The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-04-21

secretary IF the board. The board
went over the latest dispatches re-
celEed BY wireless from Rear Admiral
Badger, on the Arkansas. now in the
Florida straits; Rear Admiral Fletch-
eT al vera Cruz and Eear Admiral
Mayo. al Tamp!Co.
March of Science shown
Never was there a more vivid Illus
tration OF the march Of scientific in
vention as pplied 10 warfare than
the taclllty with which these ranking
adInlTals and captains. plotting out
the strategy Of q possible war. were
able to keep in touch with the de-
Velopments at every point where Al
American ship is living. Some Of tho
men engaged in this task had fresh n
mind the painful experiences g., the
old naval strategy board which, n
the spring OF 1898. sixteen years ago,
were despairingly trying To get in
touch with Sampson and Schley. 1om-
handing the two fleets. which ex-
cepting Dewey's Philippine squadron.
represented all of the American naval
strength of that day.
Wireless Most Important.
The cable still is being much used
in these days, but the main reliance
OF the Navy Department for com
munication between shore stations
and men of war scattered along both
coasts Of Mexico are the wireless
towers at Key West, Guantanamo ana
Arlington.
Plans Months Ago.
SO perfect were the plans laid out
and reduced to form months a , hy
the student officers of [ naval war
college, covering possible operations
of the navy against Mexico, that there
was little for the general board 10
do beyond keeping up TO the mn
in matters of details. Because OF the
almost no~n-eXistence of a Mexican
: navy. conditions which American
l sailors may meet are quite unlike
e those covered in the plans Of cam
paign prepared for other countries.
Marine Important Factor.
Generally, the Mexican plan covers
elementary Problems. such as tho
/ simultaneous establishment Of an eff
:. 1icient blockade. which the rather ex-
e tensive coast line Of Mexico would
make nc small task. Next IN order
comes the seizure of certain ports.
g and this IS where the painstakinS and
{ exhaustive drills of the marine reel-
ments last fall and winter are cx-
pected 20 find their application. The
s whole modern theory of advance base
u operations with the marines as an
active force, was planned to meet
6 just such emergencies as the rapid
seizure of a port in a hostile country
Is to form a base to be held for he r.
"a rival of an army Of occupation.
Railroad May Be Seized.
About the only other feature Of
- naval activity in the beginning of
~ hostile operations at least, would be
y the dispatch by land Of an expedition
- airy force to hold important strategic
~ points, such Is the great trestle on the
q Vera Cruz-Mexico City Railroad. sup
"a posed to be the key to the possession
Of that road. And with the fifteen
thousand or moro men in his fleet,
20 Admiral Badger could spare a o &C
20 ample for that urpos
no Torpedo Boats Fall in Line.
Later in the day, and after the ad
journment of the board meeting Rear
re- AdmiralS Blue and Fiske went to the
Navy Department building and await
&c ed the return of Secretary Daniels
who had been out Of town. The onl,
order hat issued from the depart
G. ment during the forenoon was tina
sent to Pensacola, inStructing Com
r mander Sims to fail in line behinc
ms the fleet with his flotilla of torpedo
boat d~estroyers. IA in number, anc
e the flagship cruiser Birmingham anc
MT tender Dixie. The little vessels hat
wv been held in leash since Tu-sday las
lily under orders to stand by" and i
be was explained that today's order
Vo which was issued by Admiral BLU OF
en- his w authority. was simply in exc
cution of the original design ;,
to have the destroyers accompany IN
n battleShlDS on the cruise.
O. 1t was announced originally from
Od the Navigation Bureau that the entir
ne %flOtillla of destrOyers would be sen
d to Tampico, but lack OF men compel
ess ed the department to retain in reserv
at Pensacola eight Of the little yes
sells.
at Secretary Daniels Returns.
ne Secretary Daniels returned to Wash
)c- ineton about 5 o'clock from CleveIan,
he and went directly 10 the NAVY Denart
We rent. After a short conference Wit
IL AdTnirdlS Blue and Eiske. and a scan
ne ming Of the dispatches received ii hi
absence, the Secretary settled dow
on to await result of the ulCmatUm. Sew
to oral SneatOrS called at the whit
ed House during the evening and con
Ort ferred with Secretary Tumu1tv. VIII
was at the executive offices aW0itin
dispatches. Secretary Bryan was a
his home. in close tOUch with Che STAT