The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-12-05
TO
Be ATTACKED
AdmiIaIs Higgins and Sumner Are
Planning an Exciting Game
Of War.
PLAN OF CONTEST IS GIVEN OUT

Port OF Spain, Island Of Trinidad
GU. s. Flagship Iowa.. Dec. 3.-De-
spite the superiority Of Admiral Hig-
ginson's squadron over that Of Ad-
miral Sumner. the latter is confident
that he will be able during the coming
naval war game to seize without dis
aster the port to form a base OF opera
tions against Cuba and the American
coast. AS a result of the conferences
between Admirals Sumner and
Crowninshield and the commanding
officers Of the vessels under their
command, most of whom have taken
part in the naval war college war
game with the Caribbean sea as the
scene Of operations. a plan has been
adopted which, 1t is asserted by those
who know. is practically certain of
success
The problem presented requires Ad-
miral Sumner to fortify a port with
mines and guns. to do which he is
allowed six hours. Should Admiral
Higginson appear with a superior
force before the expiration of that
time Admiral Sumner will be con-
sidered as defeated. To determine
the strength of the opposing squadron
the department has given a battleship
the value Of twenty points. a heavily
protected cruiser eight points; a.
smaller protected cruiser, five points;
gunboat, three points, and a torpe-
do boat or tender, one point each.
It Is estimated that Admiral Hig-
ginson has 1875 points and Admiral
Sumner sixty-six points. II the esti-
mate Is correct It Is claimed 1t would
be folly for Admiral Higginson to di-
vide his battleship squadron, num-
being eighty points and that they
must act together that so on hearing
Of the arrival of Admiral Summers
squadron she can hasten to attack 1t.
Some officers believe Admiral Hig-
ginson will separate his battleship in
to two divisions and form division
of fast cruisers which will hold the
balance Of power and reinforce the
battleships. -
IT is believed here that Admiral
HigginsOn has arranged with the
United States consuls and weather
observer in the West Indies to report
the temperance OF Admiral Summers
vessels and has made telephone and
telegraphic arrangements in Porto
Rico so that IL a port of that island
is attacked he will be Immediately
The distance from Trinidad to the
nearest base is $40 miles in a straight
line and 700 miles by the outside
Leaving Trinidad on Friday
Admiral Sumner cannot pos
sibly reach his destination before Sum
day morning and he may proceed
slowly and arrive Monday or even
later. All lights will be out at night
except a red lamp aft to serve as a
guide for the vessel following. It is
to hoist neutral colors in
order to deceive the scouts of Admiral
squadron.
Admiral Sumner is allowed to drop
his slow ships. though he sacrifices
points by so doing, and as his squad
ron Is inferior to that of Admiral
Admiral Sumner possibly
will prefer to hold his vessels togeth-
er as long as possible and be prepared
to detach them on any attempt being
made to entice them away on Admir-
II Higginson's scouts sighting him.
The squadron is constantly engaged
in target practice in order to make a
record off Culebra island. The Iowa
viii have finished coaling today and
then the squadron will be ready to
,ail.