The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-10-12
REPORT OF MANEuvERs.
Admiral Faruuhar Describes the Mimic
Naval Warfare of Newport.

WASHINGTON. oct, 1.-THE navy
department has received Admiral Far
Quhar's report on the recent maneuvers
OF the North Atlantic squadron OF
Newport. r.. l, The admiral comments
primarily on the zeal and enthusiasm
the mimic naval warfare awakened
among the officers and men.
The exercises proper began on Sep
temher "a. when the red squadron, con-
slsting OF the kearsarge. Indiana. Tex
as. Scorpion and Eagle. accompanied
by six torpedo boats, put 10 sea 20
effect a blockade OF Newport, The re-
manning vessels. the New York. Massa-
chusetts, Leyden and Vicksburg We're
stationed as defenders OF the harbor
and constituted the blue squadron.
The general plan of defense followed
by this inside squadron was to place
a battleship on each side Of and Just
inside the mouth OF the harbor, so as
10 be concealed from incoming vessels,
Here with decks cleared for action. hat
teries trained forward and full steam
up, the New York and Nickshurg lay
In wait ready to fire into and ram any
venturesome members OF the red squad
ron. Picket boats armed with rapid
fire guns and sharp shooters were pro-
vlded with a system Of signals 10 warn
all hands OF the approach III the enc
my. and powerful searchhghts at Fort
Greble and other points insured pro-
lection at night.
The general plan followed by all ves-
sells was not to turn on search ghts
until the approach OF 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 number OF
searchlights on shore Il Is doubtful II
vessels could be piloted at night into
a harbor which Is always difficult of
entrance.
The bow wave and wake Of torpedo
boats was the first object that aided
them in picking them up in the dark
ness.
In this connection" says the ad-
miral, Il would suggest the Ndvisa-
bnlty OF the departments keeping as
many torpedo boats or destroyers as
practicable with the squadron at all
times. TO accustom both officers and
men with their general CHARACTERISTICS
movements. etc, and In order 10 carry
on exercises with them In all the var
iOus ports visited
The Holland. unfortunately, in her
attack upon the Kearsarge the second
night. did not reach her objective point
until after several torpedo boats had
arrived.
The second nights operations consist
ed Of an attack upon the outside or red
squadron by five torpedo boats and
the Holland. As a rule the torpedo
boats were successful, although this
would scarcely have been the case with
an efficient boat service.
Every condition Of battle was simu-
lated as nearly as was possible, al
though blank charges from the small
.rapid-fire guns constituted all the firing.
While much was wanting, says Admir-
al Farquhar both in time and mater
ial. to carry out the maneuvers on a
large scale. still a number Of profes-
sional points were brought out which
VIII be Of great value in the future.
The value Of searchlights was particu-
larry impressive. as was also the work
done by the Holland. OF which Captain
Folger says in an additional report:
"The Holland type will play very
serious part in future naval warfare.