Iron County register., 1897-09-16
OUR EMBRYO NAVY.
Ships Few in Numbers, but Equal
to the Best.
5sze<th Atlantic Squadron 1t sea-An Ex-
SaeasiTe Programme of Exercises Sue
sees&FuIIy Executed Under the Eye Of
Acting Secretary Roosevelt.

Fosr MoNRoE, Sept O.. The
Dolphin returned to Hampton Roads
yesterday with Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt. who has just completed an
inspection of the North Atlantic squad
~roa at sea, and while under full fleet
JuzaneAyers. This is the first inspec-
ton made in recent years under such
coalitions and the results were highly
satisfactory. Under the eye of the as
siStant secretary an extensive pro-
gramme of exercises was successfully
executed in limited period of time
The Dolphin reached the southern
drill grounds Tuesday forenoon. join
ing the squadron while the ships were
at sub-caliber practice. This was sus-
pended and the battleship Iowa was
designated to fire her batteries In
honor of the secretary, who was taken
aboard for the purpose. The practlce
was excellent, and from the big II
5nch guns down to the little machiue
guns, the battery worked without serl-
Gus hitch and splendid targets w'SSe
made.
The armored cruiser Brooklyn was
next put through her PAGES and run up
and down the firing line. making good
practice at the distant target.
In the evening the flagship New
York repelled an imaginary attack by
torpedo boats, using search lights and
her secondary battery with great ef-
feet
Night signalling with the Ardois
system of colOred electric lights closed
the days work.
Wednesdays programme included
&Hac hi not
under way early; on signal from the
New York. forming in column and
passing in review before the Dolphin.
The squadron made a magnificent
show as it came past the Dolphin with
the great battleships clearing the
Tong sweIls with resistless power and
showing the big guns and men at
quarters on the side. Single, double
column; formation en- echelon. wheels
20 right and left, and many other COM
bination movements were attempted
with splendid precision.
A novel feature OF the days maneu-
vers was the use, for the first time in
any navy, of Japanese daylight fire.
works, as a means of signalling, sys-
tenn which is being developed to meet
the emergency of the loss in action OF
n single mast or the hiding of a ship
by smoke. The Dolphin left the
squadron next morning at sunrise,
stopping off Cape Henry to permit
of an inspection of the monitor Puri-
tan, which was put through great gun
practice for the purpose of affording q
comparison of her hydraulic mechan-
ism with the electric system of the
Brooklyn and the steam gear of the
other ships
In summing up the results of the in
tspectiOn of the squadron, Mr.. Roose-
welt said:
''The trip has been in every way sat
Isfactory. There is every reason to be
satisfied with every detail of the man
Agement of the huge war ships. This
is the first time that such a squadron
of modern ironclads has ever been un-
der command of an American admiral.
Indeed, it is the first time in peace
'thatan American admiral has ever COM
,manded squadron relatively so for
.midable, compared with the war ships
of other powers. At last we are be-
ginning to have a navy fit to uphold
the interests of our people, q navy
which. though too small in size, need
fear comparison with no other as re-
cards the quality of its ships and men, -