The Washington herald., 1909-01-03
On Board Q. s S. Louisiana.


Z. S. Battle FIsst,
Manila, Nov. q.
From a social point Of view the climax
Of the cruise OF the United States Atlantic
feet around the world was reached when
the visit was made TO Japan Possibly
the same statement might apply If the
cruise were viewed from the standpoint
Of world politics The climax, from q
strictly business point OF view, was
reached when the fleet returned here
frcm the Japanese and Chinese visits.
For more than three weeks the feet
has been engaged IN battle practice. The
work viii not be finished entirely for
another week II consists chiefly in
shooting a lot Of big and compare
lively small guns at targets under con-
ditions that simulate as nearly as pos
sible what would -ake place II the ships
were engaged IN actGal battle
The folks at home may have conceived
the idea that the Atlantic feet was sail
ing around the globe having a hUllaballoo
time Of Il. the officers and men being
entertained lavishly. smothered almost
with kindness. burdened with hospi-
tally. acclaimed with delight. and having
nothing else TO do but 10 hurry to the
next place ard get more dinners, attend
more receptions, go on more excursions.
and listen to a lot Of fine words about
international friendship and brOtherly
love. There has been lot OF that, more
OF Il indeed than the world ever witnessed
before; but don't get the idea that that
/ is what The modern battle ship feet IS
Tor. OF that IT is the chief end Of modern
naval establishment
The truth is that all this entertainment
has interfered more or less with the real
work OF the barJle-ship fleet That work
Is TO be as nearly ready as possible for
war at q moments notice. The. only way
10 DO that is 20 be prepared 70 shoot swift
and straight Hence Il IS that once q
year Uncle Sans war ships go through
with what is known as battle practice
An entire years drilling leads up TO that
I one thing
Efficiency in the Fleet.
Lest It may be thought that all the at
tent3ons showered on the feet have
caused Iet-down either IN efficiency OF in
discipline. it may be stated simply as q
matter Of cold truth that the Atlantic
/ feet has been brought 10 a state OF eff
cheney IN daily routine and persistent and
vel planned work that no American feet
/ ever reached before L Is true that while
the feet was IN port nothing much could
/ be done II the way OF advancing eff
cheney, but while az sea all lost ground
I has been made I'D.
/ Never have the officers and men on a
( feet worked harder. never have they
worked more willingly, never have they
/ been prepared better 20 90 the work Tor
+ which the feet really exists The feet
+ was in fne condition when Admiral
( SPerry took charge OF e. The foGnda-
Z tons had been laid for a fine develop
ment Of skill through incessant labor. He
moved night ahead There was no salts
/ faction with what had been accomplish
/ ed, there was no stagnati0n OF forces.
I Battle practice by any ship or feet Is
going through the motions as II you were
Z IN actual battle You get the range OF
[ an enemy and you fire all the guns at
/ him that you would fire n battle and you
/ do Z as often and as accurately as you
/ can.
The enemy-au this is known 70 naval
people the world over and so one can talk
about tin battle practice is q big tar
/ get. It IS supposed 70 represent the side
/ Of a battle ship in the middle section.
I Il is about as long as the heavily srmor-
+ ed part OF an enemy's ship and about as
! high.
/ You let loose your guns ar il while you
/ are in motion and the range varies con-
/ stantiy. After a given time OF shooting