Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-19
Report of Rear Admiral Hig-
ginson.
OBJECT OF THE FLEET
WAS TO DEVELOP
WEAK POINTS IN THE DEFENSE.
Inefficient Employment Of Search
ights-High Praise Given Of
ficers of the Navy.

HigginSon is most generous in his d1str1Du-
ton of praise among the officers of the
squadron.
During the week of the maneuvers the
following work was done by the navy:
An attack upon Plum Island from the
north and south; a day attack on the bat
teries of Fishers Island; run through the
Race at night; an attack on Fort Rodman;
a day attack or Newport; running the bat
teries at Newport at night; the capture of
three signal stations, Gay Head, Block
Island and Montauk Point; a scouting ex-
petition to develop the enemy's search
lights and alarming their pickets; new
channel established south of Gardeners
Island; a cable-cutting expedition, severing
connection between Martha's Vineyard and
the mainland: the clearing of the Newport
channel of torpedoes and countermining.
To Develop Weak Points.
tine whole and only intention" says Ad-
miral Higginson, was to develop, If pos
sible, any weak points in the line of de-
Tense as established by the army, but
whether we have done so or not remains TO
be decided by the board of arbitration
The work has been arduous and trying, in
Guiding much night navigation. and / can
rot speak too highly of the way in which
1t has been carried out by the officers and
men of the squadron. / am deeply indebt-
ed to the second in command Rear Ad-
miral Coghlan, for his very able and eff
cient assistance. He ran through the Race,
both north and south of Valient Rock, at
night: he had full charge of the attack on
Fort Rodman, and his leading the squad
ron into Newport at night through binding
searchlights, smoke and against a strong
current was a brilliant piece of navigation
requiring a steady and undaunted nerve.
This officers reputation as a captain mas
H. 1,+, y ln1 h 10 n6trnf N
the battle of Manila bay and by the COM
mendations of Admiral Dewey. and l take
great pleasure in adding my own testimony
to his record as to his ability as a rear
admiral and in charge of Independent oper-
atoms.
Capt Brownson of the Alabama and
Capt. Manney of the Massachusetts, deserv1
my heartiest thanks for their ready CO.
operation and very able management of the
vessels under their command. These off1-
GERS have now been under my command
for over a year, and 1 have most implicit
reliance upon them in any maneuver or
any duty which they may be called upon
to perform.
ITO Capt. Lyon Of the Olympia great
credit is due for the way in which he sew
cred the Geographic connection with
Is especially indebted to Lieut.. Everhart
who had charge of the boats Of the cable
cutting expedition.
Captain Hemphill, chief of staff, rem
dered most valuable service. both as chief
of staff and as captain of the Kearsarge,
and to Lieutenant Evans, Lieutenant Brs-
toll and Ensign Berry, members of my per-
sonal staff, l am indebted for valuable aid
and counsel.
1.-The Indiana took part in the lombard
ment of Fort Wright on the morning Of
September 3, and 1 much indebted to
her commanding officer. Captain Emory,
for the able manner in which that vessel
was handled
Capture of Montauk Point.
81 desire to express my thanks to Com
mander Wilson for his very efficient cap
ture of the signal station at Montauk Point.
This expedition was proposed by him and
he was given entire charge and directed to
carry out his own ideas l beg leave to call
the departments attention to the report of
this operation, which is very interesting
and shows a praiseworthy grasp of the
problem before him.
The work of Lieutenant Commander
Bousch In finding a channel south of Gar
diners Island Is also most praiseworthy.
The new channel found by him indicates
that these waters should receive a thor
ough reSurvey at an early date.
The work of Lieutenant Robinson and
Lieutenant Hughes In clearing the Newport
channel of torpedoeS and countermining
most efficiently and inteligently per-
formed and reflects. great credit upon them.
the attack upon Plum Island, to the south
ward. and in the day attack upon Newport,
and l am Indebted to their commanding
officers for such services as they were able
to render
I'm the operation against Fort Rcdman,
New Bedford, the Brooklyn ran upon an
uncharted obstruction, but fortunately
escaped serious injury. l have to re COM
mend that the waters of this bay be thor
oughIy resurveyed. 1 feel confident, from
the reports received that the official inves-
tigation will not find anybody to blame for
this accident. She continued with the
squadron until the close of the man uverS,
showing that her injuries were slight
Use of Searchlights.
Much valuable knowledge in regard to
searchlights has been obtained during these
operations. and the general opinion seems
to be that they are not so effective as has
been supposed. In approaching positions al
night the searchlights would flash very
often upon the ships lighting up smoke
stacks and hull so that large print could
easily be read, and every one supposed the
ships had been discovered. but the search
lights would turn away, and evidently the
observers had not seen the vessels. In
rainy or misty weather the value Of search
lights is, l think, decreased from % to sc
per cent. l had, unfortunately, no oppor-
tunity to test the value Of fog 70: running
past batteries. l was therefore obliged. In
running past Fishers Island and into New
port. to select clear nights, army nights,
where every chance was with the enemy,
and 1 had little hope OF successful issue
but as my guiding motive was to help the
army test their equipment rather than to
gain points l did not hesitate to take the
losing side.
''One point in regard to searchlights es-
tablished was that If all other aids to navi-
cation have been extingulshed we have in
the searchlights of the enemy a sufficient
guide for an approach to his position.
Cruising at Night Without Lights.
ITO those officers not in the Spanish war
the experience of keeping position and
cruising at night without lights has been
invaluable and has educated them to wal
conditions. and 1t Is for this purpose in
my opinion, that these exercises should be
continued each year.
THE Naval Militia was from Massachu-
sets. Connecticut and New York in the
squadron, rendered good service and nc
doubt gained valuable knowledge of naval
! methods and work. To Lieutenant Com
mander Craven. in command of the Aileen
l am indebted for his able and intelligent
management of that vessel.
Ensign Tardy Of the Peoria Lieutenan,
Williams OF the Leyden, and Lieutenan,
| Pollock of the Nina, rendered valuable ser.
| vice and showed good judgment and quail.
| ties of command.
Commander Patsh Of the MONTGOMERY
and Lieutenant Commander Greayes of the
Mayfower, both rendered valuable service