The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

directly behind one another. The nag
ship Connecticut will lead the way. with
Admiral Evans flag flying. just 1OO yards
behind hut O~ne-Quarter point to the port
sid will he the Louisiana.
Then coo ysris behind that ship, one
quarter point on the starbOard Of the flag
ship. will be the neHt ship. The reason for
having these ships not directly behind the
flagship IL to avoid the danger in case OF
su lden stOppage Of the ship following
running into the preceding one.
Ii really makes an interval OT 800 yards
between ships that are directly in a line.
The formation il something like the way
the 0arsmen are seated in British uni
versity Fights. The rOwers are not seated
In the centre Of the boat. but four Of them
are over to the port side and four over 20
the starbOard.
The cOxswain ia in the middle. but in
stead Of leading iks the Admiral's boat
in this kind Of feet formation the order lie
reversed and he il behind instead Of in
front. In each division the Admiral's boat
will lead. just az the Connecticut will lead
In the first.
The fine work in ~seamanship in a cruise
Of this kind is to keep the interval Of 100
yards to a nicely. The prOpellers Of tho
various ships do not move each ship at
exactly the same speed. even when the ap-
proximate number Of revolutions for the
work has been figured out. A ship may
gain or lose an inch or two every minute
or 90. and soon the intervals would be-
come disarranged II constant watch we're
not kept.
A little instrument called the stadimeter;
.sa- aa0
ton, cOrrects the distance from time to
time and word is telsgraphed to- the engine
room TO push ahead or slow down just a
triie when il is found that a given vessel
is not doing her work just right. Naval
Cificers know the trick OF keeping inter-
walls properly. and il is a matter Of pride
with them to keep distances So accurately
That no fault can be fOund with their work
by the commanding officers.
II an observer should stand half a mile
Or the feet az il passes down the COAST he
might be able to detect with his eye here
and there q place where the intervals were
not quite accurate, but there would prob
ably be not more than two or three Of them
that would be noticeable, the other ships
keeping the distances AZ accurately as il
one was towing another by means OF a
cable exactly 400 yards long. II is this
peculiarly ccurate work hat lends an air
Of stateliness ~ the procession.
Although few evolutiOns will take place
on the voyage, there will be plenty doing
all the time. Signals will be hOisted and
answered constantly, the wireless telegraph
on the ships will be working all the time,
drills will be held according to appointed
schedules and the general routine OF keep
ing the vessels up to the mark, shipshape
and Bristol fashion, will be going on all the
time.
The little ceremonies that make for dis
cipline will be observed vigorously, and
yet with it all there will be plenty of time
for play and rest when the days work is
over, and all hands not on watch may smoke
and frolic or read as inclination impels.
The members of the crew will prepare for
their theatricals and athletic exhibitions,
the pets will be trained and put through
their stunts, and there will he letters by The
thousands to he written to wives and sweet
hearts and friends.
Every Saturday night the officers will
give their toast to S~weethearts and Wives
Every night the officers dress for dinner.
but il is On Saturday night that the tinge
W hNbHe vi NNVp AFkHAu " OAC =
family. Of love Of home, lie allowed to
have expression openly, and it comes with
just one toast, -Sweethearts and Wives"
That over. the officers life. his work. his
thoughts belong to Uncle Sam, and the flag
~ duty To ones own country is the only
emblem Of sentiment under which every
man. Jack Tar or officer. sails.
WIRELESS T%ELEPHoNE FL TO BE TRIED.
4 novelty in the work Of the ships ON this
cruise will he a practical test Of the wireless
telephone. 1t is said that the experimental
stage has been passed and that for distances
~ from two to three miles already CONVEX
satiOns have taken place between warships,
at anchor and in motion. by the wireless
telephone.
For a long time the ships have been fitting
out with the necessary apparatus for a
thorough test Of this invention. 1t is no
secret that the naval officers believe that the
experimental stage has been passed and
that it will he possible for Admiral Evans to
talk with any one on the last ship Of the
Feet with the ease and distinctness that he
would talk over the telephone in New York
city TO any one far or near.
Exactly what will be- accomplished in the
lGbtS VI iue WlTcltss tcirInhuN may NOT
become public for some time. While il ia
true that representatives Of the press asso-
Citations Of the country are t~oaccOmpany the
feet and are 10 send cable dispatches at
each stopping place and will be allowed to
send by mail matter descriptive OF the jour-
ney. the Navy Department. for prudential
reasons. has felt il necessary to limit the
extent Of correspondence II is manifest
that nothing should be printed that is in
any way Of the nature Of a secret.
One Of the things on which a strict inhi-
bitiOn is placed il publication of any kind
relating e the method Of what is known
az fire control. This means the method
employed TO get the exact range of an
enemy's ships and to insure the discharge
Of the guns at exactly the right instant to
hit the enemy.
This matter of securing the tange is tho
greatest preliminary problem Of battle.
Range finders are used in all our forts with
absolute accuracy. They have been used
on ships wit good results. but there are
defects in their work owing to the delicate
nature Of the instruments and the limited