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Example 1.-October 10, 1916, 3 p. m., in dead reckoning latitude 6° 21′ S., longitude 30° 21' 30" W. At Greenwich mean time 12h 43m 32.58 observed azimuth of moon's center N. 34° 10' E. and corrected altitude 70° 11' 03". The declination is found to be 10° 03' N. and the Greenwich hour angle 1h 16m 51.3° W. (19° 12′ 49 5′′ W.).

ASSUMING LONGITUDES 30° 12′ 49.5" W. AND 31° 12 49 5" W.

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Example 2-In dead reckoning latitude 19° 31' N., longitude 75° W. observed radio compass bearings Key West 300° and Darien 204° Position Wireless Station, Key West, latitude 24° 32' 48" N., longitude 84° 39′ 52" W. Position Wireless Station, Darien, latitude 9° 07′ 15′′ N., longitude 79° 46' 20" W.

FOR KEY WEST LINE ASSUME LONGITUDES 75° 39′ 52" W AND 74° 39′ 52" W.

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FOR DARIEN LINE ASSUME Longitudes 75° 46′ 20′′ W. AND 74° 46′ 20′′ W.

sin 8.91907

s n 8.96546

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[COPYRIGHTED]

U. S. NAVAL INSTITUTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD.

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

By JAMES MORRIS MORGAN

In reading the following official report of the captain of the U. S. S. Victoria, one of the blockading fleet off Wilmington, N. C., in 1864, it must be remembered that it is dated many years before the mechanical torpedo or the (from) 18- to 40-knot torpedo boat was invented. It is quite a good description of the maneuvers of a Whitehead torpedo or modern torpedo boat might be, but at the time it was written the Confederates did not have a steam launch, such as they used for torpedo boats, which could. possibly make over seven knots an hour and the question naturally arises: "What was it that Captain Keyser and the crew on the U. S. S. Victoria saw? The Confederates never attempted a torpedo attack at Wilmington as they had no torpedo-boat or launch there.

SIR:

991

U. S. S. "VICTORIA,"

OFF WESTERN BAR, NORTH CAROLINA,
September 9, 1864.

... At 2 a. m. being in four and a half fathoms water, with Bald Head light bearing East half North, and Bug light North East, three quarters North, saw a suspicious looking, very small dim bluish-white water crossing our stern to westward. 'We soon made it out to belong to something that looked like a large whale, with the water washing over either end of it. I supposed it to be a torpedo-boat, then on our starboard quarter and to westward of us, standing toward us. I started ahead on one bell to bring our starboard broadside gun to bear upon him (the pivot gun cannot be used in broadside) and fired as soon as possible: then started full speed in order to change our position and avoid his blow under cover of the smoke. I then stopped and looked for him

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again. He soon after made his appearance upon our starboard quarter, as before. Not having room to turn my broadside to him, I started, as we headed East South East: full speed to gain room, but he ran parallel to us and as fast as we could go. I then rang one bell, which soon brought him abeam, fired starboard gun again, and went full speed. Having more steam by this time, we easily distanced him and got, as I thought, off shore of him in the smoke and lost sight of him. I then stopped and watched for him. In about fifteen minutes he appeared upon our starboard side, two points forward of the beam. We then started full speed, fired our starboard gun at him, put our helm hard aport, and in the smoke got to westward of him by crossing his stern (I did not expect to strike him before we got around). I stood out in eight fathoms in order to have more room if he tried us again: stopped and set red and blue light at the peak. In about twenty minutes saw him again on port quarter, turned the ship toward him until he was abeam, fired port broadside gun at him. I think and so did all the officers, that the last shot struck him, as he was very near, say 'forty yards, and the gun was fired with an aim. All the others were pointed with the helm, as he could not be seen from the main deck, it being very dark.

Fired in all five shots: our guns were loaded with shell and grape over them. Wind NNE. very light, and water very smooth.

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DISCUSSION

On the Importance of Leadership

(SEE PAGE 335, WHOLE No. 205)

REAR ADMIRAL CASPAR F. GOODRICH, U. S. Navy.-Owing to my absence in the Far East, the March number of the Institute's PROCEEDINGS has but recently come into my hands, hence this belated appreciation of a most admirable article by Captain Knox.

Supplementary to his remarks, which deal chiefly with instruction and study in the matter of leadership, I would like to suggest that something may be done in actual training for command. It is threshing out old straw, I admit, but I cannot lose so good an opportunity as this to deplore the denial to all, except a favored few in each class at the Naval Academy, of exercise in this art. Many graduates hear their voices in giving orders for the first time on going on board a ship. This is regrettable and avoidable. Is it fair? Upon what grounds can it be justified?

The cadet offices at Annapolis should not be permanent. They should be assigned absolutely by lot and transfers made once a month, or more or less often as may be necessary to give every man in the first class a trick as commissioned officer in the battalion. Luck alone will then determine whether he occupy for the nonce the exalted position of regimental commander. In this way all suspicion of favoritism will be eliminated and every member of the graduating class will make his own record in displaying officer-like qualities to which a proper multiple ought be given in fixing his final order of merit. The Academy teaches everything needed except this one thing, how to lead men. One would suppose it more important to young officers than any technical branch.

That the battalion's drills would suffer by not having permanent cadet officers is a mere supposition, a begging of the question. Personally I believe there is no chance whatever for such an outcome and I base my belief upon facts and experience, not upon theory. The plan suggested I tried in the Princeton Naval Unit. It worked to perfection and, in addition, every man in the unit was convinced that I had no favorites; that all stood on the same level and had equal opportunities for giving orders and seeing that they were obeyed. It is impossible to exaggerate the keenness with which these young men fitted themselves for their new duties as cadet officers or the thoroughness with which they lent all their energies, even when demoted, to maintaining the morale and smartness of drills of the corps. Under such a practice there could be and there was no dissatisfaction. Disappointment? Yes, but for that no one was to blame. The fickle goddess, Chance, alone was answerable.

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