The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-02
WAR VESSELS AT SEA
The Annual Cruise Of the North
Atlantic Squadron.
The Gsn Drills and Target Practice
Lnxurss< Of the Mess-Coss
Of the Cruise.


TIE greatest feet OF war vessels that
ever sailed under the American flag
gathered this week ~ New York prepara-
tory 20 beginning the summer rians1yers-
Every summer, when X is possible. the
Atlantic squadron ASSEMBLIES az New York
ard cruises up the coast. Very often the
navy department. has been disappointed
81 it, plan for feet naneuvers by the
necessity Of sending some OF the ships Of
the squadron away. The condition OF ae-
tive war II not the only ore In which the
navy is useful. Its chief occupation IN time
OF peace Is not preparing for war. oat
making demonstrations for the protection
OF American citizens. When an American
II III treated by any foreign power, the
United States sends a snan-of-war TO back
NJ lis demand for Justice and PREPARATION
Whsn local conditions at any foreign
place threaten the safety Of American res
i6ents. vessel OF our navy Is sent TO
guarantees them protection.
warship~ at Newport.
So II may be that Admiral Bance win
lose some OF his squadron before his sum-
zner programmes Il completed. One or more
OF them may bs ordered 10 Cuba or some
other point al any minute. II no such
calamity bcfslis. the admiral hopes TO
take eight or ten ships OF Ear into New
port harbor before many days have passed
Newport IL one OF the invariaoie deztina-
tons Of a squadron OF evolution. Bar Har-
Dor Is another.
We are going hack to the days when the
navy WAS an adjunct OF social life ar the
eastern watering places. The petticoat in
Husnce al Washington has been used in
the past very freely 10 have warshi2s or
dersd 70 the summer resorts. Their pres
snce made topic OF conversation. and the
acquisition OF a dozen or more young on
GERS 20 the limited list OF dancing men was
a thing much 10 be desired. There was such
an outcEy against this custom two years
ago that Il was abandoned for time.
But peftIcost Influence is strong 81 Wash
fngson City-so strong that Secretary
Chandler years ago issued an order that
no r1val officer could have his wife follow
him 10 his post when he was on sea duty.
II has been observed that Secretary Her.
bert and Assistant Secretary McAdoo find
Sewpcrs the best place fer their work
in summer and turn their inspecting"
eyes In that direction every year. II is
quite natural the feet should follow them
there.
Fleet Evolnticns.
The particular object OF the squadron in
gathering at this geason Is TO go through
series OF feet evolutiors. These evolg-
.ious srs had every year. There were TO
the Venezuelan scare resulting from the
presidents famous message to congress
inierseHed. This summer the vessels of The
North Atlantic squadron have been called
in from their various stations. and they
have been gathering at Tompkinsvllie. "
T., and at the navy yard Brooklyn. for
two weeks. Commodore Montgomery ST.
card. the commandant OF the navy yard,
has had his men at work basily eqaipping
some OF the vessels and putting others into
condition fer sea service. The only special
preparation needed for the work OF the
squadron was the building OF an auxiliary
bridge aft on the New York for the use of
the admiral OF the fleet. This bridge has
not added to the beauty OF the vessel but
!, has made Il possible for the admiral TO
give his orders and TO watch the evolu-
lions OF the feet more easily than he could
when he occupied a place on the captains
bridge forward. The business OF signaling
10 the vessels OF feet takes a great deal
OF space.
This signaling Is done from the flagship
OF the squadron. whlch in this case Is the
New York. The flagship is the aamiral.s
ship. IL leads the feet la ali maneuvers.
and from IL Instructions are given Tor the
movement OF the other vessels. These In
structions are conveyed by means OF flags
and lights. There are Two systems or flag
signals-the use os eoiored flags, each OF
which represents figure or letter. and the
use OF the signal dag, which IL waved at
the head OK A stan up and down according
20 a code. The latter ~ known as the
wiSgag" system, and Il IS the old sys-
TEN OF signaling N use IN the army. Al
night the signaling Is doac b. means of
eisetTic lights. Foar % these lights are
hang one nnder the other from each mast