The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-27
A SUDDEN DASH BY
A HOSTILE FLEET
To Secure a Naval Base on
Long Island.
~
ATTACKS NIGHT AND DAY
A BOmbardment and the Forcing of a
Passage.
ATTACKS NIGHT AND DAY
FEATURES OF ARMY, NAVY MANoEUyERS
Rules are Issued by General Macarthur For
This Game Of War Which is to Begin
nj Midnight, August the
Thirty.first.
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, Aug. 25.-Major General
Macarthur made public today the text
of the rules agreed upon for the coming
army and navy manoeuvres. The whole
scheme of operations is based upon the
assumption that, in anticipation Of a
declaration Of hostilities, strong hostile
feet, without torpedo boats, determines
to make sudden dash on the eastern en-
trance of Long Island Sound to secure a
naval base, in the expectation of finding
the land forces, in the absence of a
declaration of war, in somewhat unpre-
pared condition.
The periods of the manoeuyres are to
be divided into two distinct phases
period of preparation and period of hos
tilitles. During the first period it is in
tended that there shall be day attack
and a night attack by the feet and If
possible a bombardment and the forcing
OF a passage. During the ensuing period
mines and distractions may be planted
by the defense and the conditions of war
are to be followed as closely as possible.
On the part of the army the informa-
tion to be gained relates to the general
efficiency, down to the smallest detail,
of all that appertains to the construction
and armament of the land defeDses and
the training of the forces manning them.
The navy will concern itself with the
best means of obtaining ranges, the effect
of mines and distractions, formations of
attack, efficiency of signals, the use of
searchlights, and the general control of
artillery fire.
Umpires of both services are to be
detailed to all ships and forts and will
report to a board of arbitration of five
officers whose judgment will be final.
In addition a number of observers will
act with each of the forces as the repre-
sentatives of the other.
- The period of preparation will be from
midnight, August 29, to midnight, Au-
gust 81, the period of hostilities extend
ing from the latter hour to noon, Septem-
Der 9Th. The defense will consist of
Forts Rodman, Adams, Wetherill, Greble,
Mansfield Wright, Niche, Terry and the
fort on Gardeners Point. There will be
no floating defenses. The attack will
consist of about fifteen ships. of which
five will rank as battleships and the
rest as cruisers and gunboats
The umpires and observers will assem-
BILE at the war college at Newport on
August % to discuss the rules and on
August 20 will be distributed to their
various stations. The naval militia will
embark at Newport on August 80 to be
distributed to the ships. At the close of
the manoeuvres the attacking feet will
pass in review before the forts.
Elaborate rules are laid down to esti-
mate the value of the fire of guns of all
calibres, so as to determine when any
ship or fort shall be considered to have
been put out of action or silenced
All mines are to be fully connected
and furnished with dummy charges and
fuses, the explosion of which will be sup
posed to entail the destruction of any
vessel passing over a mine. No COM
munication will be held with the shore by
the fleet, except under a flag of truce,
and no boats will be alongside the ships.