The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-25
THE TORPEDO FLoTILLA HERE.
THREE OF THE LITTLE BLACK
FLYERS ARRIVE IN PORT.

Given the Naval 'MiIitin-Lieut
CoIdinE's Men to GO Aboard in
Uniform on FrIdny-TwO other
Torpedo Boats Expected Here Be
fore They Gothic Visit of Mr..
Roosevelt in Doubt atsPresent.
The torpedo boat fotilla arrived ip PORT
yesterday shortly after noon. 1t was
about y O'Clock when the Dupont, Por-
ter and Cushing were sighted steaminS
up to the city and within few minutes
they were tied alongside the vessels at
the Georgia Lumber Company's wharf.
Arrangements were made later in the
day 10 get wharf room for the Dupont at
the Savannah Grocery Company's wharf,
but the two others remained tied along
side the lumber vessels.
The flotilla is in comamnd of Lieut..
Commander w. W. Kimban, who has the
Dupont as his flagship. He was met on
his arrival by Capt. John Reilly, the
harbormaster to whom Lieut. Commander
KimbaH expressed his wishes in the mat
ter of securing berths, and Capt. Reilly
told him everything possible would be done
to make pleasant and satisfactory ar
engagements.
The trouble about the Georgia Lumber
Company's wharves was that with four
vessels there loading lumber and the torpe-
do boats tied outside of them, it would be
difficult for the people to go aboard of
and see the little Warships. Lieut.. KIM
ball was DESTROYS that the people of Sa>
vannah should be given every opportunity
to see the boats, and it was for that rea-
son that he desired some other arrange
ments. Satisfactory arrangements to the
end desired will probably be made to-day.
Lieut. Kimball was glad to give all the
information possible about the flotilla. In
fact one of the objects of the cruise is to
give the people an opportunity of inspect
ing that particular portion of the navy.
1t has been arranged, therefore, for the
public to visit and go aboard the torpedo
boats daily while they are here between
l:9O and O'Clock in the afternoon and
every opportunity for the inspection OF
these queer craft will be afforded
The cruising limits of the fiOtilla, Lieut..
Kimball stated are from Hampton Roads
to Galveston, including the Mississippi
river The object of the cruise is to de-
termne and develop the utility and prac-
ticability of torpedo boats in extended OPP
erations along the coast, and Incidentally
TO offer the people of the ports visited op-
portunities TO inspect that portion of their
national property represented by that to-
tilla.
Another incidental object is to furnish
the naval militia at the ports visited OPP
portunity for instruction. 1t was on this
subject that Lieut.. II. S. Colding, in COM
nf no divisions l.
tia here, visited Lieut. Kimball
1t was arranged at this conference that
the Savannah naval militia should go
aboard the torpedo boats tomorrow after
noon a 3 o'clock. Lieut.. Colding has sum-
raoned the members of the two divisions
10 appear at their armory at O'Clock in
their white working suits Shortly before
o'clock the men will be marched down
to the torpedo boats, and aboard them
they will be instructed in all the features.
There are between so and 100 men in the
TWO divisions here, and from these il Is
expected there will at least be turnout
of sixty men. Lieut.. Kimball has extend
ed an invitation TO members of the naval
militia TO come aboard the torpedo boats
at any time. While certain hours are set
apart for the public, the naval militia boys
will be allowed TO go aboard whenever
they find the opportunity.
The naval militia may take advantage
Ol the pIeSEHct Oh Ate lOlpchO OOdto oiA
more than one occasion while they are
here, and Lieut.. Cofding expects to get
some of the members aboard one day next
week for instruction, as there may be
some who will find it difficult TO get away
from business on Friday. He makes an
urgent request of all employers that they
will give the boys a short leave of alb
sense on Friday, as it will be an import
ant occasion to them, and it is desirable
that there should be a fun turnout.
Lieut.. Kimbal stated that the naval
militia would be offered all the instruction
aboard the torpedo boats, and all the
facilities in that direction they will take
advantage of while the boats are here
He expects to remain in port until Dec.
J. which is just a week from the time of
the arrival
Nothing definite is known as
yet with regard to the visit
of Assistant Secretary Theodore
has been expected here this week Dis
patches to the Morning News yesterday
announced that it was the intention of
Mr.. Roosevelt to visit Savannah, but said
that 1t might be impossible for him to do
so at the present time, on account of de-
partmental business In any event, ii is
understood his Savannah trip will not be
given up, and that in addition 10 looking
after the naval militia in a general way,
he viii seek TO bring about a settlement
of the differences between the divisions
of Savannah and Brunswick.
All the officers of the torpedo boats have
been extended the courtesies of the clubs
of the city, and every effort will be made
to make their stay her as pleasant as
possible.
The Ericsson, which has been cruising
with the fotilla, remained at Port Royal
for a few days, but will probably join the
other boats here not later than Monday
II is also expected that the Foote will
join the hotilla in Savannah and continue
with IL on the remainder of the cruise.
All the boats are of steel construction
plating very light and thin, and all have
twin screws and water tube boilers, car
rying steam pressure of 225 to $50 pounds
and giving from 400 to 45O revolutions per
minute. Their steaming radius al e1o-
nomcal speed is about 1000 sea miles
The crews are made up of skilled chief
first and second-class petty officers and
q few seamen and firemen.
The Dupont, the flagship of the fleet il
In charge of the following officers: Lieut. s.
S.Wood United States navy, commanding:
Ensign +. II. Clark, United States navp.
executive officer; Lieut.. Commander W
w. Kimball, United States navy, fiotlla
commander. Complement, officers, %
Fta - OH 4 .