The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-28
BLUE CAPTURED
White FLEET
Report Of Admiral Hlgglnson to
the Navy Department.
SOL Wing SEARCH PROBLEM.
vaIgahis information Gained By the Man
osuWes Along The New eagIiRd
Coast
SOL WING SEARCH PROBLEM.

Washington. Aug 2s.--The navy depart
msnt made public today Read Admiral
Hisstnson's official report upon the
search Problem" which was conducted
by the Blue feet. under his own COM
Commander Piilsbury OF the New Eng
land coast.
The admirais report IN as follows:
~. g. flagship Kearsarge. Menemsha.
Blight. Mass.. Aug. Is. 1902
"Str-L have the honor TO report that
at SEQ a. m. OF the eath inst. on Mag
nolia. Mass.. the Blue fleet. under my
command captured the White feet, under
the command Of Commander John q.
Pilisbury. U. S. NJ, after four days OF
anxious watching Commander Pills
bury's feet was deficient In speed. His
evasion OF the outside scouts and ar
rival on the coast undetected was.I think.
very creditable to him.
The result OF the operation. In re-
gard TO my own force was to gather
very valuable information for the IN
teliigence office concerning the capabili-
ties OF the defence and means OF commu-
pication along the stretch OF New Eng
land coast from Cape Cod to Portland
This information Is valuable and should
be preserved for future use. i dirested
the observers at the different stations to
answer questions on the enclosed list In
regard to the point at which they were
stationed.
NEW ENGLAND COAST DEFENCEs.
"The line of coast over which had
charge was divided into Ave districts
each In charge OF en- officer provided
with scoutiog vessels and q number OF
observers at shore stations These dis
ricts all reported by telephone or teie-
graph or by whatever means OF com
muncation they could establish with the
sign Berry, Y. s. N. was In charge OF
the central office and transmitted to me
by means OF steam launches, torpedo
boats and signals from shore whatever
information was received.
The reports OF the district commanders
and observers will be forwarded to the
department for It's information.
OPERATIONS VERY BENEFICIAL.
IT can only say that the operations
have been very beneficial in training the
young men In scouting and as observers.
/ have already written 10 the department
about the valuable service rendered by
the torpedo boat notilla under the CON-
mand OF Lieutenant Chandler.
II take occasion, however. TO urge upon
the department the establishment upon
all vessels OF the navy wireless tele-
graphy outfit. In my opinion. II is OF
incalculabie value, and no excuse should
be spared 10 hasten It's adoption.
The squadron has been withdrawn TO
Menemsha Light preparatory TO the COM
bined army and navy manoeuvres.
Every respectfully,
FRANCIS ]. HIGGrNsoN.
Rear Admiral"
Comma nder-in-Chief United States
naval force of North Atlantic Station.
ITO Secretary of the Navy. Navy De-
partment. Washington, ID. c."
ORDER TO OBSERVERS.
The following is the special order re-
ferred TO In Admiral Higginson's report
which had bean Issued 10 the observers
coast:
THE commanding officer OF the scout
Ing districts and all observers will make
reports on the search problem as far as
their special duties extend. In making
up their reports they will answer the
following questions as far as they per-
tain to the duty they were employed
upon:
'1-what means of communication did
you use OF establish?
"2-What other means would you sug-
gest (outside Of wireless telegraphy)?
"3-What difficulties did you encounter
in keeping up the communications or OF
reporting 70 stations?
"4-Could you reach all places by tele-
phone. and, what centres did you have
20 go through?
"5-What stations did you establish and
were they sufficient7
"e-What other stations would you es-
tablish now after the experiences OF this |
problem?
'7-What Accommodations were found |
for lodging and subsistence?
"s-What should be the outfit OF sta
tions 10 euft the conditions Won found9"