The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-03
The Blockade of Charleston.
(Fr N The Sunday News, January 81

(Fr ~ The Sunday News. January 3i.)
Tne eliminating Importance of the
naval maaoeuvres. which have been
conducted by the North Atlantic squad.
ron for the past year, will be reached
early bex. moth when an experiment.
al blockade of Charleston, S. G. +, will
be attempted.
The exercises which have been per
forced 10 the past have ell beea with
a view to securing uniforml'y of action
by the vessels under the command OF
Rear Admiral T NJ. Buoce should
they DE called to meet an opposiD g
force 10 battle. All of these mauoeu-
vres have been carried out with "pos.
sible emergency" as their impulse
The play to blockade Charleston is in
line with the emergency" idea, ADD its
adoption vas with the objeci-it can
safely be stated-of giving practice to
officers aud nen Of the squadron should
be necessity arise of blockadiug Aa.
va. n the port of any other country
with which the United States might be
at war.
Officials of the navy department
give the credit for the potion Of at
tempting blockade to Admiral Buuce
1t is true that this officer. with the
assistance Of others subordinate to
him, worked cut he details Of the
plan OF manonvres. but such action was
taken in accordance with specific in
struc;ions issued BY the Secretary OF
the Navy.
NJ. Herbert desired TO place YES
sells. officers and crews in the highest
possible s,ate Of efficiency, and be has
been successful 10 obtaining the real;za-
ton of his wish.
Where twc years ago the North At
lant., squadroo consisted of few yes
sells hardly able to keep out of ooe
aootber's way if necessity demanded
their concerted actioa, it is now com
posed Of piaetee9 thoroughly efficient
meD-os- war, singly formidable. con-
bined terrible.
Il is With about fifteen Of the uIoe-
teen vessels under bis command that
Admiral Bunce proposes blockadiog
Charleston, aud they may be expected
to start at an early day from New York
Philadelphia aud Hampton Roads for
the scene of their tactical operation.
Rear Admiral Bunce came to Wash.
iugton a few weeks ago to talk over
the details of the maooeuvres With
Secretary Herbert aud some days later
supplemented his conversation by re-
port giving many CT the features Of the
scheme uoder which be intends to ope.
rate
He is now at Hampton Roads, pre-
pariog to sail shortly after the
1st of February for the South Carolina
coast These are the vessels expected
to take part 10 the exercise
New York, flag ships. Amphitrite,
Vesuvius, Indiana, Texas. Maine,
Brooklyn, Psritan, Columbia, Raleigh,
Terror. Newark, Montgomery, Marble
head, Katahdin, Fern, Ericsson, Cusb
ing
UpoD the last, the Vesuvius, the
eyes of the whole suuadron-t5e search
lights of bessships-will be ceptered
1t is the intention that this little crafl
shall be the blockade runner The Yes
uvius is we'll known because Of her
dynamite guns, bot 10 this mimic wal
her speed and her battery Of small
rapid FIRE guns will constitute her sole
weapons of offence and protection
Her battery now consists of 8 and 6.
poupder guns, aud with these quick
firing pieces she will make an effective
torpedo boat destroyer.
The highest speed she has attained
has been in the neighbor had Of twenty,
one and half knots, speed that can
be excelled only by the Columbia OF
the torpedo boat Ericsson. in likely
weather, The Ericsson is our only
commissi stoned strictly modern torpedo
boat, and her performance in coDjuc-
ton with the feet will be watched with
great interest.
To New York the admiral has fec,
and foru liable flag ship, and in action
10 the line Of battle. while her
speed and protection would commend
her for the discharge Of service com.
bipg dash, power and adroit handling
She is to the navy wha. the cavalry is
to the army; and glory awaits her
commander 10 the performance oI
some quick aud hazardous commission
In The Indiana aud the Massachu
setts we have 6ue examples of the first
class battle ships-sbips that carry the
largest guns aud the thickest armor for
the protection of these weapons and the
vito lie of rho oroft