The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-24
SQUADRON'S WORK AT SEA.
NISEETRES or orr WhRsHTpS OFF
THE NEW ENGLAND COAST
The Work Done Under Command OF Capt.
Taylor Coming from the Maine Coast to
Newport Most of II Consisted of De-

The Work Done Under Command OF Capt.
Taylor Coming from the Maine Coast to
Newport Most of II Consisted OF De-
pIoying in various Fleet Formations.
NEWPORT. Il. l.. July 23-Capt Taylor has
been giving his ships OF the North Atlantic
squadron four days Of sea practice in drills and
I evolutions of the coast OF New England this
week. On Thursday the fleet arrived auNowport
to remain two weeks. while tho officers go on
with the course Of instruction at the Naval War
! College and to continue boat drill and rifle tar
get practice ashore.
During the time since the squadron sailed
! from its summer rendezvous hero on July I. II
has been along the coast OF New England as
far east as Boothbay. Me. putting into Rock
port. Mass, over the night Of July 4. after
| steaming through almost continuous banks OF
| fog between Newport and There. and then went
| on to Portsmouth on Sunday morning. July ..
remaining at anchor near that city and the
| Kittery Navy Yard until We1ne sday, July II.
| Portland. Me. was reached the afternoon OF
| July IL. and the citizens of that city gave n
| great reception and hearty welcome to the
| fleet its officers and the members Of the crews
| throughout the three and half days Of the
| anchorage in that harbor. A moro general
| welcome or moro pleasing form Of entertain
| mcnt probably never fell to the lot OF a naval
| fleet before. II was the first visit Of fleet to
| Portland since tho war. and that accounted for
| the warmth of the welcome.
From Portland the squadron went to Booth
| bay. some forty miles further north on the
Maine coast. and anchored over night on July
| 10 off Squirrel Island. leaving there on Mon
day morning early for the four days at sea
| filed with drills and exercises, which developed
| into the most elaborate and varied period Of
| sea cvoutions the fleet has had for more than
| q year.
Fleet drill with great battleships and cruisers
| OF the navy is a very important part OF naval
| education that the people outside the service
almost never have chance to see. 1t always
takes place at sea. for the simple reason that
there Is not room enough In any bay or harbor
even If there were no merchant ships TO be
avoided. Away out of sight Of the land there
is plenty OF room. and small chance OF any
other ships to be looked out for.
SO. off the coast OF Massachusetts. Capt. Tay-
or has been exercising his powerful fleet Of the
North Atlantic squadron the past few days in
the movements provided by United States Navy
sea tactics. They were the first fleet manpuvres
undertaken by the Captain since he assumed
temporary command in the absence OF Admiral
Sampson. and were conduct ed from the Indiana
as flagship After leaving Portland on Sunday
afternoon the fleet put into Boothbay harbor
few hours later and came to anchor off
Squirrel Island. leaving again for sea the
following noon. The short stop at this
picturesque summer recreation spot was made
at the very earnest request OF the thousand or
more summer residents thereabouts. who
wanted to see the ships which did their work
so well in war time year ago. and they In
duced Senator Frye. who lives on Squirrel
island. to write to headquarters at Washing
ton and see what he could do. And the feet
came, it being ascertained by the naval people
that few hours stay there would not inter-
ferc with the work laid out beforehand.
Getting under way in delightfully."- cool. clear
sunshiny weather. the Indiana led the way
out to the southwestward. and the fleet soon
settled down to sea routine. The formation OF
fleet OF warships at sea is usually in column.
the flagship leading. The disposition OF the
ships varies according to circumstances the
work in hand. and the class OF the ships. Dur
ing the war. for instance. the fleet sometimes
sailed in single column. sometimes In double.
again in line: sometimes with battleships
leading and lighter vessels in the rear.
sometimes tho reverse. But these forma-
tons were mainly then. as now. for
practice as there was little occasion to
utilize battle tactics OF that kind. The fleet
drills of to-day. such as the squadron has been
going through the past week of Massachusetts
Bay and Nantucket Shoals. are for the purpose
Of making the commanding and other officers
familiar with the handling Of their ships and
to teach them by practical experience Just how
to mann'uvrc the vessels to bring about the
desired combinations. Just as General Of a
military force ashore and the Colonies under
him need much practice to enable them to
move their forces promptly and Systematically.
SO the officers OF naval fleet have to he drill
ing constantly for the same general purpose.
Starting out from Boothbay the usual crus-
ing formation was in order. Getting we'll clear
OF land line OF signal flags goes W from tho
Indunns bridge. The signal men on the
| bridges Of tn" other ships notice it and ac-
! knowledge it by showing an answering pen
nant." When all ships have so answered the
| flagship hnuls down her signal. She has told
the feet that manTuyrcs are about to begin,
| In n few minutes another signal OF three flags
| il hOist"d and answered in tho same manner.
and is hauled down. The flagship has ordered
| the fleet to " form sections.
| This movement and change OF formation are
made and then by another IS, signaea order
| nagships bridge the ships are soon placed In a
long line abreast of the iagship. As they
| front they DO make q formidable appearance.
and one wonders what might be the effect OF
iira,lon worthy OF their metal. This is a fleet
| whose cqun ship for ship. does not exist In the
{" the n9e ac
! kuowledged to be uneQualed by any battle
IN y"r n o1neT a ,4s
| leaders in their class and the New Orleans Is
the hY"yISs armed sscond-ra, cruiser IL the
| since their work Of last year. The ships Of the
| fleet have been tried ana proved In battle.
| These things are not new, but they come to
| mind as one watches the movements Of the
great floating iortresscs OF white and bun and
aside from the warke picture, there isanother
| presented to the eye OF the man with artistic
| comprehension. IL the weather be like that or
the day out from Boothbny. with the sun shin
ing brightly. the deep blue sea with Just n
| long steady roll. the blue sky beautifully
marked by tlaky white, vapory clouds, and the
| air del ghtfuly cool and comfortable.
| II is not all perfection. this fleet drill. 4
| Colonel who takes his regiment out for drill
| hopes everything will go we'll and that all will
he perfection. but he knows it won't be that
| way. And it is with the fleet Of warships.
| In making some Ot the changes OF formation
! already outlined. one shin may be SLOW in get
tiuG in position and 50 delay the whole ma
| nIuvrr.
ON Tuesday. when the fleet was of Nan
tucket shoals, another form OF fleet mancruvres
was undertaken. and it was doubtless an in
ter"sting sight for the rIen Of the shoals
| lghtship. for part OF it took place within their
range. THIS was movement in column The
| ships took position one exactly behind another,
| with the tagShIp mt the head. This drill