The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-21


Tending compliment Commander Pills
bury's three auxiliary cruisers have an
average displacement of 5000 tons and
an average speed of 13 knots Admiral
Higginsons squadron includes battle
ships of nearly 11,000 tons dispIacemenr
and nearly II knots average speed, cruis-
ers the slowest of which is a 19-knot YES
sci and torpedo boats good for rs to 20
knots.
Naval officers here generally agree
that the chances against the white
squadron in the game which is on are
very great and that practically its only
chances of success lie in the existence
of a heavy fog under cover of which
Commander Pillsbury might slip through
the Gordon of scouts and reach an an
chorage In an undefended port. The
distance between Cape Cod, the southern
extremity of the coast defended by Ad-
miral Higginson, and Portland Me-, Is
only about 100 miles,
In addition to the torpedo craft and his
lighter ships which he could use as
scouts and string along between these
points almost within signal distance of
each other, while the heavier ships were
held together ready to move at some
central point, Admiral TIfggfnson has
stationed ensigns all along the shore to
report the enemy the instant 1t is sight
ed. These naval officers will be REIN
forced by all marine observers along the
coast. To win the white squadron must
be in port for six hours without being
confronted with a superior force. With
in that time after the white squadron
was sighted Admiral Higg1nson, If he
held his heavy ships midway betweet the
two extremities of the line to be de-
fended at Roclport, for instance. could
reach his enemy by steaming ten or
eleven knots an hour.
Must be "An Undefended Harborv
Another feature of the situation which
will initiate against the chances of the
white squadron is the instruction which
requires Commander Pillsbury to enter
IAN undefended harbor," one with deep
water approaches, with six fathoms" of
water. one capable of defense by guns
and mines and one in which heavy ships
could anchor.
These restrictions will confine him to
less than dozen harbors, among them
Portland, Portsmouth, Rockport, Salem
and Provincetown. None of the many
other places. like Newbury, Ipswich An
nisquan, Gloucester, Manchester, Beverly,
Marblehead above Boston,o or Portsmouth,
Barnstable and the other ports below
would be available. A full moon is also
another factor against the enemys sue
perts generally agree that an attempt to
strike the coast during the daytime would
be foolhardy for the attacking fleet but
at night with very thick weather, 1t
might be possible for Pillsbury, with his
ships darkened, to creep In, pass the
scouts and quietly anchor without being
reported until too late for Admiral Hig-
ginson to reach him With superior
force
The speed of Commander Pillsburys
fastest ship, the Prairie, is 14.9 knots, the
Panther can make 13 and the Spy only
91a, so that II the feet is kept together,
as his instructions direct, the speed of his
squadron cannot be more than its slowest
unit, namely, 919 knots.
Vessel Puts Man Ashore.
Kennebunk Port Me-, August 20.-The
cruisers Brooklyn and Olympia, the con-
verted yacht Mayfower and the torpedo
boat Shubrick arrived off Cape Porpoise
just before o'clock this afternoon. The
vessels remained well off shore. but the
torpedoboat ran in and anchored for half
an hour. Just before leaving man
was put ashore, and the little vessel
steamed out to where her companions
were lying and the four proceeded east
ward.
Two Warships Seen.
Portland Me-, August 20.-Two large
warships and a torpedoboat were off the
harbor just before dark. The warships
turned and proceeded toward the south,
while the torpedoboat ran into the har-
Dor. The large vessels were well outside.
Officers Land.
Provincetown, Mass, August 20.-The
torpedoboat Stockton, representing the
blue squadron, arrived here tonight Two
officers and two sailors landed and one
officer went direct to the race point sta
tion and another to Highland light. The
officers of the Stockton were uncommuni-
cative. The life savers on the ocean side
report warship running down the coast
of Highland light at dusk.