The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-24
DRILLS OF WAR VESSELS
The Elaborate Naval Maneuvres to
Take Place Off Newport.
Red Blockading Fleet to Proceed
Against n Defending Squadron-Au
Operations to he Conducted Mt
Night-rhe Holland to He fartici-
pnnt-Prosramme for the Week.

NEWPORT RI, Sept. 23.-The Pro-
gramme for the naval maneuvres off here
this week has been given out except the
exact time, which the authorities wish TO
keep secret. The programme in general
is as already published. except that there
viii be no landing parties. and all the
drills will take place at night. These
maneuvres will be the first on large
scale in the history of the country.
very superior red fleet is blockading
blue force in Narragansett Bay. In
formation is received by the blue COM
mander-in- chief that it is the intention
of the red tosforce the entrance channel
with his entire feet during darkness and
attack the blue inside subsequent to Sep
tember 20, and during the last quarter
of the moon. vigilant lookout is Kept
by the blue afloat and ashore, and every
preparation is made to resist the attack.
West Passage, Dutch Island Channel,
is closed to all except torpedo-bcats. The
blue commander chief at once orders
night attack by the torpedo hotilla upon
the red blockading fleet outside, which is
executed within week, the special occa-
sion being decided upon by the command
ing officer of the fotiila and approved by
the commandments
The commander in chief of the red
bloekading fleet, knowing approximately
the cleared opening of the mine fields OF
the main channel, forces the entrance with
all his ships and torpedo flotilla, and ad-
vances 10 attack the blue feet inside.
Dates between September 20 and 80 will
be designated for the maneuvres, one night
being specially designated for blues attack
upon the red blockading fleet outside and
another for the forcing of the entrance
channel and the passage OF the floats by
the red torpedo-boat fotilla and feet in an
attack upon the blue inside.
The red blockading fleet will consist Of
the Kentucky. Indiana, Texas, Scorpion,
and Eagle. The blue, or home fleet, viii
consist of the New York, Massachusetts,,
Kearsarge, Sedgwick, and Leydene. The
torpedo boat flotilia will consist Of six
boats and the submarine boat Holland.
The red fleet, equipped and provisioned
for a week. will take station tomorrow
outside the harbor and off the entrance to
Narragansett Bay. The vessels will be
disposed as for a close blockade and for
successfully repelling any attack by the
torpedo boat flotilla.
The ships OF red are representative of
the much larger number, twice or thrice
that of blue, and they may be disposed
accordingly. Empires will be detailed, one
or more for each ship. torpedo boat, and
shore battery.
The scheme of the defence for the fixed
fortificatioDs coull not have been carried
out were it not for the detachment of ap-
prentices with searchlights, furnished bg
Commander Hunker, of the training sta
tion. Fort Wetherill will be manned by
apprentices. The Vicksburg also is de-
tailed by Commander Hunker to assist the
h1ua Haaf in NaUnnrt IA rhOr
The first phase of the fight VIII take
place either tomorrow, Tuesday. or We'd
nesday night. and the second during the
rest of the week.
The Holland win have separate drill,
and arrangements have been m'de so
that she can be used for an attack upon
the squadron at either night or cay or
both. as the officer in charge sees fit.
All the drills will take place between
dark ard midnight, and at the end of the
week the board 1T the1sNgar College WIFI
determine the winner.
The Holland went out for practice Fri
day night, and while returning to the
inner harbor ran ashore on the spit at the
south end OF the torpedo station. and
despite the efforts of three tugs she stuck
fast in the mud until high tide this morn
ing She was In no way Injured.
The apprentice boys of the Dattleships
,Jew York, Kearsarge, and Indiana yes
tarday morning rowed a -oared cut
Ter race for the cup presented by Mrs.
O. H p. Belmont The prize was won by