The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-18

and the officer will be able to remedy the
trouble. the cause OF which might never
be discovered by the artilleryman.
SUB -CALIBRE GUN FIRE.
To frs q full charge Of powder each
time q gun 10 trained Is an extremely ex-
psnsive operation, So sub-calibre tubes
will be placed IN the muzsles Of big guns
both ashore and on the battleships. This
will diminish both the report and the
smoke. Incidentally II will detract some
what from the conditions which would
prevail In time Of war In real cam
paign the sound Of cannonading has fire.
Quent1y been the first warning inland
foi oitihcations have had Of an attack en-
tho seaboerd.
Since Gen. Macarthur. in command os
the department Of the east. has taken up
eadquarters on Governors island. the
army has been straining every energy TO
prepare for the manosuvres. Indications
are that. despite the lack OF drill on the
part Of coast artlllerymen, the defence
will be much more efficient than antici.
pated, AL available engineer officers In
WASHINGTON have been ordered to the
manosutrs district Gen. Gillespie. chief
OF engineers. Is there, and will command
all the engineering work. This would in
time Of war be extremely important.
IN FINE CONDITION.
Fort Wright. on Fishers Island, the
main bulwark OF the defence at the en-
trance Of Long Island Sound. has been
put into excellent shape during the last
ten days, and things are running there
a, smoothly as could be expected. In view
Of the fact that there has been vast
amount OF recent building and general
Improvement.
To q certain degree. the search prob
lem whicn will be worked out by the
North Atlantic squadron preliminary to
the joint manoeuvres. will be part Of n
campaign which will cuiminate In the
Joint war game during the first week Of
September.
The search problem will be worked out
by two sduadrons. designated as the
| white and blue squadrons The former
will include the Prairie. the Panther and
| the Supply. auxiliary cruisers. and, with
Commander John I. Pilisbury as It's oom-
mander, win run out to sea and then at
tempt to make a landing on the Atlantic
coast within certain limits. which will
be guarded by ell the ships of the re-
| mainder OF the North Atlantic squadron.
which will, for the time. be designated
as the blue squadron.
| In the event OF real attack On New
| York q hostile feet would necessarily
| meet the enemy at sea before II could
strike at any seaboard city. Thus the
| greater part of the ships Of the North At
| iantic squadron, reinforced by the tor.
bedo boats. will act on the defensive
from August 20 to rs. They will entei
the campaign OF the Joint manoeuvres
| week later.
This rabid change from one kind O
service TO another In expected TO be o
| value 10 the navy. II will certainly b,
| of greater benefit than the mere steamini
| past the forthcations on the easteri
coast OF New York and exchanging blanl
broadsides witt. the forts. For weel
the ships Of the North Atlantic squadron
which make up the blue squadron vii
be In the position OF maintaining a block
ade OF New York They win be constant
ly on the alert for the approach OF hos
tile feet.
VALUE OF MANoECvREs.
| II has been conceded that the manoeu
| vres will be Of more value TO the arm.
than 10 the navy. They are expected 4
| be n severe test OF the alertness OF tn
garrisons Of the short Notifications
which will be compelled TO keep constant
ly on the alert for the advent Of tn
enemy. Since the torpedo boats wer
thrown out OF the plans OF the defenc
the army has been robbed OF these valua
bic aids to scout duty. A torpedo bon
| can venture far to sea. and In so fast tina
| A Is able 20 bring back news Of the no
| proach OF a hostile feet hours In advanc
| OF the feet itself.
| Practically the only lookouts the arm
will have will be the war balloons. whcl
the signal corps hopes TO have in opera
tion, and even these may not be read
in time for the coast signal and naval de
fence system which has been recenti,
systematized under the direction OF Rea
| Admiral +. III. Cooper
Reer Admirals Kempf. Wise and Coo
per have been assigned to the duty o