The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-21
NAVAL OFFICERS
HAVE A PROBLEM
Mimic Warfare Begun Off the
Atlantic Coast.
RIVAL FLEETS NOW AT SEA
THE TIME LIMIT WILL EXPIRE
IN FIVE DAYS.
'IVAL FLEETS NOW AT SEA

NASHINGTON, Aug. 2o.-The mimic
Wy naval war began at noon today.
Admiral Higginson and Com
mander Pillsbury, in command of the
rival fleets. respectively designated
blue" and white" the latter under
command of Commander Piiisbury
being the attacking fleet. were supplied
with confidential instructions which
went into effect at noon. The problem
for the white" fleet, which is at sea,
is to effect a landing between Portland,
Ne, and Cape Cod. before Aug. %.
TO be successful the attacking fleet
must seize some undefended anchor
age between the points named. Port
land harbor being included, but not
Caseo bay, and hold il for six hours
without being ousted by a superior
force. The instructions define the
harbor seized as one that must be
capable of gun and mine defense, with
not less than six fathoms of water
anchorage for several large ships and
in all respects suitable for an advance
base for an enemy's feet. Including
heavy ships.
Under the instructions defining the
character of the harbor he must seize,
Commander Pillsbury is much restrict
ed. The Prairie. which is the heaviest
draught vessel in his fleet. draws
slightly under twenty-six feet, the
Panther eighteen feet two inches and
the supply twenty feet.
Chances Against Pillsbury.
Naval officers have generally agreed
that the chances against the white"
squadron, in the game which is on,
are very great, and that practically
its only chance of success will lie in
the existence of a heavy fog. under
cover of which Commander Pillsbury
might slip through the Gordon of
scouts and reach an anchorage in an
undefended port. The distance be-
tween Cape Cod, the southern eXtrem-
ity of the coast defended by Admiral
Higginson's fleet. and Portland. Me-,
is only about 100 miles. In addition
to that torpedo craft and his lightship.
which he could use as scouts and
string all between these points almost
within signal distance with each 9TH
err, while the heavier ships were held
together ready to move at some cen
trail point, Admiral Higginson has sta
toned ensigns all along the shore to
report the enemy the instant it is
sighted. These naval officers will be
reinforced by all marine observers
along the coast.
be III port for six hours without be-
ing confronted with a superior force.
Within that time after the white"
squadron was sighted Admiral Higgin-
son, If he held his heavy ships mid
way between the two extremities of
the line to be defended, at ROckport,
for instance, could reach his enemy by
steaming ten or eleven knots an hour
FROM Cape Ann, which is just outside,
af to cd iS only rtxr-
two and d half miles, and from Cape
Ann to Elizabeth light, outside of
Portland. IS only fifty-eight miles.
Some Restrictions
Another feature of the situation
which viii initiate against the chances
of the white" squadron is the instruc-
ton which requires Commander Pills
bury to enter IAN undefended harbor,"
one with deep water approaches,
with six fathoms" of water, one capa-
BILE of defense by gums and Mines"
and one in which heavy ships could
anchor. These restrictions Will confine
him to at least dozen harbors, among
them Portland, Portsmouth, ROckport,
Salem and ProvincetOwn. None of the
many other places, like NewburypOrt,
Ipswich. Anniquan. Gloucester, Man
chester, Beverly, Marblehead, above
Boston, or Plymouth, Barnstable and
other ports below, WOULD be available.
A full moon is also another factor
against the enemy's success. Under
the circumstances, the naval experts
generally agree that an attempt to
strike the coast during the daytime
would be foolhardy, for the attacking
fleet. but at night, with very thick
weather, it might be possible for Com
mander Pillsbury, with his ships dark
ened, TO creep in, pass the scouts and
quietly anchor without being reported
until too late for Admiral Higginson
to reach him with a superior force
The speed of Commander Pillsbury's
fastest ship. the Prairie. is 14.9 knots
the Panther can make fourteen, but
the Supply only nine and half, so
that IL the feet is kept together, as
his directions read, the speed of his
squadron cannot be more than its
slowest unit. namely: nine and half
knots. If sighted outside, therefore,
by one OF the swift torpedo boats.
which can make from twenty to TWEEN
ty-five knots an hour. the scout could
scoot away to the nearest land-point
and report the enemy to Admiral Hig-
ginson. who could be on his way 10
intercept him before the latter could
reach his destination.