The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-04-19
THE MOVEMENT
Of the Flying Squadron Was Very Salts.
factory to Com mOdOre SchleY-Fleet Re.
turns to Hampton Roads

OF the Flying Squadron Was Very Salts
factory TO Com mOdOre Schley-Fleet Re
| turns to Hampton Roads.
FORT MONROE, Va, April 16.-Tht
flying squadron, the departure O
which caused so much excitement or
| Wednesday. returned Friday to anchor
age at Fort Monroe after having com
| pletcd two days and two nights o.
arduOuS laborS with satisfaction to it,
commanding officers. Commodore
Schley wanted the captains Of the fee
to know each other in the movement OF
| their vessels, and to be able to answer
! quickly to all signals for movements
liable to be made in an engagement
Running down to Cape Henry on We'd
nesday afternoon the squadron was
taken - miles out to sea. at the same
time maneouvering in response 20 the
| signals from the flagship.
All of the big vessels responded
quickly, the heavy battle ships Massa.
chusetts and Texas being especially
and surprisingly quick. Line of bat.
tie was formed with the Brooklyn on
the right, Massachusetts, to left
of the Brooklyn, the Mime.
apOlis to the left of the Massa-
chusetts, the Columbia next and
Texas on the extreme left. The signal
to anchor in line was obeyed so we'll
that an almost perfect alignment was
obtained. Anchorage was made on
Wednesday night, 10 miles east OF Cape
Charles light, near the southern drill
ground.
Thursday morning found very un.
favorable condi tons for either maneu-
vering or using the guns, the weather
being intensely disagreeable, with a
heavy rain and hail storm and higher
sea, but Commodore Schley decided to
GO out and begin the maneuver. The
Massachusetts dipped her low nose in
the water time after time, taking up
tons of water, but was handled beauti-
fully, coming up to alignment or
circling more quickly than a light
cruiser. The other vessels also were
quick to respond to signals. This
drill was kept up all day and at night
fall anchorage was made at a point Is
miles from Cape Charles After dark
signal work by electric light was prac-
ticed for two hours. At 9 o'clock. when
most Of the officers and men had pre-
pared to retire, the call to quarters
and battle calls were sounded. On
the Brooklyn SO quickly was the work
done that every division officer had re-
ported ready" in four minutes and the
ship was ready for battle, with water
tight compartments closed, ammunition
hOiSted to guns, turrets swinging. battle
matches down and the crews at the
guns ready to shoot. The other ships
reported almost as quickly. Friday
morning was given up to practice at
the guns, all the ships putting out tar
gets at 500 yards. The gunners on the
Brooklyn cut the flag from the top OF
their target within 20 minutes. re-
markable work when it is considered
that the target was but Is inches
square and the flag staff but two inches
wide.
AT o'clock the ships were signaled
by Commodore Schley to head for
Hampton Roads for anchorage, with
the exception of the Texas, which was
to remain out and try her BIG
guns and improved turrets with solid
shot. The rest of the squadron an.
chored off Fort Monroe at about )
o'clock.
Commodore Schley expressed himself
as very much pleased with the work of
the captains of the vessels under his
charge. The manervers of the boats
and the work of the crews at the guns
were both highly pleasing. He called
particular attention to the rapiditv
with which the ''call to quarters" on
the brooklyn was responded to. He
also called attention to the target
practice Of the rapid fire guns, saying:
i don't think any torpedo boat would
i've under that fire"
The Texas ran into Hampton Roads
about six o'clock and joined the SQUAD
ron. Capt. Phillip said that the new
5urret arrangement had worked salts
actorily and the big guns could be
oaded by Lieut.. Haeseler's new auto |
matte arrangement any angle and very
quickly. He could fire more than twice
Is many shots now, he said, than under |
he old English arrangement
The Columbia and MINNEAPOLIS went |
lp to Newport News Friday night |
after coal so as to fill up their bunk
7rs, replacing that used Friday. Com
nodore Schley is very much pleased |
With the sbillful way in which the
lew crews of the Minneapolis and Co.
umbia Obeyed signals. The boats
are large and require much room to
turn in. but Capts. Jewell aud Sands
we're both warmly commended.