The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-05
The NAVAL War GAMES.
SEARCH OR SCOUTING PROBLEM
FIRST ON PROGRAMME.

The white Fleet (south Atlantic and Euro.
pesn SQuAdrOns) Must Seize . Port In
Porto Rico and Mine the Channel he
fore the Arrival OF the blue Fleet.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE war games to
be played by the vessels OF the combined
North Atlantic. South Atlantic and Euro
pean squadrous Of the United States Navy
IN the West Indies will be begun Tomorrow.
The first OF the games will he a search or
scouting problem, the programme for which
was Announced by the Navy Department
this afternoon. IL will be in nearly all
respects similar TO the search problem which
was carried out of the New England coast
last summer by the main force Of the North
Atlantic squadron under Rear Admiral
Higginson, representing a home deie, o,
division. and small cruiser squadron under
Commander Pillsbury. representing hos
lie fleet, having for its object the seizure
and protection of some unfortifed harbor
on the New England coast before the arrival
of the stronger force under Admiral Higgin-
son.
In the New England search problem.
Commander Pillsbury was required by the
rules Of the game TO enter an unfortitied
home defence fleet, that length Of tino bein &
deemed necessary to enable him to place
mines and carry out other measures OF pro-
lection. There was great deal OF criticism
at the time of this si1-hour requirement on
the ground that the period fixed was 80 long
as TO give PilLsbury very little chance OF
success
The rules for the West Indian search prob
lem show that this criticism was effective,
as the supposed hostile squadron il the
West indies will be regarded as having
attained success II II has worked one hour
laying mines in the port seized before the
arrival of an opposing force so per cent.
greater than its own. or completes the min
ing before the arrival Of ali opposing force
twice az powerful as it's own
For the purpose of the West Indian
search problem tho South Atlantic squad
ron of Rear Admiral Sumner and the Eu-
ropean squadron of Rear Admiral Crownin-
shield have been combined under the COM
mand OF Rear Admiral sumner and desig-
mated as the White Fleet. The vessels
of the enlarged North Atlantic squadron.
under Rear Admiral Higginson.. will be
known Ms the Blue Fleet. The White Fleet
will represent an advanced detachment OF an
enemy whose object is 10 secure base
in Porto Rioan waters between, in and
including Mayaguez on the west, and Great
Harbor: Culebra Island, on the east.
On the afternoon OF Dec. S, the Blue
htl IL supHtStu 10 learn tiht one OF Vb
scouts sighted the White Fleet on Dec 2
in latitude Is deg north. longitude IS deg
west a position about nine hundred miles
70 the eastward Of Barbados The White
Fleet must mine the main ship channel Of
The port seized before 9 p. NJ, Dec. 10, at
which time the problem will end. The
rules for the game are as follows:
II the White Fleet enters the port selected
and has worked one hour In laying mines
before the arrival Of a Blue force so per cent
greater than its own, II wins
IL II enters the port and completes the
mining Of the channel before the arrival Of
a Blue force double its own. IL wins
White loses n intercepted by a superior
Blue force at sea or in less than one hour
after II enters the port
The Blue force to win must tal with a SUI
perior force meet the White fleet az SEQ or
within one hour after II has anchored In the
port selected. or lbl II the White force has
been Mt anchor more than one hour. but not
long enough to plant all its mines. the Blue
force must be so per cent greater than the
White
All the vessels Of the White Fleet put to
sea Yesterday from La Brea Light Island
Of Trinidad. The fleet comprises the
battleship Iowa. flagship Of Rear Admiral
Sumner; the battleship Illinois, flagship
of Rear Admiral Crowninshield: the cruisers
Chicago. San Francisco Atlanta and Al
bany, and the gunboats Nashville and
Eagle