Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-29
A MIMIC NAVAL WAR.
How England Amused Herself Dur
ing the Last Week.
THE POSSIBILITIES COMMENCED.
Ireland, For Once, Assumed to Be a
Nation.
THE PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN,
England's Fleet Takes the Offensive
In the Warlike Game.
THE PLAN OF THE CHAMPAGNE
THE ENEMY GUARDS THE COAST.
Objects of the Maneuvcrs-TorpedO
Boats Found to Re Elaborate
Toys Much More Ornamen-
tai Than Useful.
England's Warlikc Game.

tCOpBifght 1888 By James Gordon Benefit
LONDON, July 2S.-[Ncw York Her
aid Cable-Special to THE BEE. while the
kaiser and the car have been rehearsing
peace during the week, England has been re-
hearsing war. She declared hostilities
against herself, as it were, at noon last Tues
day; when the naval maneuver began in
dead earnest off Bantry bay, south of the
Irish coast, and at Tough Swilly, a magni-
ficent inlet on the north coast, leading to
Londonderry, and also in and around the
Scotch-Irish dividing seas at st. Georges
channel. The object was to attain a fair
approximation to their connection in actual
warfare. 1t was assumed that ireland, for
once, was a nation, with her armament and
feet blockaded within Bantry bay, the south
coast and within the outer port of London
derry on the north coast-the feet per sc
guarding the ingress and egl ess at each place
and seeking an opportunity for offensive
| operations, much as the federals, early in the
| civil war, operated on the confederate Nor
folk, or later on the Savannah, Charleston,
etc. At the admiralty the offensive squadron
was named "a" and the defending, or the
| enemy, was called "B." These opposing forces
were subdivided into divisions "a H. "A -
'B ~ 'B g" The first A division of the
English assailants, with Milford Haven as
the base. was under Admiral Baird, and was
told off to operate against the first b divis-
ION of the Irish defenders in Bantry bay,
| ,nIar T-yop op1 tho oaoop1 A ,plar Al
miral Rowley, withrits base at AKRON Island,
was pitted against Admiral Fitzroy, of b Q
near Londonderry. For brcvity l select in
| the illustration of the manuoevers those af-
| fecting the north coast squadrons as A 9 and
BIZ.
1t is presumed that on July 10 the Irish
feet, b 2, was driven into the Tough off the
anchorage town at Buncrane by the English
feet, A 2. Conseque ntly since Tuesday the
blockaded Irish fleet has been endeavoring to
get out Of the Tough for coal and supplies or
to get torpedo boats at night or a cruiser
like another Alabama to prey on the British
commerce in the channel. Meanwhile the
British have been accommodating, laying
traps and watching the Irish torpedo boats,
or getting inside and capturing supply ships,
and keeping themselves in readiness to chase
and capture any escaped cruiser.
Brief references TO the operations had
since the mimic war began will serve to
illustrate the situation which is expected to
continue to August 20. While all the officers
and men concerned on each side appreciate
that what has been done is only a game,
nevertheless each side does its best just as if
the warfare was not mimic. Soon after the
proclamation of war took place Sunday after
noon, news arrived to the Irish feet that the
British enemy was in sight off Malin Head.
This news was confirmed from the signal
station at the entrance Of the harbor. Ma
neuvcring was at once commenced andsteam
gotten up. The Calypso and Curlew went
outside to watch the movements of the Brit
ish enemy and ascertain the strength and
disposition of the force. Thu Hearty and
Amphion then proceeded out of the harbor
with the Calypso and Curlew as soon as as.
certaining the movements of the enemy
Then the whole Irish feet weighed and q
single column bore ahea d and formed and
moved slowly away from the anchorage.
The Devastation was accompanied by her
torpedo boat.
On reaching Dunree Head the masts and
tunnels Of nine vessels were seen, including
the Infiexible, Agincourt and Mer
curry, and four torpedo boats besides.
The squadron had not been idle,
advancing In two divisions, with the Incon
slant and Mohawk as scouts. The flagship
Agincourt opened fire. The Neptune and
Thames were then detached TO try and inter
cept the Hearty and Amphion, when these
Immediately steamed for the harbor. Ad
duced the British to commence a useless
cannonade while making good his escape
opened fire on the Neptune from the Bar
bette guns. The Neptune and Thames
which had been pounding away at the Am
phion and the Hearty, seeing that the Irisl
squadron meant business, reioined the Eng
lish. The Irish squadron anchored nine yes
sells alongside Dunree, while the Amphion
Calypso and Curlew remained outside at thu
entrance and within gun fire. The torpedo
fotilla, with the Spider, proceeded outside
to annoy the English. During the night thu
Irish fast cruiser Iris successfully escaped
the blockade, end is metaphorically believed
to De securing the channel and capturing
British vessels in the carrying trade.
The same kind Of tactics as above outlined
ensued during the next two days without re
suit, except to show the difficulty Of the Irsl
squadron to escape, yet giving an opportun
ity Of practising every kind Of maneuverinl
on board ships necessary for war uses. Yes
terday on board the Rodney there was som