Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-27

all the details of fitting the vessels out
with their entire artillery outfits. There
was scarcely day for more than six
months that at least a dozen of the
purchased yachts were not at the
docks to be armed and started off In a
hurry, but not a mistake must be made,
this only In addition to the repairs and
equipment Of the main feet.
Il saw Sperry at his work often in
those days, and it was joy to the
spirit to see the machine work. There
was a. tangle In the thread every five
minutes, but 1t came straight in a mo-
ment and without stop in the regular
motion of the shuttle. He is going to
handle the feet of battleships in ex-
actly the same way. 1t is not merely
a matter Of navigating some twenty
old vessels in company. There are the
comfort, the well being, the training
and the steady enthusiasm of $4,000
people to be maintained. 1t takes a
steady hand at the wheel and solid
sense unaffected by what is called the
exalted position to carry the cruise to
a successful finish. Trust sperry.
"But how did he secure the appoint
ment? Notwithstanding the dispatches
that state that it has just been deter
mined after consultation, there are all
the finger marks of long and well de-
veloped plan of the naval authorities.
In the first place, it is easily seen what
a superb training experience has been
gained by every one connected with
the fleet This training has been as
necessary and as useful to the future
division commanders as to any one
else, and in order that the divisions Of
the feet should continue to benefit 1t
goes without saying that the COM
mands should pass to those who have
had the training in succession.
1.-THE four rear admirals chosen to
the commands were, of course, care
fully chosen on the score of ability
rather than of availability. OF the
four, three must retire from active
service under the age limit before real
~ much could be realized from their
full fleet training. 1t must not be for
gotten that, in addition to the massed
feet, there are four more active divi-
sions in the Pacific to be commanded
and new battleship division almost
ready for assembly here at home. Just
prior to the sailing Of the feet from
Hampton Roads it will be remembered
that the elder captains were relieved
and replaced by younger men, but
there were two exceptions made. Cap
tains Wainwright and Schroeder both
belonged to the category of older cap
tains and were near their regular time
for advancement to the grade of rear
admirals AS Evans and Thomas re-
tire Wainwright and Schroeder come
naturally ahead to fill the vacancies in
division command, all the better fitted
for the positions from their i1eet expe-
rience, Sperry has the great advan-
tage Of eighteen months of active serv-
ice still ahead of him in addition to
his natural seniority. Thus the solidar-
ity of the divisional and feet command
is maintained and the efficiency of the
fleet steadily advances.
1T Is only now that every one is
beginning TO wake up to the fact that
the cruise of the feet has not been a
mere experimental procession or
travelling show, but thoroughgoing
tuning up of an already well trained
mass-so we'll trained that the feet ar
rives in more effective condition than
when 1t started. Sperry will increase
Its efficiency beyond the slightest
doubt. He knows the business of naval
work Of today. All through his life.
come good or come Ill, he has not only
had the faculty, but, as shown in bis
work, he has exercised ii to the full,
of keeping up with the times and max
ing use of experience in the most eff
fective way and under all circum-
stances doing his work with the ease
and steadiness of the trained athlete.
"Of course there Is the other factor
in this extension of the cruise to the
uttermost ends of the earth that Ameri-
cans take to heart. We know that the
ships and the men are all right. So
cially also when 1t comes to showing
the national character we want to
show an equal advantage. At this end
of the line no better representative
could be chosen than Sperry. No one
could talk with him two minutes with
out being impressed with respect for
his courteous dignity, his familiarity
with all the matters that are of inter
est in world progress, and he possesses
to the full that quiet assurance of the
American who needs no affectation to
impress his critic. A better example
of quiet. impressive American charac-