The evening times., 1896-08-25
NAVAL EXPERTS At odds
Difference of Opinion Regard
ing Fleet EyOlutiOns.
COST OF THE MANEUvERs
Opponents of the Movement Claim
They Cost Too Much and should BE
Nothing More Than y
Water Parade-Success of the Exer-
cises Depends. Upon the Officers.

There is much difference OF opinion re-
garding the utility of the naval maneuvers
us now being carried on. Naval writer's
are divided on the subject. Some contend
that they are of much value, while others
say their costliness and compeNity make
them worthy of suspension.
Interest in the navy has increased con-
siderably within the last Ten years. Wooden
vessels have been supplanted by iroDclads,
andnearly all the nations follow the example
OF Great Britain in naval tactics.
Great Britain was the first TO establish a
system OF naval niaEeuvcrs. other Euro
pean nations followed. and recently the
United States has fallen in line with extern
sive fleet evOlutions. Questions OF SPECIAL
import are before the department, and the
solution of these problems Will, in Il great
part. determine the efficiency OF the modern
steam. navy. -.---,-
The first subject which naval writers com
ment upon is the value OF fleet maneuvers.
Some ten years ago the naval stratcgists
declared it was essential To efficiency that
fleet tactical exercises of the warships
should he carried on.
FOLLOWED ENGLAND'S LEAD.
The English adinirals developed these
evolutions, and it was not long tefore other
nations followed suit. The expenditure OF
one or two ironclads the disabling of many
of the smaller craft and the general unsat-
isfactory results, secured at a great cCst. e.
produced doubts as 10 their utility. The
critics asserted that the. ships We're simply
carrying on few simple movements, eS-
ceedingIy pcrilous 10 the vessels engaged
in the work, hut Of TO practical use in
time of emergency.
The sinking of Il five million dollar battle
ship caused the British admiralty to drop
tactical exercises and engage in grand
maneuvers Other nations then found il
necessary to carry ON maneuvcrs. and Just
where they differ from tactical exercises is
a question that has not get been definitely
asccrtaincd.
Such maneuvcrs may he successfully car
ried on by fleet operating against a
target. or W hen fighting Il squadron likethat
possesseiby the Chinese. hut 1t is extremely
doubtful if they viii ever be brought into
play against ships commanded by capable
officers -.r---,.
These evoluiioDs are not complicated.
They are ike the marching manual Of the
solllier. ~ They are striking aquatic spec
| tacles, and in the past have undoubtedly
been important adJuncts OF social life ai
various watering places.
Simple routine movements are carried
out. Individual responsibility is suborti-
| mated to such an extent that there are COM
mapders ike the captain OF the Camper
down. who viii sink his copvoy rather than
| lose his place in line of column
DEPENDS on THE OFFICERS.
The success of these exercises depend an
keeping each vessel at its proper distance
| from other ships, and this result can only he
brought about by a commander OF nerve
| supported by a chief engineer uf ability.
Another question OF Importance TO the
| service is the status of the naval engineer
in modern warfare. The warship is now :,
| floating IeviattIan UT huge workshop filled
with complicated and crowded machines
| The officer in charge nf the motive power
has a great responsibility thrust upon him.
| for the disabling of a single cylinder may
! impair the efficiency of the fighting ship
Within three years we shall possess II
| fleet of war vessels, the cost of which vii
| approach $40, 900 900. The time will
soon arrive when Congress will he con-
| PEELED 10 formulate q naval policy. To
| overcome depreciation and provide for cost
| of repairs will necessit ate an annual ex-
penditure of $4,000, 900, II Will require
1 about Il like amount for the maintenance
| OF the naval establishment. Hcncef"rtl
AN annual naval appropriation of not less
4 than $50. 900 900 must be secured.