The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-10
A FLEET TO BE PROUD OF.
THE DRILL OF sICARD's SQUADRON
WAS SATISFACTORY.

Ell upon Ihctr kIHhc1chcy IN huuu-
ling the Great Modern Engines Of
Wnr-AssIstant Secrct0ry Roose-
welt Returns From the Drill
Grounds and Expresses His Opin-
ion.
Fortress Monroe. Va. Sept. 9.-The Doll
phin returned to-day TO Hampton Roads
with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. who
has just completed an inspection of the
North Atlantic squadron at sea, while un-
dsr full fleet maneuvers. This is the first
inspection made in recent years under
such conditions, and the results were
highly satisfactory. Under the eye of the
assistant secretary, an extensive pro-
gramme of exercises was successfully ex-
ecuted in limited period of time.
The Dolphin reached the southern drill
grounds Tuesday afternoon, joining the
squadron while the ships were at sub-cali-
bre practice This was suspended by Ad-
mlral Sioard upon his learning Of Mr..
Roosevelts desire TO witness the heavy
gun practice and the battleship Iowa was
designated TO fire her batteries in the
presence of the assistant secretary, who
was taken aboard Of her for the purpose.
The practice was excellent, and from the
big Pinch guns down to the little ma
chine guns the battery worked without
serious hitch, and splendid target shots
were made. The crack armored cruiser
Brooklyn was next put through her PAGES
!
ing good practice at the distant target. In
the evening the flagship New York re-
PEELED an imaginary attack by torpedo
boats, using her search lights and her Sec
ondary battery with great effect. Follow
Ing this came a search-light drill by the
entire squadron, making a most beautiful
and unique marine spectacle. Night sig
mailing with the Ardois system of colored
electric lights closed the days work, ana
the squadron passed the night at anchor
on the drill grounds, thirty miles east OF
the Virginia capes.
Wednesdays programme included squad
ron maneuvers. The ships got under way
early, on signal from the New York,
forming In column and passing In review
to and fro before the Dolphin. which re-
maned at anchor. The beginning of the
| exercises was preceded by the release Of
a flock of ten carrier pigeons bearing
messages to the Norfolk navy yard. The
squadron made a magnificent show as 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 column, double column, formation
en- echelon, wheels to right and left and
many other combination movements were
attempted with splendid precision. and
the manner in which the seven big iron
clads maintained their positions in line
while under cruising speed going through
this complicated movement earned the
unstinted praise OF the assistant secre-
tary. A novel feature of the days ma
neuvers was the use for the first time in
any navy of Japanese daylight fireworks
as a means Of signaling, system which
is being developed to meet the emergency
that might follow the loss In action of
the signal mast or the hiding OF ship by
smoke.
in the afternoon the commanding Off
GERS Of the squadron were entertained at
tea by Mr.. Roosevelt on the Dolphin and
the gathering of seven of the ablest off,
GERS Of the navy aboard ship at sea af-
forded an opprtunity for an exchange of
valuable professional views as to the quaIi-
ties Of the ships they command. In the
evening Admiral Scard entertained Mr..
Roosevelt at dinner aboard the flagship
and Wednesday closed with another dis
play Of night signalling and searchlight
work The Dolphin left the squadron
next morning at sunrise, stopping off Cape
Henry to permit of an inspection of the
monitor Puritan. which was put through
great gun practice for the purpose of at
fordlng a combination of her hydraulic
turret mechanism with the electric system
of the Brooklyn and the steam gear of The
other ship.
In summing the results OF his inspection
of tn squadron. Mr.. Roosevelt said: "The
trip has been in every way more than sat
isfactory. The target practice under SER
vice condition, the fleet maneuvers, the
practice with the search lights at night in
discovering and sinking drifting targets.
have each and all been done IN a way
which reflects very high credit upon the
admiral, his captains and their officers.
and crews. The signalling both at night
and In the day time, including the day
signals with the Japanese fireworks has,
been excellent. The rapidity and precis-
Ion of the practice with the rapid fire guns
and the extraordinary accuracy with
which the huge terruet guns were fired
were equally noteworthy. There We're
several matters Of less Importance like the
successful use Of carrier pigeons, which
also deserved comment. In short there is
every reason to be satisfied with the prac-
tice.
This is the first timethat such squad
ron OF modern ironclads have ever been
under command Of an American admiral.
indeed II is the only time in peace that
an American admiral has ever command
ed a squadron relatively so formidable.
compared with the warships Of other