The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-03
The Great Fight Between A and b.

The home fleet OF Great Britain is now
engaged in it's annual practice operations,
the mimic war having been declared last
Saturday, while peace is to return on Sat-
urday next.
The chief object Of the maneuvres Is to
find out the best way OF using a consider
able body Of cruisers in conjunction with
battleships, while other objects are to throw
light on tn, relative advantages of speed
and fighting strength and to obtain infor-
nation as to the working OF destroyers and
torpedo boats. A British convoy (C) OF
slow ships, which must remain together,
cannot be towed, and have no fighting
value, Is on the way from Halifax
to Milford Haven, escorted by a fast
cruiser, and Is ordered to wait at a pre-
scribed rendezvous for the arrival Of pro-
tecting squadron. A hostile squadron (A) OF
fast ships at Belfast is sent out to capture
this convoy and bring it back to that port,
but British squadron (B), superior, yet of
slower battleships. Is despatched to pro-
tect the convoy and take it to Milford.
This being Che situation, Ireland is regard
ed as hostile, or belonging to A, while the
coast Of England and Wales, from the
island OF I5lay to the Lizard, including the
Scillys and the Isle OF Man, Is British. The
hostile feet A) has torpedo boats at Water
ford, Kingstown and Belfast, while the Brit
ish feet (B) has destroyers at Milford Ha-
ven, Holyhead and Lamlash
Looking at these rival forces, we note
that fleet A. which has the advantage in
speed includes the Channel Squadron OF
eight fine battleships OF recent construc-
ton, the Majestic, Hannibal Prince George,
Mars, Jupiter, Magnificent, Repulse and
Resolution the three first-class cruisers
Diadem, Niobe and Andromeda, and sixteen
second-class cruisers headed by the Mersey;
while there are twenty-four torpedo boats
eight at each Of the stations alreadyindicat-
ed, under the Spanker. Gossamer and Jason
respectively. Fleet B consists of the reserve
squadron OF ten older battleshps the
Alexandra, Howe, Colossus, Nile, Trafalgar
Sans Pareil, Rodney, Benbow, Collingwood
and Thunderer; four first-class cruisers
the Europa, Argonaut, st. George and
Galatea, and sixteen second class, headed
by the Forth; while twenty-eight Destroy
ers, In three nearly equal groups, are placed
under the Leda, Niger and Renard, respec-
lively. The convoy consists OF the slow
Calliope and Curacao, escorted by one OF
the B cruisers. 1t Is said that while A has
all the best OF 1t In battleship speed. there
Is not much to choose between A and in
the average speed Of the cruisers.
AS usual, there are elaborate rules and
regulations describing the distance and
time within which ships Of given classes
can put out of action other ships. When
l,,,1 Chi
Milford or Belfast. flying the Blue Peter at
the fore. Belfast and Milford Haven are
strongly fortified and proof against tor
pedo attack within specified limits, while
all other ports are open and undefended.
1t will be seen that a variety OF interest
ing problems is set for each side to solve
Under the conditions the hostile fleet (A)
starts first from Belfast and at once
the question arises which route to take
The A commander is to find the convoy,
and to use his scouts and cruisers in tho
most judicious way for this purpose, while
he must also be on the watch not to be-
checked in his purpose by b. Should no
discover the convoy, he must get back to
Belfast with 1t before encountering b, and
there again comes a problem OF the course
to select, with his speed hampered by that
OF the convoy.
On BIS part there is the disadvantage of
starting later than A, or after an inter-
val, as the official rules put it. Presum-
ably at the end of this prescribed interval
b moved directly toward the rendezvous
at the highest possible speed, his subsequent
movements being determined by the sue
cess Of in his attempt at capturing and
making of with the convoy.
Exactly how all this scheme Of operations
will come out We shall learn when the war
is over. 1t Ia enough to say now that the
plan is unusually interesting. and seems.