The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-01

were distributed to the warships Just
before the dinner hour, the Alabama
quota numbering 113 men
An immense fleet had modified in
Menemsha Blight by noon. The last to
come were the battleship Indiana, the
auxiliary cruiser Supply, the cruiser
Montgomery, the Aileen and the Scor-
pion. This makes formidable SQUAD
ron of fifteen ships. The marines who
have been on the shore Of Martha's
Vineyard broke camp today and their
destination was not known. It seemed
probable during the afternoon that Adj
miral Higginson's fleet would move be-
fore the hour set for the beginning Of
hostilities.
Tremendously Busy at Newport.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug. 31.-With
imaginary war near at hand, Sunday
was far from a day Of rest to the
troops manning the defenses in this
vicinity. Working parties were out
nearly all day, while the Massa-
chusetts troops at Forts Adams and
Greble had busy day among the
big guns and mortars. Company by
company they were taken to the nu-
merous batteries, where the details
were explained to them by the pains
taking regulars, but as admissions to
the forts were cut off the regulars
were unmolested by the crowds Of ex-
cursionists which surged into the city.
The men at the signal stations scat
tered along the shore were, however,
not so fortunate. The search lights
at Prices Neck, although somewhat
off the beaten track of the ocean
drive, had numerous visitors, while the
little telephone stations at Bateman's
Point and Castle Rock were fairly be-
sieged. At one time nearly 100 curl
GUS excursionists were clustered about
a little corporaPs guard at the very
top end of the island dof Rhode ISL
and, and the troops were piled with
questions of all descriptions. These
little stations have been designated
as A, B and G. Station A is the one
at Castle Rock; station B at Bate
mans Point and station c at the
Searchlight at Prices Neck.
Assistant Secretary Of War Sanger,
who has been here for)the past three
days, was taken on board the Nour-
mahal, owned by John Jacob Astor,
and shortly before noon the yacht left
for the eastward in the direction of
the fleet off Martha's Vineyard. The
Nourmahal returned Just before dark.
The gunboat Gloucester arrived dur
ing the day in order to get the last
mail. AS she disappeared in the mist
to the eastward on her return those
on shore caught the last glimpse that
they will probably have of any Of Ad-
miral Higginson's fleet until 1t makes
it's appearance threatening some point
The weather all day was hazy, and to-
night a fog is threatened and every
precaution was taken to guard against
an attack after midnight, the time at
which actual hostilities may begin.
Heavy Conclusion.
PROVIDENCE, r. L, Aug. 31.-At
intervals all day the big guns and the
mortars in the forts in this vicinity
belched forth fire and smoke and sent
shot several miles at imaginary tar
gets, illustrative of moving ships. The
conclusion was so great that 1t was
plainly felt in this city, and 1t felt by
the sound that the guys were at old
Fort Trumbull, instead at from five
to seven miles distant.
Maj. Gen. Macarthur and Gen. Gree
ley, chief signal officer, will be at Fort
Trumbull until after the enemy is
sighted, and will then proceed to what
ever point that may be considered the
most advantageous for the direction
for the movement of the army forces.
1t is believed that the plan of signals
is the most complete ever established
in the world.
Fleet Puts to Sea.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug. 31.-Under
cover of fog and the blackness Of
night, the North Atlantic fleet, COM
manded by Rear Admiral Higginson,
slipped it's cable in Menemsha Bright,
Vineyard Sound, shortly before 10
o'clock tonight and put to sea, making
the first move afloat in the war game
between army and navy in the imagi-
nary war along the Southern New
England coast. On land from Fort
Rodman at New Bedford to Fort
Wright at Fishers Island, every for
LITIGATION is manned by artillerymen,
and every headland is patrolled by
really hostile fleet were about to de-
scend upon this part Of the seaboard.
Tonight when taps sounded at all
the forts nearly 5000 artillerymen
went to sleep beside their guns ready
to spring UP for action when the alarm
should be sounded.
rIissinson in Nc Hurry.
BASQUE ISLAND, Mass. ;lAug. ST.
Admiral HigginSon was not in a hurry
to get his fleet to sea, for the last
cruiser to leave the anchorage in
Menemsha Blight did not get away I'M
tleships put out about o'clock, other
craft following at intervals. This fact
was known on shore only through the
disappearance of the anchor lights.
The lighthouse keeper at Gayhead re-
ported that the fleet stood to the west
ward and did not round the point. At
sunset thick fog set in and this con-
tinued until about the time the fleet
left, when it grew thinner, with the
prospect of being dissipated by
the seutherly breeze.
During afternoon SaluteS were fired
from the ships in honor of Assistant
Secretary of War Sanger, who was
taken on board the Kearsarge on
visit to Admiral Higginson. With AS
sistant Secretary Sanger were Sena-.
tor Wetmore, Of Rhode Island; Mrs.
Wetmore and a party of Newporters.
The signal camp formerly at Gay
Head has been moved further inland,
anticipating it's capture by Higgin-
sons force at midnight. The Indiana
and Supply, with additional naval re-
serves, Joined the feet this morning
from New York.