The age-herald., 1897-09-10
ADMIRAL SICARD.
 WINS HIGH PRAISE  By the Excellent Work of the North At-
 lantiC Squadron. MANEUVFRS ON THE DEEP With Laff vad Small Guns, Search Lights
 and TOrpedOeS PROV EHINENTLY SATISFACTORY Asf ssssnt Secretary Roosevelt After Viewing tae Practice, Speaksin Complimentary j
 Ierms-Carner Pigeons Do
 Their Work We'll
MANEUVFRS ON THE DEEP
PRoy EMINENTLY SATISFACTORY

Fort Monroe, Va, Sept. 9.-The Dol. phin returned today to Hampton Roads with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. who has just completed an inspection of the
 North Atlantic squadron at sea while under fleet maneuvres. This is the first inspection made In recent years un- der such conditions and the results were highly satisfactory. Under the eye of the assistant secretary an extensive pro- gramcne was successfully executed in a limited period of time The Dolphin reached the southern drill grounds Tues day forenoon, joining the squadron while the ships were at sulb-calibre pracdce. This was suspended by Admiral Sieard upon his learning of MT. Roosevelts de- sire to witness heavy gun practice, and the bat.leshIp Iowa was designated 10 fire her batteries in the presence of the assistant secretary, who was taken aboard for the purpose. The practice was excellent, and from the big 12-lnch 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 paces and ran up and down the firing line making good practice at the distant target. In the evening the battleship New York re- pelled an Imaginary attack by torpedo boats, using her search lights and sec- ondary battery with good effect. Foi- lowing came a search light drill by tha entire squadron. making a most beauti- ful and unique marine spectacle. Night signalling with the Arder system of col- ored electric lights closed the days work, and the squadron passed the night at anchor on the drill grounds about thirty miles east of the Virginia capes.
 Yesterdays programme included the squadron maneuvres. The ships got un- der way early on signals from the New York, forming in line and passing in review before the Dolphin, which re- mained at anchor. The beginning of the flock of ten carrier D geons bearing messages to the Norfolk navy yard. The squadron made a magnificent show as 1t came past the Dolphin with the great battleshpes clearing the long swells with rcslstless power and showing the big guns and men at quarters on the side single column, double column form ation, en echlon, wheels to the right and left, and many other combination movements were attempted with splen- did 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 assitant secretary.
 Another feature of the days manou- any navy, of Japanese daylight fire- works as a means of signaling, system which Is being developed to meet the emergency that might follow the loss ir action of the signal mast or the hiding of ship by smoke
 Tn the afternoon the commanding off- cers of the squadron were entertained at tea by MT. 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.
 Tn the evening Admiral Sicard enter tained Mir. Roosevelt at dinner aboard the flagship, and Wednesday closed with another display of night signalling and searchlight work.
 The Dolphin left the squadron this morning at sunrise, stopping off Cape Henry to permit of an inspection of the monitor Puritan, which was put throlgh great gun practice for the purpose of affcrding a comparison of her hydraulic turret mechanism with the hydraulic system of the Brooklyn and the steam gear of the other ships.
 In summing up the results of his in- spection of the squadron MT. Roosevelt said:
 ."The trip has been in every way more than satisfactory. The target practice under ssrvlce conditions, the fleet ma neuvers, the practice with the search- lights at night in discovering and sink z ing drifting targets have each and all high credit upon the admiral his cap- tains and thsir offers and crews. The signalling both at night and in the day time, including the day signalling with tho Janauace fjrayv.,r1xs have hae4n excnl-