Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-08-19
THE ATLANTIC FLEET
BIG NAVAL MAEEUvERS his
MONTH
Two SquadrOns TO cOntest-Cape Cod
Chosen as Man0euyef Ground


The vessels of the Atlantic feet viii
shortly engage in two weeks 0f tseti-
cal nanCuveTs and exercises in heet
and SQUADRON formation. These ma-
neuvers will be held from Sunday.
August Is, until Monday, Septemb cr
s. aud will extend all the way down
the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod 90
HAMPTON Roads. Immediately after
the maneuvers the Atlantic heet viii
90 into what is known as the annual
battle target practice of Province
town, Mass. in the vicinity of Cape
Cod bay. This target practice will
commence September 8 and last sew
eraI days.
Prior To the Inauguration Of the heet
maneuvers Admiral Evans compile
ment Of vessels will be divided. The
second squadron, consisting Of the
Virginia, Illinois, Georgia. Ken
tucky, Kearsarge, New Jersey. and
Rhode Island, have assembled At
ProyfncetowB, Mass. for the cere-
monies there tomorrow in connection
with the Pilgrims monument which
is To be erected at that place. Presi-
dent Roosevelt will be present on
the MayfiOwer.
The other battleship squadron,
known as the first squadron, consist
ing OF the Connecticut, Minnesota.
Vermont, Louisiana and Missouri, /,
will rendezvous at Hampton Roads be-
tween now and August p, in order 10
be able to inaugurate the tactical ma
neuyeTs on that date, with Hampton
Roads as the starting point During
the maneuvers the second squadron
will use RockpOrt, Mass, as il head
quarters during the week Of September
2, and ON September the whole feet
will rendezvous at ProvincetOwn for
the battle target practice.
The extent and scope Of these tactics
was officially disclosed Saturday for
the first time by Rear Admiral Brown
son, chief Of Ihe Bureau of Nayiga-
tion. The British navy has battle
tactics on a much more elaborate scale
than the United States has ever at
tempted. The forthcoming maneu-
vers will be the nearest approach 10
British naval methods the United
states has ever attempted. For the
first time since the new navy was es-
tabIished the Atlantic fleet, which
now comprises sixteen modern battle
ships, will be divided into two squad
rons for tactical purposes, and these
squadrons will be pitted against each
other.
There will be no such thing as a
sham.battIe or the firing Of guns, bat
the two squadrons will be placed upon
their own resources and initiative
as TO maneuvering and playing NJ wal
with each other. They will be put
through various eyolutions Just as II
they were going into actual battle
formation. As the sguadrons are 70
rely upon their own resources. there
will not be such a thing as set pro-
gram.
on account Of the important char
acter Of the mancuycrs and the tacti-
cal value 10 officers the Navy Depart.
ment has arranged to have as many
shore" officers a. possible on the
ships during these maneuvcrs. With
this end in view, both army and
naval officers wall be present to wit.
ness, study and report upon the char.
acter and military value OF the exer
cises. These officers will be drawr
from their stations along the Allan.
tic Coast north Of Hampton ROad'
and south Of Boston. Officers south
Of Hampton Roads will not be- IN
yitcd in large numbers on account Of
| the length Of time that would BE- re-
quired in moving them from their.sta
| tiong 70 nc fleet. The Naval War Col
| lege at Newport will be especially
we'll represented and 50 will the COas
Artillery Corps Of the army,
Admiral BrOwnsOn announced sat
urday that all the commanders on duty
al the Naval War College bad been or
dercd 20 board the vessels Of Admifa
| Evans fleet % witness the.maneuyers
The captains on duty there have beer
/ notified that they too may witness
| tho cyoIutiOns, IL they 80 elect, an'
| lleutenant-cOmmaD who apply f0i
the privilege Of going aboard tn
fleet will be- allowed ~ do 20, Com
mandants of Atlantic Coast navy yard
have been Informed thai all cOmmab
ders who can be- spared are czpecte'
10 witness the maBcuvers. 10 - ais
desired that - many officers ~ pos
sible from the Naval Academy b
present,