force act in conjunction.
The location OF the neighbor being aScer-
tained, the touch Of q he'll brings from the
Bureau OF Navigation the information that
of the ASfatiC squadron OF American naval
vessels, the Baltimore, CharIest0wu, Con
cord. and Yorktown are at NacasaH, that
the Detroit is at ChemulpO. aud that the
MaChias left Chefoo for Port Arthur June
>. The Petrol is at Shanghai, however,
and the Monocacy already at Tientsin.
II necessary TO support the latter vessel
with a stronger force the field IS hastily
scanned and that one most readily spared
from the other duty and hest adapted for
the service is detached and sent on the
eTTaud.
The Bureau of Navigation has record,
corrected daily, OF the disposition OF the
Navy, while the office OF naval intelh-
gence possesses equally accurate infOrma-
tion OF the foreign forces Thus the
two may act in conjunction.
BY way OF Illustration reference may be
made to the bulletin board placed in a
room OF the Bureau of Navigation. On a
given date the ships placed on that board
under proper headings, show that OF the
North Atlantic squadron, the Minneapolis
was at Norfolk, the Cincinnati at the New
York navy yard. the Raleigh left Hampton
The policy of the Navy chief is to observe
Roads for Lambert's Point, the Atlanta was
at Fortress Monroe, and the Montgomery
at Greytown.
LOCATION OF OTHER SHIPS.
The South Atlantic squadron was on the
same day dispersed as follows; TheNewark
was at Montevideo, the Castine left Mozam-
/ bique for ComarO on May 1 %. ana had not
/ yet reported at the port of destination, and
I the Yantic had been at MOntevideO since
July 10. 1894 The record was equally
complete OF the European and other squad
/ ronS, showing each fleet to De within Ca1
/ and subject to orders from the home gsV-
/ eminent within the time only that is re-
/ quired to cover the intervening distance by
| telegraph.
/ Applying this system to the foreign navies,
} the office OF naval intelligence has It's chart,
i with the war ships located. Its sources or
| information are Enthusiastically of its own
motion, and when not enough Importance at
I tacheS to justify communication by telegraph
| other means are employed. The latest
/ newspaper may contain a brief mention,
i which is utilized and n subsequent pub
/ lication enables the department to keep
| track of the vessel or squadron under OBJ
| ServatiOn-
The great civil war, it may be said, de-
veIoped the plan that has since been i'm
| proved upon and amplified, each success
/ sive war abroad emphasizing the necessity
for its perpetuity. Armed conflict we may
never indulge in again, but International
/ complications may at any moment exhaust
/ diplomacy and render a show OF power ad-
visable. For this the Navy is always
prepared.