The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-08-27
HOSTILE FLEET ON THE ATLANTIC.
TRYING TO SEIZE PORT.
White Squadron Ams to Capture a
Port on Atlantic Coast Undetect
ed by the Blues.

The unique war game In which the
rival fleets of the United States navy,
under command of Admiral Francis j.
Higginson and Commander John F..
Pillsbury are pitted against each other
began at noon Wednesday. The North
Atlantic coast Is threatened by a the
oretically powerful squadron OF hos
tile ships, from the attack of which
an equally able fleet will attempt to
defend. Commander Pillsbury's feet,
which is known as the white squadron,
sailed from Provincetown on Monday.
Its whereabouts at noon Wednesday
was unknown to Admiral Higglnson,
whose force is known as the blue
squadron. The problem of the white"
fleet which Is at sea, Is to effect a
landing between Portland, Me-, and
Cape Cod before August 25. To be
successful the attacking fleet must
seize some undefended anchorage be-
tween the points named-Portland
harbor being included, but not Casco
bay-and hold II for six hours without
being opposed by a superior force.
The instructions define the harbor to
be seized as one that must be capable
OF gun and mine defense, with not less
than six fathoms OF water, anchorage
for several large ships. and in all re-
spects suitable for an advance base
for an enemy's fleet. including heavy
ships. The first series of maneuvers
are purely technical, and there will be
no semblance of an engagement be.
tween the ships. No shots will be
fired except positively upon the dis
covery of the hostile fleet at night,
when the firing would be entirely for
signalling purposes and to announce
the discovery of Pillsbury's squadron.
The distance between Cape Cod the
southern extremity OF the coast de.
Tended by Admiral Hlgglnsoas fleet,
and Portland, Me, is only about 100
miles. At midnight Wednesday SO
hours had passed of the possible 120
Tor the naval conflict between the at
lacking squadron and the defending
fleet Not for a moment during the
afternoon did the battleships give up
their watchfulness. Soon after the
noon hour heavy storm came on In
the driving rain the impression enter.
tained by the sailors was the proba.
bility that Commander flllsbury would
strike his blow on such a night as that
promised to be in the early part of
the night. The station of Isle of
Shoals notified the nearest inland
point of the navy that a large. two
masted craft had been sighted outside
the shoals. The destroyer Decatur
was rccketed from Portsmouth to pur.
sue the mysterious conner. The strang.
er turned and fed at full speed. and
this led 10 the decision that she may
have been one of the attacking feet
passing In on scout duty. Friday
morning fog so thick that the water
OF the harbor could not be seen from
naval headquarters, shrouded Cape
Ann and the adjacent ocean. The
cruiser Brooklyn skirted the end of
Cape Cod early in the forenoon and
went across to Plymouth By II
O'Clock the fog had lifted and the bat
tleships were seen in their usual posi-
ions. There was nothing definite up
TO Friday. 9 p. m, to Indicate the
whereabouts of the White Squadron.
Friday night and through Saturday
III Blue" fleet was constantly on the
alert. expecting the White Squadron
would put in an appearance. Saturday
afternoon Commodore Higginson put
to sea with his fleet, and at $40 a. m.
Sunday morning came up with the
White Squadron near Thatchers
island. Under the terms of the con-
test the Blue Squadron represented GA
points fighting strength to As points by
The White" And flguratlvely the
Blue Squadron became the victor.