The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1897-02-10
ADMIRAL. iBUHcE sETs sslAS
n Tho Blookading sloes ON Its way to Char.
6S fSt lesion. 4!s fiSS5s

Trfa
WAsnINaroN, Feb. AaMifal
I5unce is now on route to CharleSton.
The iieet OF war ships belonging to
the North Atlantic squadron sailed
out OF Hampton Roads to day, hIaled
by the flagship New York, with$ .Ad.,
m1ral Bunce in command Thieves.
soils which followed the New Y ork
were the battle ship Indiana, tie ar
mored cruiser Maine, the turretYship
Amphitrite, tho cruiser ColulAbia,
and the dispatch boat Fern. The
Admiral telegraphed the fact df his
departure to the navy department,
and added that the Marbiehead, which
IS somewhere outside the Capes, would
be ordered to fall in line, If sighted.
The dOuble.turreted monitors Puritan
and Terror are also expected to{join
the squadron, and by the time the ac-
tual blockade tactics begin therei will
probably be other additions tb the
force Of vessels. The squadron will
probably put in some time during the
favorable weather drilling off the
Capes and on the way southWard,
and 1t is not expected that the ships
will be off Charleston before the 9Th
instant, unless the weather forces q
change in the programme The Tex.
as, Massachusetts and ,Brooklny are
disabled, and they will not be able TO
participate in tho blockade of Charles
ton harbor. The Raleigh, Newark
and Dolphin now engaged in patroll-
ing the Florida coast may be ordered
10 join the squadron at Charleston,
provided they can he spared from
their present duty. The Cuban agita-
ton along the coast is subsiding, and
Secretary Herbert will allow Admiral
Bunce to use his discretion as to the
adyisability of drawing the ships last
named further north for fleet drill.
Admiral Ramsey, chief Of the bu-
reau Of navigation and detail, says
that Admiral Bunce has been invested
with full authority 10 employ thieves.
sells of the squadron rs he may deem
proper under tho circumstances. On
the cruise down the coast to Charles
ton the Admiral will practice new
set of manoeuvres and drills in hand.
ling war ships at sea. Admiral Ram
sey says it is difficult 10 describe the
proposed manoeuvres, but the idea is
to test tho capacity OF the respective
ships for gotting into action, sustain
ing sister ships in case Of emergency,
and indulging in other evOlutiolls at
sea, on the samo principle that a regi
iment Of infantry would be drilled on
land. Some vessels can go aboutan
come up in line quicker than others.
These details have to be carefully
timed and measured, SO that when the
flagship gives CERTAIN commands ifcan
be ascertained to the minute how long
each ship will take to got into the
position assigned it. Under tho cir
cumstances q week. or ten days may
be thus employed before the great
event M the blockading of Charleston
harbor-will bo attempted.
When the fleet reaches Charleston
! it will be divided into two divisions.
Half Of the fleet will be assigned to
duty to guard the entrances to the
harbor. The oter half will be desig-
mated as the attacking party. While
the rival divisions are manoeuvefing
one of the swiflest ships will try to
run the blockade. The following day
the assignments Of the two divisions
| will be changed, and some other yes
sells will try TO get through'the blocade.
The officers and men of7the Haet are
greatly interested in the sea game,
which strikes us land lubbers as being
something on the style Of modern
| foot ball. All Of the vessels that can
cross the Bar will rendezvous in
Charleston harbor, where Secretary
Herbert will royiew the fleet.
While, in the harbor q boat racef be.
tween tho rival ships crew might be
made an interesting feature. Anyone
| who has ever Witnessed o boat race be-
tween the crews Of several men. of war
in double-banked cutters will never
forget the scene. Each one. of these
war ships have in constant training q
cutter or gig crew prepared to row
a race at pop Of the gun, This sug.
gestion is thrown out tor the benefit
of the commitlee in charge of the
Charleston end Of the demonstration.
News AID Courier.