Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-07-12

Washington, July 1O.-BeyOnl a gen.
eral idea Of the character Of the army
and naval maneuvers which will take
place on the Atlantic coast this sum-
mer, nothing bearing official authenti-
cation Is Obtainab bic in either tire navy
or war departments. Nor Is 1t likely
that any specific details of the nlnneu-
vers will be given to the public, as in
formation regarding the detailed plans
Of either defenders or invaders will
completely thwart the main objects Of
the exercises.
But from high official source q gen.
eral sketch of the exercises has been
obtained. There are to be two distinct
sets of maneuvers. The first will he
purely naval and will consume probably
the first three weeks Of August. Two,
or perhaps three, of the vessels belong
Ing to the north Atlantic station will
represent an enenly's fleet and will at
tempt to elude defensive squadron,
commanded by Rear Admiral Higgin-
son, and accomplish landing at some
point on the New England coast inside
Of limits not yet prescribed. The duty
Of the defending squadron will he to
send out scouts to locate the "cnemy's"
vessels before they can reach the c,ast
The vessels participating in these
maneuvers will include the battleships
Kearsarge, Alabama. Massn chusetts
and Olympia, comprising tie north At
lantic squadron, as well ~ the Mont
gOmery, Scorpion. Marblchead. Hist
and such other vessels as can bc spared
Mt the time. At these naval Maneuvers
the officials hope to experiment with
wireless telegraphy II suitable arrange
ments can be perfected in time, and 1t
is said there also will be experiments in
coaling ship, transporting supplies. and
other comparatively minor features Of
naval warfare.
The second and more important set
of summer maneuvers will consist of
naval attack on point OH the north
Atlantic coast by supposed hostile
feet, which attack Is to be met by a
Joint defense by the army and militia,
assisted by a small number of naval
vessels detached for the purpose from
the north Atlantic squadron.
Active preparations are III progress
by the army for its part in the coming
maneuvers. The defense will he under
the general direction of the commanding
officer of the department OF the east,
though the actual work devolvcs on the
coast artillery, whose officers. in the dis
tricts which are to be attacked, will be
In active command.
1t has been determined that tie at
tack will be made between New Bed
ford, Mass, on the east. and the ca stern
defenses Of Long Island sound This
will include the artillery district of
Narragansett. commanded BY Colonel
HasbrOck, and the district Of New
London, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Davis - The Narfayansett dis
trict includes forts Adains. Wetherill
and Greble, r. T.; AMI RUlman.
Mass. The New London district is
composed Of forts Trumhull. Conn;
Mansfield, X. T.; II. G. Wright. Niche
and Terry. N. Y. a..l
The New York forts are siruated at
the entrance of Lond Island sound and
are located for the purpose of defend
Ing ahfthe cities of the sound as we'll
as the upper approach to New York
city. -.
.sAll the engineer officers available
have been ordered to these districts and
are directing the preparation of. such
portion Of the defense as would come
under their charge. Ordnance officers
have been directed to give attention
to the inspection Of guns. and quanti-
ties Of ammunition with blank charges
have been sent to the various forts.
Not only will the defense consist of
and firing the guns hut 1t will
also be test of the appliances such as
range finders, telegraphic facilities,
signal operations and every Thing else
that is necessary in perfect sea coast
fort. Within the radius of the opera
tions the army will have NO Eoticp Of
where and when the attack will be.
made. The army must find that out
for itself. The signal co ps will be
utilized for this purpose. us ,'ell as all
the telegrapl, and telephone stations
along the coast.
The navy will take every precaution
to conceal the, point OF attack and the
army win do Its utmostt t ind 0 t just
where the feet will approach tha coast
and also at what time.