The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-09-22
TORPEDO BOAT FLOTiLLA
The Novel Expedition Under Lieu
tenant Commander Kimball.
ALL NOW READY FOR THE START.

VIII Cruise From New York Along
the Coast to Galveston, and in the
Spring WIN Continue Up the Mis-
sissippi to st, Louis.
Washington, Sept. %. - Lieutenant
Commander Kimball has received from
Acting Secretary Roosevelt his final
instructions for the government of his
movements of the torpedo boat fiotilla
and all is now ready for the start of
this novel expedition. Heretofore sin
gle boats have practiced, but never be-
fore has there been anything in this
country like the school of torpedo boats
that will be gathered under Lieutenant
Commander Klmball for practice on a
large scale and under service cOndi-
tions Of the maneuvers that the boats
must undergo In time Of war.
The start will be made Oct. 1 from
New York, with five boats-the Foote
the Porter, the Dupont, the Ericsson
and the Cushing. If any of the boats
are unable to start at that date they
will follow along and catch up with
the flotllla at the earliest opportunity.
The commander win take his way down
the coast stopping here and there for
a week or two, at his discretion. He
will explore the coast waters and learn
the character of tactics best adapted
to them, whether operations should be
conducted in shore or off shore, de-
pendent upon the locality, whether
there are harbors that might serve to
shelter the torpedo boats while not
big enough to admit battleships, and
In fact all information that is needed
for the guarding of the coast with such
boats as he commands.
The maneuvers at first will be Of the
simplest character such as working
out the new theory of search curves
by which a vessel may be intercepted
with the least amount of searching
Then the qualities of the various boats
will be developed in all kinds of
weather. There are several types OF
craft in the fotilla, and it is desired
that their good and bad points be
shown for use in future designing. II
is fully expected that under this strain
there viii be breakdowns in each and
all of the boats, and it is for the pur-
pose of learning and curing these de-
fects that the maneuvers are designed.
The British government had bad luck
in starting a fleet of torpedo destroyers
for foreign port, every one coming
back to port on the first attempt, and
1t is desired that our boats be made
safe against such accidents If possible,
by actual tests.
Heretofore all torpedo practice has
been in still water. with targets sta
tionary Night drills will be held, and
the boats will be made to rendezvous
at appointed places in the darkest
weather.
In this work the fotilla will work
slowly along the coast until 1t reaches
the gulf. 1t will go to Galveston, and
then, when the spring tides come, as
many Of the boats as can make the
trip will be sent up the Mississippi
river as far as 1t Is regarded safe for
them to go, probably up to st. Louis.
At the end 1t is hoped that the fotilla,
composed though it is of boats not
of the very latest type all around will
still, thanks to thorough drill, be as
formidable a hotllla as there is ahoat
and a most valuable adjunct to the
navy.