Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-10-22
TORPEDO FLOTILLA COMING
FOR PRACTICE IN THE Bay
ANNAPOLIS AS HEAD
QUARTERS
Chesapeake Bay Base OF Experimental
Operations Submarines
Expected

With Annapolis as its base. the third
torpcdu fotilla OF tie Atlantic 1eet
will take up its headquarters in the
chesapeake Bay within the next two
weeks. This HOtiila il now AT New
York and will within few days be
at Norfolk, whence IT will proceed up
the bay.
The third torpedoboaf aotilla con-
sists Of the Stringbam, Sbubrick,
Stockton, Thornton and belong. all
under the command OF Lieut.. Wills
q. Mitchell, and has just finished its
seasons work in the waters of New
port and NaTTgaDsett bay. This
work consisted of torpedo and small
gun target practice, which was fol-
lowed by a series of Standardization
runs over a measured mile course at
Newport for the purpose OF ascertain
ing The speed qualifications Of the
vessels. This work was completed
Iasi Tuesday.
rae work of the HotiIIa composing
-, mosquito fleet Of torpedo boats,
iOfpelroat destroyers and submarines
n4s been conducted quietly, but
cn ciiyely, during the past summer
ss4sy9 under the general direction Of
Iieat. Commander Charles J.. Hus-
sey, of the Bureau Of NayigatioD, to
- HON the department has looked for
the effective preparation and develop
ment Of these 1otilIas. Upon the ar
rival Of the hotflia AZ Norfolk there
will be an interchange Of the person
mel Of the second and third fiOtillas in
order 10 equip the second for its yOy
age ~ the Pacific Coast, beginning in
December.
The third is composed entirely Of
destrOyers. There are six Of them,
comprising the Hopkins, WhippIe,
Stewart, Hull, TrnxtOn and Law
renee. They nov have a new com
mandeT, Lieut.. Hutch J.. Cone having
Just been designated to command
the torpedo nOtiIla on its cruise 10
the Pacific. ON account Of the length
Of the voyage the persOnneI has TO
be adjusted, and this will be done
by exchange between the officers and
men on the second and third Aotillas
after the third arrives at Norfolk.
The new second notilla Of subma-
rines is now being formed, and they,
too, will soon be in the Chesapeake
bay. The four new submarines which
recently had their trials Of Newport
are 10 constitute this new nOtilla.
The new submarines Viper and Cut
tlefsh were finally accepted by the
Government ON Friday and went into
commission at Narragansett bay.
Lieut.. Donald &. Bingham has been
placed in command Of the Viper and
Lieut.. Edward J. NarguaTt Of the
CuttleGsb. The United States steam
ship Hist has been assigned 10 the sec
ond submarine nOtiIIa rs tender, and
this vessel will therefore be the head
quarters Of the commander. THE new
submarine Tarantu1a will be assigned
to the new second notiIIa as soon as
she Is finally accepted, probably dur
ing the present week, and little later
the new submarine Octopus VIII be
assigned to the same notiIla.
The first submarine 6OtiIla. consist
ing or the Plunger, POrpOise and
Shark and their tender, the United
States steamship Nina, viii be trans
ferred TO Chesapeake bay in the near
future, as the weather is now too
cold in NaTTagsBsett bay 70 carry on
the work to advantage. Lieut.. Chas.
p. Nelson, who has been in command
Of the first submarine GOtiIIa, will
shortly be detached and ordered TO
battleship duty. and the command
Of the first submarine notilla will
thenn deyolyc On Lieut.. Guy W. ;.
Castle, who is now commanding the
PlnngeT. Lieut.. Charles r. Courtney
has been selected for the command Of
the second submarine nOtilla and
will command the Octopus when that
submarine Is finally accepted by the
Government.