Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-03
NOT BELIEVED IN OFFICIAL CIR
Giles AErNA's COMMANDER
SOUGHT INFORMATION.
WASHINGTON DEPLoREs
PUBLISHED CRITICISMS
Italian War Vessel, Guest Of United
States, Sailed Among Ships Engaged
in Target Practiee-some Believe He
Sought to Observe Operations of
Guns and Gunners.

Washington, Sept. 3.-General regret
is expressed in administration circles
over the publication ascribing i'm
proper motives to the commander of
the italian cruiser Aetna, which on
Saturday morning last is reported to
have steamed between ships of the
Atlantic battleship fleet engaged in tar
get practice off the Virginia capes.
They do not believe the commander of
the Aetna intended any affront.
Naval officers in authority in Wash
ington expressed the opinion that any
criticism of the action of the COM
mander Of the vessel should be with
held until substantial evidence is at
hand that he in any way violated inter-
national propriety in an effort to OBJ
serve the operations and results of the
gunners' work aboard the vessels. The
Aetna, they say, is a guest of the ma
tion and it would be highly improb-
able that her commander would be
guilty of an affront to our people.
Fleets Position Known.
The so-called intrusion occurred
about o'clock in the morning. The
Aetna was on it's way to Baltimore
from a West Indian port. The news
that the Atlantic fleet was out on the
anchorage grounds about ten miles
southeast of Cape Henry had been
published far and wide and it is as
suned that the Italian officers knew
the fleet was there. All such things
a ro 20 oil
of the world.
The ordinary line Of traffic from the
south to the Chesapeake capes is either
inside or outside the shallow bank
which is used when vessels have to
anchor outside as they often do in case
OF fog. The officers of the fleet were
surprised, therefore, when the quarter
masters began to report that a foreign
warship was approaching the fleet. A
large number of ships were at anchor
but others were driving up and down
making preparations for running over
the courses or for firing at targets in
subcaliber practice. All the so-called
spotting devices were in plain sight
Naval Etiquette Violated.
The Italian cruiser had to swerve
from its course to go over the anchor
age ground, but it came on slowly and
In due time saluted the admirals flag
Rear Admiral Schroeder, commando,
in chief, was absent in Hampton roads
with the Connecticut, and Rear Ad-
miral Wainwright, commander of the
second squadron, was in charge His
flag was saluted and he replied with
a salute from the Georgia, his flagship
That was all well so far as interna-
tional courtesy was concerned. Naya
etiquitte called for the salutes If the
ships were within saluting distance
But naval etiquette also called for the
avoidance Of fleet when it is engaged
in maneuvering or in target practice.
In Europe the intrusion of a foreign
warship, when it is known publicly thai
"a fleet is engaged in target practice is
regarded almost as deliberate affront
Good form and common courtesy re-
quire that other folks should keep away
at such a time. It is then that the one
secret that all navies have, that o.
operating their guns, is on exhibition
1t is strictly a private matter.