Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-15
MIMIC NAVAL WAR
To Be Waged Off Bar Harbor
the Coming Summer.
Maneuvers to Be Executed on Larger
Sca'e Than at Charleston
Frcnchman's Bay 20 Be BIockaded and Maine
Coast Rec,nnoitered.

New York, March H.-It was stated
Gu beard the flagship New York at the
Brooklyn navy yard, Saturday. that
plans are already Icing prepared for
naval maueuvers during the coming
summer of even greater magnitude
than those which were held off Charles
ton, S. c.. during February. The sum-
mer mareuvers will take place come
where off the New England coast, Ba,
Harbor. Me-, being considered the mcst
desirable point for such work
Admiral Buree. it is stated, was net
entirely pleased with the work of his
squadron in southern waters, the terri
BILE gale which the ships encountered
while on their way to Charleston hav-
ing interfercd with his plans. ard the
necessity CT keeping so many ships on
watch for tilibusters off the Florida
coast, made his squadron smaller than
was expected. The prevailing bad
weather while he was off Charleston
also interfered with the work.
Taking advantage OF the knowledge
gained at Charleston, Admiral Bunce
is in a position now to prepare plans
fer much more successful series Of
maneuvers. Since then the admins
traticns have changed and there Is
now a new secretary OF the navy, and
it is possible that Admiral Bunce, even
may be detached from his present ccm-
inanl before the summer manauvers
are held. but he will. at any rate, help
to prepare the plans.
Capt. H. c. Taylor of the battieship
Indiana. who was president OF the naval
war college before assuming his present
rnrr ors1nn fhny. 81
the problems which were studied in the
abstract at that institution for several
years. and is now in a position to aid in
the preparation of plans to demonstrate
by actual practice the theories of our
coast defence.
Bar Harbor has been for years the
favorite rendezvous OF the North Allan
tic squadron during the summer months.
The social gayety is. of course. a great
attraction to the naval officers. but IL il
also conterded that Frenchman's bay,
upon which Bar Harbor falls. presents
exceptional opportunities for drills and
manoeuvrcs and the working out of the
problems of war.
An officer of the flagship has prepared
this list of warships which are available
for the great squadron which is expected
to assemble off Bar Harpor by July |.
Battleships - Indiana. Massachusetts.
Iowa. Maine and Texas.
Armored cruisers-New York (lag).
Brooklyn Uiagl.
II.
Newark, Montgomery. Marblehead, De-
troit
Gunboats-Helena. Wilmington. Anna
polls.
Montors-Puritan. Terror and Amphi-
trite
Dispatch vessels-Dolpfin and Fern.
Torpedo boats-Porter, Ericsson, Farra-
gut and Cushing.
Ram-l<atahdin.
This would give the admiral command
ing q modern ships of war, and it is
possible that several other new gunboats
and torpedo boats may be completed in
time to take part. 1t is believed that the
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius will be left in
Southern waters. as She is better adapted
to that service than any of the other
ships of the navy.
Of course il is not possible to prepare a
list of vessels in advance with any GER
tainty that all will be available three
months later. Some may be ordered to
foreign stations IN the meantime. and
other ships. like the Detroit. returning
from abroad. may be used in their place.
1t is understood that the plans provide
for most thorough blockade of French
mans bay, and the detail of the four tor
peuo boats as runners, of landing parties
on Mt. Desert island. and a reconnois-
sance of the coast from Portland north 20
ba Canadian linn