The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-13
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS tLEIGP.
Tho Vessels Are PractiCing Difficult
Evolutions- The Best Drilled Squad
ron n float.

no cSSClS are t'ractlclnR DllllCult
Evolutions- The Best Drilled Squad
ron n iioat.
With the demand less pressing for
ships in foreign waters and the situa-
ton NJ home such that no largo fleet
need bU maintained In commission the
authorities propose to take advantage
OF tho present strength Of the North
Atlantic squadron for an elaborate sys-
tom OF mnnCuvcrs and cv0lutions be-
fore beginning tho retirement Of the
moro expensive ships. Admiral Snmp-
son, who will probably be detached
from sea duty this autumn, has bccn
notified that all Vessels Of his squadron
will be held in commission during the
summer and autumn and that no DC
tachmcnts will be mado for special duty
unless some unexpected Important cir.
cumst@nCC arises.
The admiral will DO allowed to carry
out tho program Of the naval war col
| lcGc, to drill the men OF tho New
| England coast, and lator in tho season
| to send the ships to the Southern drill
grounds for target practice with small
arms and heavy guns. Admiral Samp.
sons ambition Is to turn over the ilcot
to his successor In a most efficient
state, better drilled than any squadron
VI lll'uclu ISlllpS HAS ever Dcen.
When the cvJlutions are completed
many OF the famous ships will be de-
tHchcd for repairs and retirement to
the reserve list at League Island.
where the government is cons tructing
an immense fresh water basin capable
OF accommodating ten mCn-Of- war.
But the retirement Of those vessels
Will not mean q reduction in either
strength or lighting efficiency u tho
hOmc fleet, for two Of tho most power
ful battlcships built for the navy are
nos near completion and will tax G
their place in service during tho au-
tumn. SIX months later three others
c4nnh,y formidable vii DO ready for
service, besides Il tleot Of dcstr0yers
and torpedo boats, all Of which must
be shaken down and "brokcn In " soon
after they arc delivered by contrac.
tors.
Th@ prospects, therefore, arc for no
num.rical reduction in the North At
lant!c ilcct On the other hand, 1T may
be expected to be even larger In fight
ing force than at any timo during the
war with Spain, rs vessels arc COM
pIctcd and put in commission. Should
all tho battlcships be in commission
one year hence that arc now at sea, in
addition TO those which will be rcady
70" service, tho total number OF this
class ail0at would bo ton, or within
two ships Of tho entire American dis
play during tho naval review six years
ago. when tho fleet comprised every
type OF the cruiser and gunboat class,
without really formidable warship.
The addition Of powerful battleships
to tho navy must necessarily bo fol-
lowed by increased expenditures for
tho support OF tho establishment. Bat
tlCships require from ivo to six hun
ared men each and arc expensive ma
chimes to support whom in service
They are Of little service in peace
times and serve generally on the home
stations. Yet economy demands that
thoy be retained In service, and naval
necessity require, that officers and
crows shall become familiar with them
both at sea and during the technical
ovOlutiOns.