Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-08-23

letto, and thero gun cotton, smokeless pow.
der and the illuminate of mercury for fuses
are manufactured, and tho steel used In
new warships is tested
The war college proper was founded in
1884, and Admiral Luce was Its first pres
ident. 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 "the 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 IL languished
somewhat, not perhaps because Of any per.
sonal remissness on the part of the 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 II. Solely became interest.
cd In it, and as n result tho 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
1892 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 IL was designed. Then Admiral
Luce, the real founder Of the college, came
to its rescue, personally pleading with
Secretary Herbert and Assistant Secretary
f., a., 10 ka ala L. II
lowed TO go down. Assisted by Captain
II. @. Taylor, who has since been made
president, the admiral prepared a scheme
OF study and maneuvers which were sub
mitted TO the secretary and his assistant.
1t was held by the admiral that some spe-
oial instruction Of the officers Of Uncle
Sans navy was absolutely necessary II
they were 60 be fitted for actual service In
case OF war For 80 years, IL 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-
tice and but little tactical instruction,
such as they could receive At the naval
war college. There was much opposition
20 the scheme for the institutions revival,
chiefly from the older and more conserya-
tive elements in the navy but Admiral
Luce was well backed by the younger and
more progressive element success finally
rewarded his efforts, and the season Of
1894 was the most brilliant In the history
OF the college.
1t 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
In 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 20 occupy the New England coast
as far as Boston. To be successful occu-
patton must be completed before June 10
and maintained for one month. The en-
emy's force consists OF fleet three times
as strong as that Of the United States, with
e0, 600 men In 90 transports. The Amer
lean fleet Is o battleships, 8 aFmored cruis- |
ers. IS unarmored cruisers, 10 gunbOats,
10 torpedo boats and one ram. IL is ordered
TO assemble at Nantucket sound. War Is
declared ON May co. The enemy's heet
leaves Halifax, occupies Proyincetown and
blOckades Boston hArbor on May 2S. Later
Il approaches nearer and goes through va
rious eVolutions which need not be detailed
here. To the study Of repelling the en-
envy under these circumstances the ~
members Of the present class, three OF
whom are officers Of the revenue marine,
"a are line officers and one Is Danish OIL
Ger, admitted by special request, are deyot-
ing much OF the summer time, and the lee
lures have been laid out with reference 70
assisting In lts eluoidAtion. Besides there
are various naval games to be played, chief
of which are "ths duel, tactics" and
strategy" apparatus and rules for the
playing Of which arc provided.