Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-03-24

| nois. the Iowa. the indiana. the New
York the Boston. the Charleston, the
! Chicago. the Brooklyn and the Olym.
pia. special feature of the display
viii be a mosquito feet" of torpedo
boats. each 10 feet long The boats
will be filted with perfect electric
plant for lamps. gun-irinG. propelling.
searchlights and the various equip
ment of modern ironclad
Back of the harbor in which the yes
sells will operate will be constructed Il
fortified city, with the regulation forts
and harbor defenses. The spectator
Will be seated in an elevated amphi-
theater. and will be looking over the
expanse of water. He will note the
rugged coast line and the apparent
strength of the fortifcations and pres
emily he will receive his first lesson
in actual naval maneuvers. A sa-
lnte will be fired, signals exchanged
and the fleet will move out, with belch-
ing smoke from the tunnels and un-
der full head of steam. 1t is asserted
that II Will be difficult for the spec
tators to relize that they are not look
ing dom from a great height on war
vessels in actual combat.
The squadron will be shown first in
keel line. double keeling. turning and
signalling--by flags in daytime and
with electric lights at night Torpe-
do boats and submarines will dash
On the enemy. delivering the project
lies. which mean destruction when
they strike an opposing ship. The
firing practice of the United States
navy al swimming targets and the
parade of the fleet before the flagship
will finish the educational part OF the
show. After the fleet has steamed
back to It's anchorage the torpedo
boats will give a display of firing
a floating target After each succe1
full discharge a great column Of "
ter will be thrown high in the air in
the vicinity of the target. A little
submarine will then rush in shore,
with its coming tower just visible
above the water That its shot at the
target has been successful, will be
shown by huge wave rising after the
discharge Of the torpedo.
The crack shots of the fleet will
next display their skill. Every sue
cessful shot at the conical target will
be accompanied by an explosion at
the place supposed to have been
struck. Inspection Of the fleet by the
admiral's flagship will follow. and will
be O pretty sight. The vessels viii
execute some clever maneuvering be-
fore coming into line like company
of soldiers. As the flagship escort
ed by trim dispatch boat. comes out
lutte. a drill and review Will close
this feature of the program
Then will come the exciting part of
the display-a genuine battle for the
possession of the city. There will be
first a blockade of the enemy's coast
blockade runner coming into view.
She will be chased and destroyed by
one of the cruisers AS the shells ap-
psrently strike her. the explosion will
be followed by flying debris, and H.
nally the blockade runner sinks. The
defending feet will next appear from
under the protection of the forts and
engage lis opponents. The shore bat
teries Will open with their heavy guns.
the shells exploding around the block
aiding fleet. The fire will be returned
briskly. one of the shots exploding a
fort. Next a torpedo will send one
Of the war ships into fragments while
the cannonading from from the forts
will increase. The result will be that
ship after ship of the invading fleet
Will blaze up, sink or retire in Grip
pied condition, and the combat will
be ended