The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-10
VICTORY FOR SUMNER
BLUE SQUADRON OUTWITTED BY
THE WHITE SQUADRON.
Harbor of Mayaguez Captured and
the Channel Mined by the "En-
emy's" Warships.

MAYAGUEZ, Porto Rico, Dec. "a nota-
BILE victory was achieved this morning by
Admiral Summer in command of the white
squadron with the Iowa, Illinois Albany
and Chicago He captured Mayaguez with
out resistance at 6:24 a. m, and imme-
diately mined the harbor. The Nashville
and the Eagle subsequently entered the
channel and reported that the Atlanta
and San Francisco had last been seen off
Ponce. and that perhaps they had been
overtaken.
Admiral Summers victory was due to the
careful execution of his plans. AT Trini-
dad he directed the white squadron to
proceed to a point within a circle in a
radius Of 720 miles the center of which
was latitude Is and longitude 45 The
white squadron was reported to Admiral
Higginson, commanding the blue or op-
posing squadron, at O'Clock on the after
noon of Dec. 5. Admiral Summers OBJ
jective was Mayaguez, Guayanilla. Ponce,
Ensenada and Culebra.
Under the rules the white squadron
would win if 1t entered the port selected
and worked for one hour laying mines
before the arrival of a blue squadron,
80 per cent. superior, or IL 1t entered its
harbor and completed the work of mining
before the arrival of blue squadron dou-
BILE its strength. The white squadron would
lose if 1t was intercepted by a superior
force at sea, or within one hour after
having anchored in the port selected.
While at Trinidad Admiral Sumner found
that Admiral Crowninshield commanding
the European squadron. with which the
South Atlantic squadron combined, had
own. Having ascertained that the Nash
VILE, Atlanta. San Francisco and Eagle
were slow, Admiral Crowninshield sug-
gested that upon the arrival within the
curve these vessels be detached and or
dered to proceed, deployed by scouts by
the nearest course 10 point one hundred
miles south of the east end OF Porto Rico
and the north to a point twenty miles
southeast OF Ponce. 1.-THE great aim of
these scouts" Admiral Sumner announced,
lis to deceive the enemy to the where
abouts and intention of the remainder of
the squadron. They should make use of
every possible means TO attract and draw
away to the eastward any force of the
enemy guarding the western end of Porto
Rico Having accomplished this object the
scouts are to disappNr from the circle and
|. rush the harbor of Mayaguez at daylight
of Dec. g.
The white squadron sailed from Trinidad
the morning of Dec. and followed the
plan mapped out. When entering the Mona
passage at o'clock this morning the
squadron stopped for short time No
blue scouts were sighted until dawn glowed
I in the east. Then the olympia, CINCINNATI,
Detroit and Montgomery were seen. These
vessels had been scouting on the north
| shore of Porto Rico. 1t is remarkable that
| they failed to sight the white squadron
| especially as the night was clear and there
was half moon until l o'clock. All
preparations for mining the harbor had
| been made when the four vessels OF the
| white squadron dropped their anchors in
| Mayaguez harbor at twenty-four minutes
| past 8 this morning. The last vessel to
| anchor was the Chicago. Boats were low
atrafra r..Te H.
was finished in thirty-four minutes.
| Upon the appearance of the white squad
| ron the Hist, of the blue squadron. which
| had been on guard. discharged green and
| red signals and attempted TO escape. No
effort was made TO prevent her The other
scouts of the blue squadron. fearing cap
| ture, FASTENED away To search for Admiral
| Higginson. The commander of the blue
| squadron was last reported at Wieuuez
| island. where he will be advised of Admiral
Summers victory
During the evening eleven vessels of the
| blue squadron were sighted, but they did
not approach the port