The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
WORK FOR ROOSEVELT.
THE lsSIsrANT SECRETARY BACK
FROM MS CRUISE.

FROM HIS CRUISE.
Two Days OF EVolutions with the North At
iantic squadron ON the virginia Cnpes-
TARGET shootinE. Signalling. and Use or
search LiGhta the CHER Events OF tho Visit.
FORT MoSRoE, Sept. 9.-,Assistant Secretary
~ tho Navy Roosevelt returned to Fort Mon.
roe this afternoon in the despatch boat Dol
phin after witnessing two days Of hard work
BIZ the North Atlantic squadron. II was at
Mr.. Rooseyelt's suggestion that the manuuvres
this year were carried out by n squadron COM
posed exclusively OF heavily armored vessel.
and naturally lie took an intense interest In
peoing what had been accomplished Of a prac-
deal character. AL tho exercises for the two
days took place out Of sight Of land and were
90 satisfactory that Mr.. Roosevelt was de-
lighted and did not hesitate to express enthu-
nnstio commentator Of everything he saw.
The programme arranged was In the nature
OF a rehearsal OF the squAdron's summer work.
and It's successful showing proved that Admiral
elcard and the officers Of the ships had not
wasted their time. Tho trim littlc Dolphin
picked up the squadron in the forenoon Of Tues
day anchored about thirty miles east Of the Viz
Ginia.Capes. Things began to move lively soon
after Mr.. Roosevelt appeared on the scene. Ho
had decided al the outset that his inspection
should not DO a nero pleasure Trip. and started
IL NANh u NAOV W ISo oA bAAoN ~ ~ bNOH III
the limited time he had at his disposal. Adj
mirA s!card came aboard the Dolphin to pay
his respects to Mr.. Roosevelt and to learn his
wishes about the exercises. When he returned
to his flagship, the armored cruiser New York,
signals were made to Capt. Sampson Of the big
battleship Iowa TO prepare to receive Mr.. Roose-
welt and also to clear for action. When the
Assistant Secretary boarded the ship the decks
had been cleared and everything was In readi-
ness to have target practice under conditions
that would pertain In action with an enemy.
Additional interest was given to the matter
BY the fact that the Iowa had never had any
target practice. Many Of her men had never
heard modern great guns at close range. Some
OF them were nervous when the practice began,
but this soon woro away and tho 3ackies ap-
peared 70 enjoy their new experience. Firing
heavy rifles on shipboard Is something that
even an enthusiastic sailorman with q burning
desire 10 take q crack at Q foreign man-ot.war
does not relish as a regular thing.
When Mr.. Roosevelt went on the bridge of
the Iowa with Capt. Sampson the alarm gonSs
were rung and officers and men scampered to
their stations. Hatchways had been slowed
away. battle plates screwed down, the boats
put in places where the least conclusion would
be fell, and o target placed out In tho ocean
$500 yards from the ship. A thunderous re-
port that shook the ship from stem 70 stern
followed the firing Of an eight-inch gun. and
those on board saw q mass OF white spray
thrown up in the air as the shell struck the wa
ter q short distance In front Of the tarxeL A
second shot went nearer, and when the gunners
celent. A hostile vessel would have Jared bad.
~ in that shower OF missiles. For Q FIRST at
and the big battleship stood The concussion
caused BY The firing OF her twelve inch rides in
manner inat oemonstEateo her staole quail
some ~skylights were broken, and q door or two
Us uAhlnsed. but nothing serious resulted.
the Iowa faxed exceliently in her first cannonad-
inf Fl. R,ook,v1 .lso had .om. fargo. n-,o,,o.
during the afternoon for Mr.. Roosevelts bene-
At Tuesday evening the flagship New York
ssntns q dest Of hostile Ii'ss Torpedo ii boats. se sePsS
LShts were used to pisk Up tho enemy, and the
sspah3l S SyaG al tho was Vessels shsst of the q ss 4 con.
cluded the programme. Mr.. Roosevelt wit
messed It from the Dolphin, which LAY at aA-
A focE Of carrier pigeons released from the
New York carried the news TO the Norfolk
Ssry Deosttment, that the programme for
Wednesday had begun. Most OF The morning
Dolphin for q central point, One q The most
Interesting things In connection with this work
signalling from the flagship 70 tho other yes
sells. Nr. Roosevelt views this system as an
tmpaFt4a{ addtdon to s9HadTon operations: be,
ineffective. A visit by Mr.. Roosevelt TO the
Brooklyn TO see the Comparative working OF
the electrical and steam turret turning gear,
the entertainment Of the Captains Of the seven
tronclads at tea on board the Dolphin a dinner
70 Mr.. Roosevelt by Admiral sicard in the New
York, and night target practice ~ the Brook
Early this morning the Dolphin got under
way and steamed 70 the anchorage OF the moni;
position on Cape Henry on account OF the prob
ability OF heavy weather. After inspecting the
Puritan and seeing her twe!ye.inSh guns used
phtn. which started Immediately for Fort Mon
roe. To q SCN reporter who accompanied him
on III ne ln nsSSIHs l. tT II. MI; Roosevelt summed
The trip has been in every way moro than
Seusfactory. The target practice under ser
vice cond lions, the feet mAnruvres. the prac-
tice withtthe search lights at night In discover:
Ing and sinking trtfttng targets have each and
all been done In q way which reflects very high
tffsdit upon The admiral, his Captains, and
o. night and In the daytime, including the day
signals with the Japanese fireworks, has been
sIceLlent The rapidly and precision Of the
practice with the rapid.fre guns and the ex.
traordinary accuracy with which the huge tur-
ret guns were fred were equally noteworthy.
There were several matters OF less impor-
lance, like the successful use Of carrier piEeons,
L. every reason TO DO satisfied with every detail
q the manaa ement OF the huge warships, from
gun s4G s f94a5ae ! fSis !. tho t. th Dr.. sf tSms .h iGG% sae ina a
squadron OF modern ironoladB has ever been
under command Of an American Admiral; in
qeed. II Is the first time in peace that an Amer
lean Admiral has ever commanded q squadron
relatively 90 formidable COMPARED with the war
ehips or other powers. AT last We are begin
ming TO have a navy ft 20 uphold the interests
In sue, need fear comparison with no other a.
regards tho quality Of Its ships and men,"
Mr. roosevelt and his party left for Wash
mston tonight on the regular passenger