Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-25
Secretary Winthrop Will Watch Big
BahIsshIps while They
Are IN Action.
TARGETS ARE T0WtD OUT TO SEA
Torpedo Boats o'6rien and Nicholson
and Battle Practice Barge NO. <
Leave Hampton Roads in TOW OF
sattleship virsinia--Armored Cruz
ser Squadron in Roads.

Under the watcnful eyes Vi HN'"S
Secretary OF the Navy Beekmah
winthrop, the fifteen battleships OF
Rear Admiral Schroeders Atlantic
feet will begin the long heralded par
ale practice" this morning, with the
torpedo boats O'Brien and Nicholson
and battle practice barge NO. al
targets. This practice is to continue
until about September 90. but secfe-
tarv Winthrop possibly will not re-
main with the feet more than TWO
days longer.
II had been announced that the
..battle practice would begin Monday
morning. when the secretary went 10
the drill grounds on the Connecticut
hut the targets were not taken 10
sea and a second announcement was
made that the practice probably would
not begin until the last part OF the,
nresent week. However, yesterday
morning, the two torpedo boats and
the barge were towed TO Old Point
from the Norfolk navy yard and the
tow line was attached 10 the battle
ship Virginia. which was at anchor
In the Roads. The Virginia weighed
anchor at 2:45 o'clock yesterday ar
ternoon and proceeded to sea with thel
targets, arriving at the drill grounds
about three hours later. I
Golfers Tow Targets.
According to reliable information
received at Old Point yesterday. the
practice will begin early this morn
ing, the targets being towed over the
drill grounds by one Of the naval col
liers now with the fleet. II was also
stated that night practice will be held
almost every night and that there IL
10 be little rest on board the battle
shius from this time until the prac-
tice ends. OF course, the warships
will come into the Roads by ones
and twos occasionally to load stores
and supplies and give the men shore
leave.
Secretary Winthrop came down from
washington especially to observe the
..battle practice" and he win watch
the frins with interest today. If the
weather permits he win be transfer
red by launch from ere ship to an
other as the ships are called 10 the
firing line. II the weather Is 100
rough to permit of this. he will watch
the other ships from the bridge or
the flagship Connecticut.
To See Firing at Night.
The Connecticut will go on the
range so that the secretary may stand
on vessel while she is in acton
He Is anxious TO observe the practice
at close range. Night practice VIII
be held tonight for the benefit OF the
secretary. The searchlights OF the
hattleships on the ranges will be play
Cd on the targets so as to give the
gunrers on the bsttleships light
enough to sight the guns. This Is
necessary because of the smaiiness
Of the targets. The range of fire Is
TO vary from 1000 to 1000 yards.
At this time. 1t is not known wnen
the secretary will return to Washing
ton but Il was reported at Old Point
Yesterday that he will come into the
Reads tomorrow and leave tomorrow
nixht for Washington.
Carrying twelve thousand feet oi
timber &c be used in repairing the tar
gets demolished by practice. the naval
collier Brutus steamed for the drill
grounds yesterday.
Armed Cruisers in Reads.
The armored cruisers North caro-
lima. Montana and new York. COM
posing the special service squadron
which recently returned from the
Mediterranean sea. arrived in Hamp-
ton Roads yesterday from Province
town. Mass. The vessels are loading
feel. provisions and stores and wnen
that is completed they viii 20 TO sea
TO Join the bsttleshin feet at target
practice en- the drill grounds