Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-11
THE MIMIC WAR
-EPORT OF THE NAVAL MANEU-
vERs AT NEWPORT.
GREAT VALUE TO THE SERVICE,
Holland Was a Terrcr-Torpedo Boats
Only Moderately Sue
cessful.

Washinson, Oct. 1.-THE navy depart
nlent has received Admiral
report on the recent maneuNers or me
north Atlantic squadron off Newport, Il.
!. The admiral inc primarily on
the zCal and enthusiasm, the mimic naval
warfare awakened among the officers ana
men. The exercises proper began on Sep
tember "a, when the red squadron. con-
sisting of the kearsarge, ndtan Texas.
Scorpion ana Eagle, ~ctrnpanie by SIX
torpc0o boats, PUT to sea to erect a
BLOCKADE of Newport. The remaining
vessels, the New York, Massachusetts,
Ieyden and Nicksiburg, We're stationed as
defenders Of the har5or and constituted
the blue squadron. The general plan OF
defense followed by the inside squadron
was to place q tattleship on each side
of ana just inside the mouth OF the har-
Dor, so as TO be concealed from incoming
vessels. Here, vita decks cleared for ac-
item, batteries trained forward and full
Steam u9. the New York and the Nicks-
burg ley in waiting ready TO fire into and
ram any ventures some members oi the red
squadron. Picket boats, armed with
rapid fire guns and saarp shooters. were
provided with Il system of signals to
warn all hands OF the approach OF the
enemy ana powerful searcliislts at Fort
Creble and other points insured protec-
ton At night. The general pan oilowed
by all vessels was not to turn on search
lights until the approach of a torpedo
boat was reported by a picket boat. The
plan Of placing picket boats was very
successful and not a single torpedo boat
got beyond them without being reported.
With a sufficient nurnbe of s~aarchlishts
on shore it is doubtful if vessels could be
piloted at night into a harbor which is
always difficult Of entrance.
Tbs bow wave and wake OF torpedo
beats was the first object that aided in
picking them UP IN tins darkness.
In this connection say the admiral.
ST would suggest the a~dvisahifity of the
departments keeping as many togepdo
boats or destroyers as practicable with
the squadron at all times to accustom
both officers and men with their general
characteristics. movements S, etc, and to
carr. on exercises with them in all the
various ports visited"
, The Holland, unfortunately. in her at
tack upon the Kearsarge, the second
night, did not reach her objective point
suntil after several torpedo boats had ar
rived. The second nights operations con-
sisted OF an attack upon the outside or
red squadron by five torpedo boats and
the Holland. AS q rule the torpedo
boats were successful, although this
would scarcely ave been the case with
an efficient boat service. Every kind OF
Battle was simulated as nearly as was
possible. although bank charges from
the cr.all rapid fire guns constituted all
the firing. While much was wanting,
says Admiral Farquhar, both in time
ard material, to carry out the ananeuvers
on a large scale, still a number of profess
tsional points We're brought out which will
be of great value in the future. The
value of searchlishts was particularly
impressive, as was also the work done by
the Holland, of which Captain Folger
say in an additional report:
1.-The Holland type will play a very SER
ious part in future naval warfare"