The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-09-17
OUR EMBRYO NAVY.
Ships Few In Numbers. but Equal
to the Best.
North Atlantic squadron mt Sea r. Es'
tensivs Programme Of Exercises Sue
osssfuiIy Executed Under the Eye oil
Acting Secretary Roosevelt.

FoRr MONROE. Sept. - The
Dolphin returned to Hampton a
Yesterday with Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt, who has just completed an
inspection of the North Atlantic squad
ron at sea, and while under full fleet
maneuvcrs. This is the first inspec-
tion made in recent years under such
conditions and the results were highly
satisfactory. Under the eye of the as
sistant secretary an extensive pro-
gramme of exercises was successfully
executed in a 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 practice
was excellent, and from the big II
inch guns down to the little machine
guns, the battery worked without seri-
Gus hitch and splendid targets were
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York repealed an imaginary attack by
torpedo boats, using search lights and
her secondary battery with great eff
feet.
Night signalling with the Ardois
system of colored electric lights closed
the days work.
Wednesdays programme included
squadron ~maneuvers, and the ships got
under way early, on signal from the
New York, forming in column and
passing in review before the Dolphin.
The squadron made n magnificent
show a it came past the Dolphin with
the great battleships clearing the
long swells with resistless power and
showing the big guns and men at
quarters on the side. Single. double
to 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, a sys-
TEN which is being developed to meet
the emergency of the loss in action of
a 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 ~aifording 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
spection of the squadron, Mr.. Roose-
welt said:
The trip has been In every way sat
is~factory. 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
handed a 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, n navy
which, though too small in size. need
fear comparison with no other as re
CARDS the quality of its ships and men,