New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-10
WARSHIPS TO BE PROUD OF.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET SHOWS
WHAT 1T CAN DO.
PRACTICE WITH THE BIG GUNS SQUADRON h'0-
1J,T1oNs AND sEARCHLIGHT DRILLS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROOSEVELT
DELIGHTED WITH THE
MANOEENRE y 5

MANoEUvREs.
Fort Monroe. Va, Sept 9-The Doipht"
turned 10 Hampton Roads to-day WIN AsSis'
ami Secretary Roosevelt who has just coiiip'e'eu
an inspection of the North Atlantic Squaui'i
q, sea and while under full fleet maheuNiee'
This Is the first inspection made In recent years
,,,der such conditions. and the results were
highly satisfactory. Under the eyes or the AS
sistant Secretary an extensive programme OF
exercises was successfully executed in hml'ed
period OF time.
The Dolphin reached the southern drill
Grounds Tuesday forenoon joining the squadron
while the ships at sub-calibre pracuce'
This was suspended by Admiral Sicard on MS
learning Of Mr.. Roosevelts desire 10 witness
,.o,,, Gun practice. and the batte-ship Iowa
was DESIGNATED 70 fire her batteries in the pres
onco Of the Assistant Secretary. who was taken
aboard for the purpose. The practice was eX-
ceuent and from the big twelve-inch cannon
down 10 the little machine guns the battery
worked without serious hitch, and splendid tar
rets were made The armored cruiser Brooklyn
was next put through her PAGES. and she ran
Nm and down the firing line, making good prac-
tce at the distant target
In the evening the flagship New-York repelled
on imaginary attack by torpedoboats, using
searchghts and her secondary battery with
great effect Following this came a search
light drill by the entire squadron making a
beautiful marine spectacle. Night signalling
with the Ardois system OF cOlOred electric light
closed the days work and the squadron passed
the night at anchor on the drill grounds thirty
miles east Of the Virginia capes.
A SPLENDID MARINE SPECTACLE.
Wednesdays programme included squadron
rnaneuvres. and the ships got under way early
on signal from the New-York. forming in COL
umn and passing in review before the Dolphin,
which remained at anchor The beginning Of the
exercises preceded by the release of flock
Of ten carrier-pigeons bearing messages to the
Norfolk Navy YARD. The squadron made mag
nifcent show it >ame past the Dolphin, the
great battle-ships cleaving the long swclls with
resistless power and showing the big guns and
men at quarters on the side Single column.
double column. formation er echelon wheels 10
right and left and many other combination
movements were performed with splendid pre-
csion and the manner in which the seven big
ironcads maint9ned their positions in line
while under cruising speed going through these
complicated movements earned the unstnted
praise of the Assistant Secretary.
novel feature Of the days maneuvres was
the use for the first time in any navy OF Japan
ese daylight fireworks as means Of signalling.
This system is being developed to meet the
emergency that might follow the loss in action
Of a signal mast or the hiding of ship by
smoke.
In the afternoon the commanding officers OF
the squadron Were entertained at tea by Mr..
Roosevelt on the Dolphin, and the gathering OF
seven of the ablest officers Of the Navy on board
ship at afforded an opportunity for an ex-
change Of valuable professional views as to the
qualities of the ships they commanded In the
evening Admiral Sicard entertained Mr. Roose-
welt al dinner on board the flagship, and Wednes-
day closed with another display of night slgnall-
ling and searchght work.
The Dolphin left the squadron the next morn
ing at sunrise, stopping off Cape Henry TO per-
nit an inspection of the monitor Puritan, which
put through great gun practice for the pur-
pose Of affording a comparison of her hydraulic
turret mechanism with the electric system of
the Brooklyn and the steam gear of the other
ships.
NO BETTER WARsHIPS AFLOAT.
IE summing up the result OF his inspection OF
the squadron, Mr.. Roosevelt said: The trip has
been in every way more than satisfactory. The
target practice under service conditions the fleet
manpuvres. the practice with the searchghts
at night in discovering and sinking drifting tar
gets 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 daytime. in
Guiding the day signals with the japanese fire.
works has been excellent. The rapidity and
precision Of the practice with the rapid
guns, and the extraordinary accuracy with which
the huge turret guns were fired, were equally
noteworthy. There were several matters OF less
Importance. like the successful OF carrier
pigeons which also deserved comment. In short
there is every reason to be satisfied with the
management of the warshps, from the coming
towers 10 the engine-rooms and gun-turrets.
This is the first time that such a squadron OF
modern ironclads has ever been in command Of
an American Admiral. Indeed ii Is the first
time In peace that an American Admiral has
ever commanded a squadron relatively for
mdable compared with the warships Of other
Powers At last we are beginning TO have a
Navy At 10 uphold the interests Of our people; a
Navy which, though too small in size, need fear