The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-11
MANEUvRES AT NEWPORT.
An Abstract of the Report Of Rear
Admiral Far1uhar.

| n
Admiral Far1uhar.
The Secretary of the Navy made public
yesterday a closely edited abstract Of tho
report OF Rear Admiral n. H. Farquhar.
commander-n-ch chief of the North Atlantic
naval force on the recent maneuvres at
Newport, in which night attacks formed
an interesting feature. Admiral Farquhar
makes some references to the participa-
ton OF the submarine torpedo boat Hol
land, and the abstract contains one brie.
sentence from the report of Captain Fol-
ger. OF the battleship Kearsarge, to the
enect that the Holland type viii play a
very serious part in future naval warfare"
In his report Admiral Farquhar says:
have the honor to submit the follow
ing report OF the combined maneuyres OF
the army forces in and around Newport.
the oflicers and men Of the torpedo station
ana class, the war college staff, and such
members OF the class as remained at the
college and the squadron under my COM
mand. The commanding officer of the
training station placed the Ficksburg,
with her officers and crew, at our disposal,
as we'll as mounting and manning rapid
fire guns in the shore Notifications, and
gave every possible assistance in CARRYING
out the exercises.
The greatest interest was shown by
everyone connected with the maneuvres,
and. while realizing that the time was
very short and the facilities were very far
from complete, there was no abatement
In the zeal and energy displayed
AT z p. m. Monday. September "a, the
RED squadron. consisting Of the Kearsarge,
Indiana, Texas, Scorpion. and Eagle. ac-
companied by six torpedo boats. put to
sea TO establish blockade of Newport.
The remaining vessels, the New York.
massachusetts. Leyden, and Vicksburg.
the last two Stimulating battleships. were
disposed for the defence Of the harbor
and arrangements were made for COM
munication between the various forces
afioat and ashore to ensure active and
satisfactory cooperation in defending
Newport against the attack of the block
aiding force.
THE general plan followed by the blue
1nside) squadron, was to place a battle
ship on each side of, and just inside. the
mouth of the harbor, concealed from in
coming vessels, with steam up, battery
trained forward and everything ready to
fire into and ram any vessel succeeding
IN passing the forts. One battIeship. the
Vicksburg, was placed just to the south
ward OF Gould Island Picket boats, arm
ed with raDid-fire guns and sharpshooters,
were placed in both sides of her. four
hundred yards apart. All picket boats
were provided with a system OF signals
to warn all hands Of the approach OF the
enemy.
THE New York was placed we'll inside,
commanding the full length of the main
channel, and in a position to 60 to any
part OF the field. Picket boats were placed
on each side of the eastern passage out of
the rays of the searchlights, prepared to
destroy or cripple torpedo boats and to
report their approach. A lookout signal
station was also placed at Beaver Tail
lighthouse. The eastern passage was kept
lighted by searchlights from the torpedo
station. Fort Adams. and Fort Wetherell.
The western passage was lighted by
powerful searchlight at Fort Greble
The ships were cleared for action, bat
teries prepared and manned, and every
condition Of battle simulated as nearly as
possible. though firing only blank charges
from small rapid-fre guns.
While so much was wanting. both In
time and material to carry cut maneuyre;
on large scale. there was no lack of
zeal and enthusiasm among the men and
officers engaged. and a number of very inn
portant professional points were brought
up that will no doubt be of great value in
the future.
The army officers were particularly
impressed with the value of searchlights
and they had an opportunity of seeing
something CT their effect when used on
board vessels passing forts.
THE general plan followed By all yes-
sells was not to turn on searchlights until
the approach Of a torpedo boat was re-
ported by picket boat
The plan of placing picket boats was
very successful. Not single torpedo
boat got by them without being reported
With sufficient number of searchlights
on shore. 1t is doubtful if vessels could
be piioted into harbor at night that was
at all difficult of entrance.
THE bow wave and wake of the torpedo
boat was the first object that aided in
picking them up in the darkness. In this
connection | would suggest the ACCESSIBILITY
OF the Departments keeping as many tor
pedo boats or destroyers as practicable
with The squadron at all times. to accus-
tom both officers and men with their gen
eral characteristics, movements. ETC.. and
in order to carry 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 there until after several tor
pedo boats did The second nights opera
lions consisted in an attack upon the out
side. or red squadron, by five torpedo boats
and the Holland. As rule, the torpedo
boats We're successful, although this would
scarcely have been the case with an eff
cient picket boat service"