Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-08-31


letto, and thoro gun cotton, smokeless pow
der and the illuminate Of mercury for fuses
arc manufactured, and the steel used IN
new warships Is tested.
The war college proper was founded In
1884, and Admiral Luce was its first pres
idont. Two years later he was succeeded
by Captain Alfred Il. Mahan. During his
presidency the college made wonderful
strides, and his book, "Sea Power In
History, termed by Gladstone "tho great
est work of modern times" was based
upon his first course OF lectures at the
naval war college. After Captain Mahan
was detached from the college to do duty
In Europe the institution was placed in
charge of Commodore Francis NJ. Ramsay,
and during his presidency 1t languished
somewhat not peEhaps because OF any per-
sonal rcmlssness on the part Of tho com
modore, but because of an opposition to
the college among many influential naval
officers.
But better times were coming for the
Newport college. Assistant Secretary of
the Navy James r. Soley became interest.
cd In It, and as result the old Newport
poorhouse which had hitherto been It's
domicile was abandoned and the present
handsome college building was erected.
This structure was formally opened In
1899 with great ceremony, but during the
following summer the institution again
languished, no orders were issued for sum
mer lectures and the building was largely
occupied for other purposes than that for
which iJ was designed. Then Admiral
Luce, the real founder of the college, came
to its rescue, personally pleading with
Secretary Herbert and Assistant Secretary
McAdoo that the college should not bo al
lowed to go down. Assisted by Captain
II. O. Taylor, who has since been made
president, the admiral prepared scheme
of study and maneuvers which were sub
mitted TO the secretary and his assistant.
1t was held by the admiral that some spe-
olal instruction OF the officers of Uncle
Sans navy was absolutely necessary II
they were TO be fitted for actual service In
case of war. For 80 years, II was pointed
out. the United States had been at peace
with all the world. During much OF that
time the navy had been much neglected.
Within more recent years IL had been
greatly improved and its officers and men
carefully drilled and instructed. But dur
ing all the 80 years, the admiral further
pointed out, these officers had had no prac-
tioe and but little tactical instruction,
such as they could receive at the naval
war college. There was much opposition
10 the scheme for the institutions revival,
chiefly from the older and more conserva-
tive elements In tho navy, but Admiral
Luce was we'll backed by the younger and
more progressive element, success finally
rewarded his efforts, and the season Of
1894 was tho most brilliant In the history
of the college.
Ii is not possible In the brief space hero
at command even to outline the scope OF
the institutions work. A course Of leo
lures, now about half finished, was begun
I'm June TO extend during that month, July
and August. In September the solution of
a carefully prepared war problem will be-
gin. Briefly and perhaps inadequately,
this problem is here summarized;
ON May 10 war Is imminent The en-
emy is assembling at Halifax and proposes
probably TO occupy the New England coast
as far as Boston. To be successful occu-
nation must be completed before June 10
and maintained for one month. The en-
eny's force consists OF a feet three times
as strong as that Of the United States with
"a. 600 men In 80 transports. The Amer
ican fleet Is 8 battleships, armoFed eruis-
ers. rs unarmored cruisers, 10 gunboats,
10 torpedo boats and one ram. 1t Is ordered
10 assemble at Nantucket sound. War Is
declared on May 90. The enemy's heet
leaves Halifax. occupies Proyincetown and
blockades Boston harbor on May ~. Later
II approaches nearer and goes through va.
rious evolutions which need not DO detailed
here. TO the study Of repeliing the en-
envy under these circumstances the ~
members of the present class, three Of
whom are officers OF the revenue marine
% are line officers and one Is a Danish Off
Ger. admitted by special request, are deyot-
inc much Of the summer time, and the lee
lures have been laid out with reference to
assisting in its elucidation. Besides. there
are various naval games 70 be played, chief
81 which ara ''the duel, tactics ana
strategy" apparatus and rules for the
playing Of which are provided.
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