The Florida star., 1902-08-29
THE mimic COAST WAR
Elaborate Programme of Army
and Navy Maneuvers.
MILITARY PART WILL BE SECRET
Fleet TO Run Long Island Sound
VIII BE Allowed to Follow Ships,
as In Actual Warfare-what Counts
as q Victory.

AIHis anu navy experts are HOW ell
gagged in the extremely difficult task of
drawing up rules for the army and
navy maneuvers or war game" which
will be played at the eastern entrance
of Long Island sound from Aug. 20 to
Sept. Il. says the New York Times. The
ships of the navy will be followed by
newspaper tugs, as in time OF actual
war. On the army side, however, there
will be only the secret coast defenses
engaged. To admit newspaper men or
any one else to these would be violat-
ing one of the strict regulations of the
service.
In addition to the complicated work
OF drawing up the rules of the contest.
preparations for the "game" in two
other particulars are going on at rap
id pace at present The army is mo-
bilizing Sufficient men at the forts in
vOlved to man the guns. The search
lights are being placed in order, cob
webs are being removed from the
works, and preparations for real action
are going on. The guns, ammunition
and other facilities will, when the war
fare begins. be in trim for actual con-
hict.
You see, when battleship is afioat
and in commission" said an army Off
Ger, -she is just as much ready for ac-
ton in peace as IL war. With a land
fertilization it is different"
The fleet to take part in the game
will be under command of Rear Admi-
raj UigginSOn. The first class battle
shin Eearsarge will be the flagship.
Then there will be the armored cruiser
brooklyn. flying the flag of Rear Admi-
raj Coghlan, second i'll command; the
first class battleships Alabama and
Massachusetts. the cruisers Olympia,
Cincinnati and Montgomery, the gun
boats Gloucester, MaytiOwer, Scorpion,
Hist, Leyden, Nina and Peoria, the
converted cruisers Prairie, Panther
and Supply and seven torpedo boats.
The problem of the first week Of the
war game will be, Are the coast de-
fenses of Long Island sound and the
advance guard of the United States
fleet capable of preventing the landing
OF an invading army In the second
week the question will be, Are the
coast defenseS OF Long Island sound
capable of preventing the approach
TO New York harbor of large hostile
- fleet when the navy of the country
- happens to be away looking after some
=. other fleet of the enemy
> r.. The first move will he on Aug. 20.
when the converted cruisers will be
}, detached from Rear Admiral lliSSln-
e, sons squadron and go TO sea. They
will then within the ensuing seven
days seek To pass the defending squad
ron and forts and establish a base of
supplies and action within the sphere
of activities. 1t will he supposed that
these swift moving vessels are the ad
vance guard of an approaching fleet
of transports protected by large
SQUADRON Of battleShips and that If the
advance guard can get hy the larger
force is capable of doing likewise.
Rear Admiral Higginson's plan oi
defense will be to send out scouts. and
upon the value of their work VIII de
pend the success of the defending
souadron's efforts. The scouts VII
attempt to'pick up the cnemy's fleet
and hold on TO Ii until IL decisive ac
tion can be fought. Commander JohI
T.. Pillsbury of the Prairie, who VII
command lHe lnNiluciS' WI SSNN -
eIudc the defending squadron at night
in fog or in any manner possible.
In case the invaders should be picked
up after they have passed the detehu
Ing fleet and IN attack should be mad'
the question of success Will become
somewhat more complicated. III th'
defending fleet can catch the Invader
In time To bring their ships wlthll
range for Il sufficient time To demollsi
them before their men can be landed
the defending squadron Will be c"hSlu
cred To have won. But if the convert
ed cruisers are able 10 effect landin;
their part Of the game will have Deer
won. and il will have been shown tina
the navy and the coast dcfcnses ar
weak in 4 critical place.
On Aug 26 il will bc considered ina
the invading and the defending nav.
have made peace and decided 10 Joll
forces. At any rate the whole Zee
will be united under Rear Admlr;'
HigginsOn and will - 10 sea. II WI
be supposed that the coast detehse
are left entirely unaided by ships o
war. that the country's navy has Soh
to fight a squadron OF the enemy l
some distant locality. Rear Adlhlra
Higginson will then attempt 10 pas
the forts at the entrance To the SCUM
and get within hailing distance or Ne'
York harbor. Deprived OF scouts an
marine forces of all kinds. the coas
5oeon6ors will ha va to dpDeld at nlgE