Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-01

one of the ordinary seamen who man th,
torpedo-boats are new to the task. II
not at al like serving upon any OF 'h'
other vessels which wear the eagles o.
Uncle Sam at their bows. II Is he
learning the methods OF the navy Owe
again. and the Jack Tar who has slung ms
hammock between decks for twenty years
has almost as much 10 learn as the most
recent graduate from The merch nj
marine. II is no light task before these
salts. There is no sea poetry ABOUT beins
a member OF the crew OF torpedo-boa
Lieutenant Commander William ".
Kimball has been detailed by the Navy
Department 10 tako charge OF tho manoeu-
vres. and tho programme OF evoluions
and drills, largely Of his devising IS
within tne ordinary limits Of the depart
ment rules, but initiates 10 some extent
the rnanoeuvres OF foreign houllas OF the
same class. They consist primarily OF
torpedo practice, which corresponds 10
gun drill on tho big battleships ToIpe-
does ara necessarily no principal Wcap-
ons Of these swift little craft; when they
attack = monster battleship this weapon
must be used with deadly precision, or
the chances of the little David IN comb2 [
with the Goliath OF the seas are very
small indeed. Consequently the principal
emphasis is laid upon torpedo drii.
Then there viii DO fleet manocu-
vres. speed tests, and practice IN
approachlng ana getting away from
an imaginary enemy fot YOU
torpeCo-boat IA built TO "hSht an
run away" in order that 81 may 'iiN.
10 agbt another day" Whether Their
viii b. any after-darc drills practice H.
blockade running such as was tired ~
charleston several months ago, has not
been definitely decided on, bat IN sucn
lranoeuvres the public would have little
interest. since they could not be seen
from ON shore.
The spectacle OF those little boats, not
much larger than the ordinary steam
! Yacht. would not be imposing except for
I the terrible potentallties Of the hotilla.
/ Every one O. these little boats has the
power. II properly placed, to blow clean
! out of the water the biggest batile5hir
! ever built. Both IN size ana destructive
ness they may be compared to the terri
bic "thrasher"-the one fish in the seas
which can kill a whale
The fact that the daring little torpedo
beat and all on board would probably
follow the vessel It destroyed TO the Dot
tom OF the sea only increases the inte
rest in and admiration Of the men wnC
willingly accept such frightful odds
Their crews are smaA-two officers ane
not more than twenty-five men TO eacf
vessel--but every man is a hero IN tha
no volunteers to meet the fate of the
brave Cushing, provided ne can infiic
stul greater damage on the enemy. To
learn now to do this expeditiously anC
unerringly IS the purpose Of the manoeu
yres at Newport.
The following torpedo-boats partici
pated a. the Newport drills Ericsson
lieutenant Usher. commander; Cushing
Lieutenant Gleaves; Porter, Lieutenant
Fremont: Foote. Lieutenant Rogers. They
viii be joined by the Dupont when SIT
has been fully repaired. The Ericsson
was detached 10 drill with the New Yorl
and Massachusetts naval militia bu
this did not interfere with her partici
patton with the hotilla manoeuvres later
Indeed. it may be considered as val
uable drln as the notilla operated II
conjunction with the torpedo station
Newport. ...ss-