The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-10-18

rev Flags Guide tho Many Rapid Evoi.-


ttaF tions.
The drilling Of q feet is fascinat
ing spectacle. suggesting as nothing
else can the subordination of grea
force to the control of single will
A few gayly-colorcd flags autter t,
the main truck OF the flagship, remain
for two or three minutes, and are sud
denly hauled down. Instantly the
huge ships begin to turn, to sweer
around In great curves, and to rear
range themselves In new formation.
Or scattered cruisers, nearly hull
down on the horizon. respond to q
summons, and in half an hour come
flying back to the feet, take up their
appointed stations, and conform to it's
movements. The ease with which the
fourteen-thousand- top battle-ships
swing round to their helms, the speed
with which they take up their new sta
tions, the quick response, and the regu-
larity OF movement are extraordinarily
impressive. For a shore-going parai-
lei to this fleet, one must imagine
twenty one cavalry regiments ma
neuvering at canter, each individual
ly responsive to orders rapidly trans
missable over long distances. But on
shore it would be impossible. except
from balloon or a commanding hill,
to take in the movements at glance.
At sea, onecan follow the evolution OF
each ship. A mistake, loss or gain
Of distance, superfuous or an in
adequate turn, is Immediately seen,
and such signals rs Retaliation badly
executed" or "Clytemnestra keep sta
ton" quickly fly from the flagship to
be read by the whole feet.
Unquestionably an admiral yields
power for which general can not
hope A public rebuke Is q thing to
be avoided, and even il this is not
any small lapse will be
noted by one hundred pairs of eager
eyes. Moreover,a comparatively small
mistake may involve disaster. We
nay club our cavalry without
'eal harm, but the contact Of two of |
hese great ships moving at ten knots
nay mean the loss of one or both. The |
lrill of a feet Is an eminently serious
undertaking., and the accuracy Of this
rill Is the measure of the maneuver-
ng power of the whole assemblage of
hips. All turns, therefore, upon the
apacity of the captains and their
raining. Merely to keep station in
ruisng formation, following In the
rake of a leader, is by no means easy.
ttention never for a moment relaxed
nd the Judgment which comes only
18th long experience are alike re-
uired. Helm and speed need perpetual
lterations. and the requisite changes
lust be carefully estimated, or the
nip will continuously oscillate to
,arboard or port, in advance or astern
her station. In evolutions, how
7er, many more qualities mnst be
rought into play. The theorist talks
IDLY of turning circles" and affects
} believe that the handling Of y
zip can be reduced to mere
'ometry. The turning circles OF
.ch ship are, Of course, recorded 9
every chart house, but
.riety of other conditions arise. The
oiueAohoiy 4ud1tticS VI Ctucr SHIPS
ust be observed. Wind, tide, speed,
even the crossing of the wake
another vessel materially affects !,
. turning circle. Here is no mere =
estion of referring to the sig =
i book and giving certain definite
,rds of command. All the conditions II
vary; Judgment i needed n
every moment; the education OF the Q
Q In estimating distances and exact
owledge of the capabilities Of the n
ip are alike called for. The mere G.
eorist will, in fact, find himself hope "
sly incompetent, and the efficient I
ndling of ship implies qualities
lich it is not given to everyone to a
luire. 1t Is an art rather than %,
ence, and its possession largely de- fr
mines the fighting capabilities of j
a navy. London Times.