Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-24
STATIONARY WORK IN PROGRESS
aBsstle Practice" With Torpedo Boats
o'erien and Nicholson as Targets
Did Not Begin ae Had Been Ex-
pected--seeretary Visits Various
Ships During Day.


tleship connecticut. flagship OF Rear
Admira, Schroeder. commanding the
Atlantic baitleship feet. steamed out
Of Hampton Roads early yesterday
morning and proceeded 10 the South
ern drill grounds of the Virginia
Cepes. where Secretary Winthrop
watched the big ships at target prac-
tice during the day. The Connecu-
cut was accompanied TO sea by the
battleships Minnesota, Nebraska,
Georgia and Ohio, which came into
the Roads Saturday for the adjustment
OF the gun sights and to load stores
and supplies.
Contrary 10 expectations. the hat
tie practice with the old torpedo
beats O'Brlen and Nicholson as tar
gets, did not begin yesterday. me
stationary target work, at which the
ships have beer engaged for more
than q week. has continued through.
out the day and night.
Secretary. on "The Firing Line
There was little or no Wind pIow-
ing en- the drill grounds yesterday aud
the sea was much smoother than IL
has been at any time during the prac-
tice Secretary Winthrop. during the
target work of the day. transferred
by launch from one battleship to an
other as the big vessels were called
to the firing line" and he remained
on them while they were shooting at
targets II was his desire To wit
Is the behavior CT the big guns
" Pie In actual operation and this
could be done only on shipboard.
At this time 1t is not known now
long Secretary Winthrop will remain
with the feet On the drill grounds, but
ne probably viii stay until the bat
tie practice" begins. II is known that
he Is particularly anxious TO see the
big ships when they are firing atstne
moving targets and to be on the ships
while this practice is In progress.
According To advices received at
uia Point yesterday. the torpedo boats
Nicholson and o'Brien and the battle
practice barge NO. viii
not be taken TO sea Before
tomorrow and possibly not even then.
The vessels are now tieo up ct the
Norfolk navy yard. A wireless mes
sage from the flagship of the feet VIII!
notify the ccmmandant of the yard
wneh the targets are needed on the
drill grounds.
The O'Brien and Nicholson present
q very peculiar appearance. The yes
sells have been stripped down 10 the
bare hnlS and n temporary mast has
been erected at each end CT the craft.
Between the masts large sheets OF
canvass have been stretched and the
EDGES have been made fast to the
decks of the vessels. The turrets,
supesstructure. masts and smoke
stacks have been painted en- the can
vas and, from distance. the vessels
look like miniature editions OF battle
ships. The guns of the battleshlps
will be directed at the turrets and
snpers;ructure painted on the canvas
sheets.
Secretary Winthrop arrived at Old
Point Comfort from Washington sun
day morning and was greeted BY Rear
Admiral Schroeder. Owing to the fact
that 1t Was Sunday, the iivc psttie-
ships at anchor on Old Point did not
IRE the salute for the secretary.
Mr.. Winthrop went from Old Point
TO the Norfolk navy yard. where ne
was the guest OF Rear Admiral Taus-
sig. commsndant OF the station. from
the navy yard he went 70 the ST
Helena Training station ard Inspected
that station. sunday afternoon he re-
turned to Old Point ana visited the
bsttieshsps Nebraska and Connect
cut.
The Eve battleships weighed anchor
shorty amer sunrise yesterday morn
ing and proceeded out 10 the Capes.
The Uaited States auxiliary cruiser
Prairie arrived in the Roads sunday
morning from Newport. r. T.. and $50
ofscers and men to Be sent 70 san
FSnncisco The ofscers and men we're
transferred 70 naval tugs IN the Roads
yesterday and taken 70 the 81. he-
lena training station. They VII -
sent to the Mare Island navy yard ~
rail- within few days. Al san Fran
cisco. the men win board a transport
feF The Par Fast. where they win JOIN
toe ships &C the United States Pacinc
feet. which are nov at Manila.
The armored cruisrrs North caro-
lirs. New York aud Montana. Il vas
learned 'onirat vii join the battle
ship let tcnorrov. They lett Pro
finccto~n yesterday.