The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
MIMIC WARFARE OVER.
Decisions of the Naval Board ON the
Newport Mnneuvre..

Newport Mnneuvres.
NEWPORT. R. L. Sept. 26.-The war at
Newport is at an end. and tomorrow
morning viii see the departure of all che
vessels OF the North Atlantic squadron.
and Newport. which. for the last few days
has been the scene of the most interest
ing maneuvres that have ever been con-
Quoted by the naval authorities, will again
settle down to its quiet existence
Last night at the conclusion OF the tor
pedo boat attack it was thought that the
work of the torpedo boats was most sue
cessful and that the mysterious Holland
had sent the big battleship Kearsarge to
the bottom of the Atlantic.
Today this idea is thrown to the winds
and the board of arbltrament gives OFT as
its decision that the big ships were not
torpedoed and that the Holland played no
part in the proceedings. They state that
the only vessels that suffered from the at
tacks OF the torpedo boats were the gum
boats Scorpion and Eagle. and that they
were torpedoed by oetraying their posi-
lions In attacking the tug Leyden. which
was sent out as a decoy for this purpose
The board was in session all day today
on board the flagship New York, and went
over the matter most thoroughly. First
came up the questions left unsettled from
Monday night. One was the ramraing OF
the Kearsarge by the Leyden. and another
the torpedoeing of the Massachusetts, by the
Stiletto. just before the latter went crash
ing into the stone dock at Fort Adams In
the first case the Lsyden's claim was not
allowed as the Kearsarge was supposed
to be out Of the field of action when the
ramming took place; in the second place
the Stiletto won, and it was allowed that
she had torpedoed the big battleship, and
that the latter was no more.
The board stated that the Stiletto was
far inside of the torpedoeing distance when
she ran into the dock, and that she had
not been under fire for little over a min
ute, two minutes being necessary to put
her out of action This decision Is hailed
with delight at the torpedo station. espe-
cially as the work was done by the first
torpedo boat that the navy ever had and
again, that she is the least speedy OF any
of the fleet. As~s.
AS to last nights work, tine board states
that the Leyden was sent out as decoy
and was almost Immediately picked up by
the Scorpion and Eagle and put out Of
action but in doing this they betrayed.
their position and both were soon torpe-
doed by the little torpedo boat Gywnne.s
There was no dispute about this and the
two gunboats Immediately left for New
port.
the battleship Indiana was attacked by
the torpedo boat Dahlgren. 1t was decided,
however. that it was unsuccessful and the
Dahlgren was put out by the Indiana.
Owing to a mistake Of the umpire en- the
Dahlgren, not being aware that his boat
was no longer in the fight. she attacked
the Kearsage. and while from an attack
ing point Of view it was a success. the
board did not allow it, as the DahIgren
was already out of it. The battleship
Kearsage was also attacked by the. tor
pedo boats Gywnne, Morris, and Porter,
but they were all declared to have been
put out of action and the attack declared
failure.
The Texas was the only vessel that. was
not found by torpedo boat and escaped
without injury 1t was. however, stated
b. those on board the Texas that she had
seen torpedo boat and that after firing
a green star, she put to sea with great
speed to get out of the way. and did not
again come in until the fight was all over. =
The part played by the Holland war
very small, and although much praise IL 3
bestowed upon her commanding officer and
crew there is no praise for the boat
1t is admitted by member of the beard 2
that her test was not a fair one, and that
the conditions were greatly against her,
but it could not have been arranged other
wise. The official statement from the
board on the Holland is as follows: --ss-,.-
When the Kearsarge was adjudged out
of it by the attack of the Dahlgren, she
turned on her running lights and starts.
ed for the harnor considering herself out
of the game. While doing this she was
by the Holland about FIVE miles
outside the Brenton Reef lightship. The
board disallowed this, as the Kearsarge
was showing her lights, and was not look
ing out for any more torpedo boats
The handling of the Holland and the
nerve OF her commanding officer, Lieut..
II. II. Caldwell. who was with Admiral
Dewey at Manila. ELECTED great admira-
ton, as she was in constant danger of
being run over in the darkness by one of
the torpedo boats. The opinion of the :
board is that her crew was a most able
one There is no praise for the beat as
a boat, or any opinion as to her worth to
q fleet of torpedo boats in such an attack.
The question was much discussed as to
whether the blockading squadron should
lie without lights, CT. knowing of an at
tack by torpedo boats should have. kept
their searchlfghts going. In regard to the
matter of a close blockade there Being
some dissatisfaction expressed last night
in that the ships were so far out to sen,
a member Of the board stated this after
HCOH ludI the UlOchHue ldSI night WAS q
close blockade. and that the system used
OF keeping the big ships out to sea and
having two or more smaller vessels in
side was considered to be the best The
big ships, however. were always to be
within signaling and supporting distance.
The board will make out its report and
it will be forwarded to Admiral Farquhar.
and the maneuvreS will also be the sub
iect of discussion at the War College on
Friday, the college closing its seasons
work on Saturday, when Capt c. III.
stockton will make the closing address.
Tomorrow morning the ships will sail.
The Texas has been ordered to Norfolk
and the remainder to New York, and will
cave separately. The flagship New York
will make full steam trial run between
here and New York. according to the reg
llations which require that such a run
shall be made by each warship at least
1nee year.
OVERTHROW BY CASTRO.
f'x-President Andrade, of Venezuela,