The Portland daily press., 1897-08-17
OUR TORPEDO FLoTILLA.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt Issues Orders
to Lieut. KimbaII.

Washington, August 16.-Acting Secre-
tary Roosevelt today issued the following
order to Lieut.. W. W. Kimball, who will
be the commanding officer of the torpedo
boat flotilla:
Sir-As the designated commanding
officer of the fiotilla of torpedo boats,
about to be organized on the Atlan6ic
coast, you will be guided by the follow
ing Instructions, by the information here
in contained as to the intentions and
wishes of the department.
sit is the intention of the department.
that the Atlantic flotilla shall at first
consist of six boats, viz: The Rogers,
Porter, Ericsson, Cushing, Foote and
Dupont, and that these boats shall be
fitted out, ready for cruising in fotilla
and rendezvous at New York by the first
of October next.
''As soon as the flotilia is organized you
will movesssouth, along the coast, look
in at such points as may be designated
by the department, or may be selected by
yourself for visit, and will work around
into the Gulf of Mexico and as far west
as Galveston, Texas.
You will be ready to ascend the Mis-
sissippi above New Orleans in good
stage of water as early as possible, IN
March or April, 1898 and without undue
delay, and upon leaving the Mississippi
I1fcI pIOCScu W ltOodo, fh-
'sWith the above limits of time and
place you are given full discretion as to
the employment of the fiotilla and will
be held strictly responsible for the value
of the results of the cruise.
'fYou are informed that the cruise of
the fotilla as outlined above is cons1d-
cred necessary in order to determine, or
to aid in determining the practical value
of torpedo boats in extended operations
along our coats; the types of torpedo
boats best fitted for the needs of this
country; the most effective way to work
in different types of boats together, the
quickest way to make the personnel effec-
tive, and the value of the torpedo boats
service for training in plotting and scout
ing en- oo,,,,,,s, +ho.o uo,u,4. 49,, ,.,,,,
use due diligence in drilling the fiotilla
in such formations as service conditions
would require; in keeping the individual
boats in the best possible state of effici
ency; in maintaining among men, and
officers lively interest in their work; in
deyising and carrying out such man
oeuvres as will best demonstrate profile
NAUTICAL matters upon which information
is needed; and in keeping the department.
fully informed to all movements, drills,
manoeuvres and exercises of the hotilla
with the reasons for and the results of
them upon both men and material
Lieut.. Kimban besides being active
commander of the fiotilla, will also be in
command of the Rogers, which is not
yet in commission. The Dupont is not
yet in commission, but it is believed
that Lieut.. Wood will command her. To
each of the commanders of the Ericsson,
Porter, Cushing and Foote, Secretary
Roosevelt has issued an order directing
that each boat be gotten ready for cruis-
ing in flotilla. and that the officers from
now until joining the fiotilla, devote as
much time as possible to exercising and
training their respective commands in
manoeuvering the vessels and in torpedo
practice.