Evening star., 1902-08-26
WAR GAME RULES
Outline of Contest Which
Begins Next Friday.
PUBLIC WAREDUCATION
HOW ARMY AND NAVY WILL
DEMONSTRATE EFFICIENCY.
Navy to Do the Attacking and Army
the Defending-Result Judg-
ed by Arbitration.
PUBLIC WAR EDUCATION


dItions of war. Major General Macarthur
and Rear Admiral Higginson have agreed
on a set of comprehensive rules to govern
the joint maneuvers which are to begin
Friday night off the eastern end of Long
Island. The rules were drawn by Major
George F. E. Harrison of the Artillery
Corps and Lieutenant Commander Roy c.
Smith of the navy.
The whole scheme Is based on the as
sumption that in anticipation of declara-
tion of war a strong hostile fleet, without
torpedo boats, determines to make a sudden
dash the eastern entrance of Long Is
land sound to secure a naval base, The
operations are to be divided into period
of preparation and a period of hostilities.
day and a night attack by the feet will
constitute the actual hostile operations.
Cmpires of both services will be detailed
to all ships and forts. They will report to
a board of arbitration of five officers, whose
judgment will be final
The period of preparation will be from
midnight August % to midnight August 81,
the period of hostilities extending from the
latter hour to noon, September g. The de-
fense will consist of Forts Rodman, Adams,
Wetherill. Greble, Mansfield. Wright.
Niche, Terry and the fort on Gardner 8
Point There will be no floating defenses.
The attack will consist of about fifteen
ships, of which five Will rank as battle ships
and the rest as cruisers and gunboats.
The Rules.
Exactly how the game is to be played is
detailed In the rules as follows:
General Idea 1. Anticipating the declara-
ton of hostilties, strong enemy's fleet
(without torpedo boats) determines to make
a sudden dash upon Newport, or the eastern
entrance of Long Island sound, to secure a
naval base, taking advantage of the alb
sence of a declaration of war to find the
land forces somewhat unprepared.
Special idea 2. In undertaking these op-
erations the controlling idea should be to
test the training of the personnel and the
efficiency of the material, and it Is of para
mount Importance that this idea should not
be lost sight of.
3. The period of the maneuyers Is to be
divided into two distinct phases: (a) Period
of preparation; (b) period of hostility.
4. 1t is desirable that attacks or fents
should be made all along the line, so to
test the efficiency of each part of the line,
rather than to have one main attack upon
some prominent point, thereby allowing en-
thusiasm and interest at other places to
wane by feeling of fancied security.
5. The attacks by the feet should en-
brace day attack and night attack, and,
II possible, a bombardment and a forcing
of passage
6. This coup being made before a decara-
liOu OI war, II Will De assumed that prior
to the period of preparation no channels
are mined or obstructed; thereafter mines
and obstructions may be placed.
I. During the period of hostilities the con-
ditions are to approach those of war as
closely as possible.
How to Secure Information.
S For the army. General features of at
tack on posts and the defense of same; the
most efficient way for district commanders
to exercise command of the defenses of ar
tinery districts in action, including the
practical coordination of such defenses as
whole; the use of movable armaments;
the best system of fire control and direc-
ton; the practical determination of areas
of greatest advantage" for each fort; a
simple and reliable method of communicate
ing orders and information from fire COM
manderS and battery commanders to gun
emplacements: the best use of searchlights
in detecting the approach of an enemy; the
best location of searchlights, together with
all information as to the use of same in
connection with the fire of guns on ships at
night; the location of range finders. and the
comparative merits of depression and hori-
zontai base systems. system of signals by
searchlights between forts: the best method
of conducting the work of security and in
formation, and the utilization of CONNER
clal life saving and light house stations;
the practical application of wireless teleg-
raphy and use of balloons: the number,
type. caliber and mounting of guns at each
tort, and the Sufficiency and adaptabiIity of
same to purpose intended: type and number
Of emplacements. material composed of,
construction. durability and strength inte-
rior arrangements. suitability of site plan
elevation and position with reference to
other tmplacements, and TO enemys guns
on front, flank and rear: facilities for per-
sonnel to pass from one empla cement to an
other; convenience as to location of amnu-
milton delivery tables, or the points at which
ammunition IS received by the cannoneers
he ANN ,llrNiti if,, n
OF guns in and about empla cements in the
target practice preceding the naval attack:
means of lighting, inside and out: locations
ana dimensions of replotting. telephone and
telautograph booths; condition of rooms
and galleries as to dryness: drainage and
ventilation; convenience of location of
armament chests, loading Implements tools.
etc, and provisions made for same; eff
clency OF ammunition service; the cond-
tion and efficiency of ali electrical plants
and appliances including power plants
generators, storage batteries, power rooms
lamps, switchboards, motors for hoists and
for maneuvering guns and carriages cleo
trtcal firing devices. and method of using
cables. wires, conduitS telephones and tel
autographs.
What Navy Will Do.
o. For the navy. The best method of OBJ.
tanning the ranges of the forts and bat
teries fired at, the means of communicating
these ranges to the division officers, the
designation of the target to the divisional
officers; the effect of smoke in concealins
the target Gas far as possible in view OF
the limitations imposed by the simulated
hre of heavy guns), the order of fire In the
snip considering the direction and force of
the wind; the effect OF mines and obstruc-
tions on the progress OF the ships; fer the
admiral, the best method of concealing his
approach: In the attack. whether 1t is pos
sible to designate separate targets for the
different ships after the action has begun
or to cease firing at certain batteries that
he deems to be silenced. and to concentrate
the fire of the ships on the remaining bat
teries; the method of maneuvering under
fire; considering the character of the chan
nel the best formation to be used, the dis
tance between ships and the speed; the eff
ficiency of the signals used: the method OF
attacking in a fog, or by night: the use
of searchlights for lighting the target and
for binding the eyes of the opposing gun.
ners or range observers; whether to direct
the beams at the guns or at the range find
ers: whether desirable to use searchlights
from all the ships from few, the Others