Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-11
THE ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
Il Was Divided In Two for the Attack and
Defense Of Newport.
ManGuvres Very Succcssml-NaIue Of
Holland Participates.

Washington, oct. 1.-THE navy de-
partment has received Admiral Farqu-
har's report on the recent manpuvres
Of the north Atlantic squadron OFF New
port, h. I. The admiral comments
prumiraily on the zeal and enthusiasm
the mimic naval warfare awakened
among the officers and men.
The exercises proper began on Sep
TENDER "a when the Red squadron. con-
sisung Of the kearsarge, Indiana Tex
as, Scorpion and Eagle accompanied
by six torpedo boats, put to sea 90
enect a blockade OF Newport The re-
maLnlng vessels, the New York Massa-
cuuaetts, Leyden and Vicksburs. were
stationed as defenders OF the haIbOr
and constituted the Blue squadron The
general plan of defense followed by this
inside squadron was to- place battle
ship on each side OF ana just inside
the mouth of the harb1r 800 as 90 be
concealed from incoming vessels Here
with decks cleared tOr action. batteries
trained forward and full steam uU, the
New York ana the NigksJuTg lay In
wait ready ~ fire into and ram any
venturesome member of the Red squad
ron. Picket boats armed with rapid fire
guns and sharpshooters were provided
with a system Of signals % warn all
hands Of the approach Of the enemy and
powerful searChlights al Fort Grebie
and other points insured protection at
night. The general plan followed by
an vessels was not TO turn on search
lights until the approach OF a torpedo
boat was reported 10y picket boat
The plan OF placing picket boats was
very successful ana not single tor
pedo boat got beyond them without be-
ing reported. With a sufficient number
Of searchlights on shore it Is doubtful
II vessels could be piloted az night into
a harb0r which is always difficult Of
entrance
The bow wave and wake of torpedo
boats was the first object that aided In
picking them up IN the darkness
In this connection says the adj
mlral 81 would suggest the adyisability
Of the departments keeping as many
torpedo boats or destroyers as prac-
tIcable with the squadron at all times
10 accustom both officers and men with
their general characteristics move
ments etc. and In order TO carry on
exercises with them In all the various
ports visited
The Holland. unfortunately, In her
attack upon the Kear arge 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 o rule the torpedo |
boats We're successful although this ]
would scarcely have been the case with I
an efficient boat service.
Every condition OF battle was slmu- /
lated as nearly az was possible. al /
though blank charges from the small |
rapid fire guns constituted all the firing. |
While much was wanting says Admiral /
both IN time and material /
10 carry out the manOeuvcrs on a large |
scale still a number Of professional |
points were brought out which viii be
Of great value In the future. The
value OF searchllghts was particularly
Impressive. as was also the work done
boy the Holland. OF which Captain Fol-
ger says In an additional report
1.-THE Holland type will play a very |
serious part In future naval warfare"