The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-14

First Use of Japanese Day rewcr for
Signaling
Fort Monroe, Va, September 9.-The
Dolphin returned today to Hampton
Roads with Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt, who has just completed ar in
spection of the North Atltntic squad
ron at sea while under full fleet ma
neuvers. This is the first inspection
made in recent years Ender such condi-
tions and the results were highly sat-
isfactory. Under the eye Of the as
sistant secretary an extensive pro-
Sramme of exercises was successfully
executed in a limited period Of time.
The Dolphin reached the southern
drill grounds Tuesday forenoon, join
ing the squadron while the ships were
at sub-calibre practice. This was us
pended by Admiral Sicard upon his
learning Of Mr.. R~oosevelt's desire to
Witness heavy gun practice and the
battleship Iowa was designated to fire
her batteries in the presence Of the as
sistant secretary who was taken
aboard for the purpose. The practice
was excellent and from the big Pinch
guns down to the little machine guns
the battery worked without serious
hitch and splendid targets were made.
The crack armored cruiser Brooklyn
was next put through her PAGES and
ran up and down the firing line, MAX
ing good practice at the distant target
In the evening the flagship New York
repealed an imaginary attack by tor
pedo boats using her searchlights and
her secondary battery with great ef-
feet. Following came a s~earchlight
drill by the entire squadron, making a
most beautiful and unique marine
spectacle. Night signaling with the
Ardois system of colOred electric lights
closed the days work and the squad
ron passed the night at anchor on the
drill grounds, thirty miles east Of the
Virginia capes.
Wednesdays programme included
squadron 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 remained at anchor.
The beginning of the exercises was pre-
coded by the release of a flock OF ten
carrier pigeons bearing messages to the
Norfolk navy yard. The squadron
made a magnificent show as 1t came
past the Dolphin, with the great bat
tleships clearing the long swells with
resistless power and showing the big
guns and men at quarters on the SIDE.
Single column, double column, forma-
ton en- echelon, wheels to right and
left and many other combination move
ments were attempted with splendid
precision, and the manner in which the
seven big ironclads maintained their
positions in line while under cruising
speed, going through these complicated
movements, earned the unstinted praise
of the assistant secretary.
Anovel feature Of the days maneu-
vers was the use for the first time in
any navy Of Japanese daylight fire
works as a means of signaling, a sys-
tenn which is being developed to meet
the emergency hat might follow the
loss in action of the signal mast or the
hiding of a ship by smoke.
In the afternoon the commanding Of
ficers of the squadron were entertained
at tea by MI. Roosevelt on the Dolphin
and the gathering of seven of the
ablest officers Of the navy aboard ship
at sea afforded an opportunity for an
exchange of valuable professional
views as to the qualities Of the ships
they command. In the evening Ad-
miral Sicard entertained Mr.. Roosevelt
at dinner aboard the flagship and
Wednesday closed will another dis
play of night signaling 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 pur-
pose of affOrding a comparison of her
hydraulic turret mechanism with the
electric system Of the Brooklyn n
the steam gear Of the other ships.
In summing up the results of his in
spection of the squadron, Mr.. Roose-
welt said: 1.-The trip has been in every
way more tina satisfactory. The tar
get practice under service conditions,
the fleet the practice with
the searchlights at night in discovering
and sinking drifting targets, have each
and all been done in a way which re-
fleets very high credit upon the adj
miral, his captains and their officers.
and crews. The signaling both at night
and in the day time, including the day
signals with the Japanese fire works,
has been excellent. The rapidity and
precision of the practice with the rapid
fire guns and the extraordinary accu-
racy with which the huge turret guns
were fired were equally noteworthy.
There were several matters of less i'm
portance, like the successful us of car
rier pigeons, which also deserved COM
ment. In short, there is every rea-
son to be satisfied with every detail Of
the management of the huge warships
from the coming towers to the engine
rooms and gun turrets. This is the
first time that such a squadron of mod
ern ironclads has ever been under
command OF an American admiral. In
deed, it is the first time in peace that
an American admiral has ever COM
manded a squadron relatively so for
midable. compared with the warships
of other powers. AT last we are be-
ginning to have a navy fit to uphold
the interests of our people, a navy
which though too small in size. need
fear comparison with no other as re-
CARDS the quality of its ships and men"
Don't nauseate your stomach with
beas and bitter herbs. but regulate
your liver and sick headache by using
those famous little pills known Is De
Wits Little Early Risers. r. r. Bel
lamy.