Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-30

Washington. Aug. 2S.-The navy de-
partment has made public Kear Ad-
miral Higgnson $ official report upon
the search problem" which was con
Quoted by the blue fleet, under his own
command, ana the white squadron.
under Commander Pillsbury, of the
New England coast. The admirars re-
port is as follows:
81 have the honor to report that at
$40 Il. m. of the 24th instant. off Mug
nOlia, Mass, the blue fleet. under my
command, captured the white fleet,
under the command of Commander
John Il. Pillsbury. u. $. n, after ionr
days of anxious watching. G, M
mander Pillsbury's fleet was deficient
in speed. His evasion of the outside
scouts and arrival on the coast nnde-
tected was, think, very credita bic to
him.
"rhe result of the operation, in re-
gard to my own force. was to gather
very valuable Information for the in
telligence office concerning the ca
pabilties of defense and means OF
communication along the stretch of
New England coast from Cape Cod TO
Portland. This information is valuable
and should be preserved for future use.
directed the observers at the different
stations to answer the questions on tho
enclosed list. in regard to the point ut
which they were stationed.
'The line of coast over which | had
charge was divided into five districts
each in charge of an officer provided
with scouting vessels and II number of
observers at shore stations. These
districts all reported by telephone or
telegraph or by whatever means of
communication they could establish
with the central district at Rockport,
where Ensign Berry. Y. s. n. was in
charge of the central office, and trans
mitted to me by means of steam
launches. torpedo boats and signals
from shore, whatever information was
received.
"rhe reports of the district com
manders and observers will be fer
warded to the department for its in
| formation.
81 can only say that the operations
have been very beneficial in train NJ
| the young men in scouting and as oh
| servers. have already written TO the
| department about the valuable service
rendered by the torpedo boat totil'a
under the command of Lieutenant
| Chandler
81 take this occasion. however. to urge
upon the department the establishment
upon all vessels of the navy a wirrl SIS
teleghaphy outfit. I'm my opinion. 1t
is of incalculable value. and no expense
should be spared to hasten its adGp-
ton.
"The squadron has been withdrawn
to Menemaha Blight, preparatory to he
combined army and navy maneuverS."
The following is the special order
referred to in Admiral HigginsoD's re-
port, which had been issued to the OBJ
servers who We're at various stations
along the coast:
The commanding officer of the scout
ing districts and all observers will make
reports on the search problem as far
as their special duties extended. In
making up their reports they will
answer the following questions rs far
as they pertain to the duty they were
employed upon:
| What means of communication
did you use or establish!
2-What other means would you
suggest (Outside of wireless telrg-
raphy)?
3-What difficulties did you en-
counter in keeping up the communica-
tions or of repeating to stations?
4-Could you reach all places by tele-
phone and what centres did you have
to go through?
5-What stations did you establish
and were they efficient?
G-What other stations would you
establish now after the experiences OF
this problem?
What accommodations We're found
for lodging and subsistence?
S-What should be the outfit of STA
tiOns to suit the conditions you found?