New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-23
HERBERT'S MAGNTFfCENCE.
FLEET OF WARsHIPs TO CHEER HIM
on HIS JAuNT

tlAMME OF SEA ENtlIllbNS-IiiE l'lfNi
CHARMS OF nan n,RBoR INTERFERE.
lnr rrLronAru THE rnnunr.l
Washington Aug. 22-the spectacle " the North
Atlantic Squadron cruising with the Secretary OF
the Navy on board the nagshp, from one pleasure
resor, on the New England coast 10 another. In
stead ~ engaging IN practical exercises at sea M
execution ~ the loud hetalded programme OF Meet
nanoeuvfts ls the subject ~ much unfavOfable
continent Naval officers ~ high ani low rank
sptak ~ the subject ~ terms ~ eattest ifirh'enre
fhet ant iha, the ufess throughout the eoun'ty
feeent puHiishei iunr accounts of what the hdnr
squadron W6ui AS. mi that nbthiht ~ hth"n' to
ne seftiep has been ,6ne ttoinihenre vac f'teh
ihe h6me squadron iaipit, fei Y vac sail 'hh 'hn
summer pf0tiaNWe w ttNiilleis atfthH hfuh Nas
meFa extended lhan any WHEN hsh r'ttisnst hfnh
drawn va.
WIN equal emphasis and frequency u VAS as
serted that Secretary Herbert vas eAhih'lNs mueh
enthusiasm over The prospect al assembling 'he
most efficient American hee ever brought together
aud sending the vessels 10 SEQ Tor important lTa'
teal work. 1t was also announced, to the great
qualification OF all persons Interested IN the navy
that the Secretary had determined that the squad
ron should not he detailed for picnic duty ana
that the ships would not be permitted 10 visit the
cities along the Atlantic coast and take part IN
local celebrations. The cruise was to be bns-
nesske one and pleasure was to come only AFTER
the hard work was done.
Since the time the fleet assembled at Newport
some days ago. amusement not exercise Of ships
and guns. seems to have been the object in view
More especially Is this true since the departure OF
the feet for Bar Harbor Secretary Herbert left
the Dolphin. which is virtually his private yacht
and Joined the NewYork when Newport was
cleared lie proceeded with the ship TO Bar Iar
Dor. The press kilograms announce that the Secre-
tary Is entertaining prominent Democrats. includ-
ing Secretary Lamont and ex-Secretary Whitney
Luncheons and dinners have been given. The fleet
reached Bar Harbor Saturday. 1t II still there,
and 80 pleasant has the Secretary found the sur
roundngs that he has issued orders appointing
sailing day. Every familiar with the charms
OF Bar Ilarbor knows that fleet OF ships there
has no time for anything In the way OF actual
worh. The officers are preoccupied with social
duties. and days and evenings are given over to
gayety. About two weeks OF the summer cruise
have passed by and no part OF the big programme
drawn up has been executed, excepting that the
ships are assembled
Admiral Bunoe. It Is said. prepared a series OF
interesting evolutons to be executed. and expressed
the hope that his plans might not be interfered
with. SO far his duty has been to convey the
Secretary OF the Navy from one fashionable water
ing-place to another For this service. four yes
sells are thought necessary. No other Secretary IN
the memory OF Naval officers who discussing
the present situation. has had the nerve" TO
cruise along the New England coast in mag
nihcent flagship. the pride OF the service. accom-
panied by a fleet. Mr.. Herbert is being laughingly
referred Admiral Porter X. G. b.. of Pima
fore" fame one officer, whose Impotence got the
better OF his judgment said to-day:
III Secretary Herbert is a vain man his desire
for attention is fully gratfed this summer. He has
the flower of the Navy transporting him from one
place to another with the splendor OF Emperor
This may be agreeable for the Secretary but II IL
bad for the Navy. This winter some OF our west
ern congressman will want TO know why such great
quantities of Government coal were expended In
cruises from Newport TO Bar Harbor. There Is no
satisfactory answer and the Navy Will get black
eve None of Mr. Herbert's predecessors pursued
any such Some OF them occasionally used
the Dispatch and Dolphin for short trips. but never
an entire fleet The squadron's cruise so far has
been picnic
The practical loss to the Navy is the failure to
embrace the opportunity for ieet exercises ana evo-
lutions. he vessels under his command, Ad
miral Buncc could not engage in extended man
oeuvres such the big foreign navies have every
year. but he could proceed to and shake down
in many practical duties Target practice. signal
ling steam trials and other evo.utons could be per
Ger and to be anxious that the fleet should keep
away from smusements long enough TO give the
officers and men needed training IN their work AS
long Secretary Herbert remains with the fleet
ane % ns e M Was the
suggestion that the Secretary, In earlier days de-
of the summer cruise. take part in local celebrations
The Admirals long experience has taught him that
plan was to first go through series OF practical
exercises afoat. When that duty was completed IL
would be time enough to think OF amusement
The Secretary. when he left Washington. was in
accord with the Admiral No picncs were to be al
lowed: yet within the last week the papers have
announced that the fleet of the ships
to visit both Portland and Boston and take part In
celebrat ions shore. Naval officers beginning
fear that the summer cruise will turn out to be
farce. They expected the contrary and based
their hopes on what has been said officially at the
Department They speak OF the subject with much
impaence One said to-day
Never has the new Navy been put through neces-
sary practical evolutions under steam. Many pro-
grammes have been drawn up to be carried out
but none has been executed. Generally exgencies
the service have interfered. frequently dis
turbances in the West Indies and I'm Central Amer
lea Now there is nothing to break up the fleet
Yet evolutIons being performed. and the ships
are at anchor Bar Harbor the Secretary Of the
Navy giving and attending dinner parties and the
officers of the squadron following his example"
For other Uashfn0,on y,us See RIM Pao,