The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-16
SQUADRON MANOUVERS.
Remarkable Efficiency Shown-Battie
CAN Answered i'm Four Minutes


FORT MONROE. VA. April l5-The
American nying squadron, the departure
Of which caused so much excitement on
Wednesday. returned to-day Go anchor
axe az Fort Monroe, after having COM
pleted two days and two nights OF ardu-
Gus labor. with satisfaction 20 Commo-
Gore Schley. Commodore Schley wanted
the captains of the fleet 20 know oach
other ln the movement OF their Nessels
and to bc able TO answer quickly 10 al
signals FOR movements liable 10 be made
iu case OF fight
Running down 20 Cape Henry on Wed-
nesday afternoon the squadron was taken
fifteen miles out % sea at the same tlIAe
mauouyeriug in response to the signals
from the flagship.
AN of the big vessels responded quickly
the exccedinely heavy botuoships Massa-
chusetts and Texas being especially and
Surprisingly quick. Line Of battle was
formed with the Brooklyn on the right,
the Massachusetts 10 the left on the
Brooklyn. tho Minneapolis TO the ltit
of the Massachusetts, the Columbia next
ana the Texas on the extreme left act
ing as guides. The signal TO anchor IN
limo was obcyed so well that am almost
perfect alignment was obtained.
QUICK WORK.
Anchorage was made on Wednesday
night fifteen miles east Of Cape Charles
light and near the old drill ground. Thurs
dav morning found very uniavorabie con-
diuons for either manoeuvcring or using
the guns. the weather being intensely
die9rrocablc. with heavy rain and hail
storm and "a high sea. hut Commodore
Pchley decided 20 go out and began the
manoeuyres The Massachusetts dipped
her low nose in the water Time after ume'
taking up tons OF water. but was nam
died beautifully coming up TO alignment
ON clrcling aDOut-tO right or ielt-more
quickly than light cruiser The other
vessels also were quick 90 respond 20
signals This drill was kept mp all day,
and 200 uightflll anchorage was made az
point thirteen miles from Cape Charles.
Lftor dark signal work by electric light
was practiccd for two hours.
At o'clock when most of the officers
and men had prepared 10 retire the call
TO quarters and battle calls were sounded.
on the Brooklyn so quickly was the work
done that every division officer had rec
ported Ready in four minutes and the
Shin was ready for battle. with water
tieht compartments closed. ammunition
h0isted to guns. turrets swinging. battle
matches down. and the crews at The guns
ready TO shoot. The other ships reported
almost as quickly.
GOOD MARKMENSHIP.
Friday morning was given up 10 prac-
tico at the guns. all the ships putting out
targets al 800 yards. The gunners on
the BROOKLYN cut the flag from the top
of their target within twenty minutes.
remarkable work when 30 is considered
that the target was bat eighteen inches
square and the flag staff but two inches
wide.
At I o'clock the ships were signalled
bv Commodore Schlcy tO head for Hamp-
ton Roads Cor anchorage. with the eNcep-
tion of Tho Texas which was ordered TO
remain out and try her big guns and
improved turrets with solid shot. The
rest of the squadron anchored OF Fort
Monroe at about 3 o'clock
Commodore Schley expressed himself as
very much pleased with the work ot the
CAPTAINS OF the vessels under nus charge.
The mauoeuvros Of the ships ana the
work of the crews at the guns were
both highly pleasing. Hc called parti-
cular attention TO the rapiditN with Whlch
the battle call 10 quarters on the
BROOKLYN was responded Go. lie also call
od attention TO- the target practice OF inc
rapid 6rc guns saying:
"I don't think any torpedo boat would
live under that fire.
THE TENAS GUNS
The Texas ram into hampton Roads
about O. o'clocl, and Joined the squadron.
Captain Philip said that the new turret
arraneemeut had worked with great SAT-
isucuon and thIt the big guns could be
loaded by Lieutenant Haesoiar's new au-
tomato arrangement at any angle and
very quickly. He could fire more tnan
twice as many shots now. me said, than
under the old English arrangement
d Col a
cd with tho sNlfull way in which the
now crews of the Minneapolis and Colum-
nil obeyed signals. The boats are large
and require mucn room 10 turn in, but
Captains Jewell and Sands were both
warmly commended.
Tho Brooklyn ln anchoring tonight
lost one of her big anchors, the chain
breaking. The Norfolk Navy Yard peo-
nle viii recover d..