The morning news., 1897-08-17
TORPEDO BOAT PRACTICE.
r,oTILLA OUT FOR EXPERIMENT
TAI PURPOSES.

o-,;.e of the FIotiiIa Outlined by
.y.istant secretary Roosevelt.
roruedo Boats That viii Compose
-. Little FIeet-Wiu Go as Far
west as Galveston, Tex.
washington, Aug. 16.-Acting Secretary
-.,soyelt to-day issued the following or
5sr 70 Lieut.. W. W. Kimball, who will be
~. .,mmanding officer of the torpedo boat
foti.la
>-a,v Department, Washington, d. c.,
,.,,, ID 1S97.-Sir: AS the designated COM
-a,o5fng officer of the fotilla of torpedo
ATS about to be organized on the At
,.,f. coast YOU will be guided by the
l.l,r.,or instructions, and by the infor-
-,fon herein contained as to the inten-
i-,ns and wishes of the department.
lis the intention of the department that
49, Atlantic hotilla shall at first consist
gsiv boats. viz: The Rogers, Porter. Er-
i,soo Cushing. Foote and Dupont and
tb.t rbesa boats shall be fitted out, ready
Sor cruising in fiotilla and rendezvoused
az Now York by the first of October next.
As so9n as the fotilla is organized. YOU
will move south along the coast, looking
IN at -rch ports s may be designated by
ba YI- L.
,,onrs,Lf for visit, and viii work around
irto tha Gulf of Mexico and as far west a S
Galveston, Tex.
Won VIII be ready to ascend the M;ssiss-
inri above New Orleans on good stage
of water. as early as possible in March
or Aprfl 1898. and without undue delay
and upon leaving the Mississippi river,
nroeeed to Hampton Roads, Va.
Within the above limits Of time and place
Won are given full discretion as to the
5mDIoyment of the fiotilla and will be held
strictly responsible for the value OF the
results of the cruise.
You are informed that the cruise of the
GORILLA as outlined is considered necessary
in order 10 determine, or to aid in de-
fermining. the practical value of torpedo
boats in extended operations along our
coasts: the types of torpedo
bo9ts best fitted for the
needs of this country, the most
effective way to work different types of
boats together the quickest way to make
tbe personnel effective, and the value of
the torpedO boat service for training in
plotting and scouting.
To accomplish these results, you will use
due diligence in drilling the f1otilla in such
formations as service conditions would re
ouire. in keeping the individual boats in
The best possible state of efficiency, in
m3nta'ning among men and othcers i've
lv interest in their work; in deVising and
carrying out such manouvers as will best
demonstrate problematic matters upon
which information is needed; and in keep
ng the department fully informed as to
an movements, drills, manouvers and ex-
erciSes of the flotilla with the reasons for
and the results of them upon both men
and material.
Lieut. Kimbal besides being in active
command Of the flotilla, will also be in
command Of the Rodgers, 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, Cush-
ing and FOote, Secretary Roosevelt has is
sued an order directing that each boat be
gotten ready for cruising in the fotilla, and
from now until joining the flotilla to devote
as much time as possible to exercising and
training their respective commands in ma
houvering the vessel and torpedo practice