Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-23

the Limiting Of the Points Of Attack
to Less Than a Dozen Harbors-Nav-
al Intelligence Bureaus Along Coast
Washington, Aug. 21.-The lnimic
naval war began ut noon yesterday.
Admiral Higginson and Commander
PillsDury, in command Of the rival
fleets, respectively designated Blue"
and white" the latter under COM
mand OF Commander I'illsbury, being
the attacking fleet, were supplied with
confidential instructions which went in
to effect at noon.
The problem for the "White' fleet,
which is ut sea. Is to effect landing
between Portland, Me-, and Cape Cod
before Aug. %. TO be successful the
attacking fleet must seize some unde-
Tended anchorage between the points
named-porland harbor being in
cluded, but not CascO Bay--and hold
1t for six hours without being opposed
by Il superior force. The instructions
define the harbOr seized as one that
must be capable of gun and mine de-
fense, 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 fleet, ill.,
Guiding heavy ships.
Under the instructions defining tie
character of the harbOr he must seize,
Commander Pillsbury Is considerably
restricted. The Prairie, which is the
heaviest draught vessel in his fleet,
draws slightly under % feet, the Pf n
ther 1S feet. inches, and the Supply
20 feet.
Naval officers here generally agree
that the chances against the white
squadron are very great. and that prac
tically it's only chance of success would
lie in the existence of a heavy fog TN
der cover of which Commander Pills
bury might slip through the Gordon of
scouts and reach an anchorage in an
undefended port.
To win the white squadron must be
in port for six hours without being con-
frOnted with a superior force. Within
that time after the white squadron was
sighted Admiral HigginsOn. If he held
his heavy ships midway between the
two eXtremities of the line to be de-
Tended, at ROckpOrt for instance, Ould
reach his enemy by steaming 10 or II
knots an hour. From Cape Ann, which
is just outside Of Rockport, to Cape Cod,
is only 42k miles, and from Cape Ann 20
Elizabeth light, outside of Portland, is
only 50 miles.
Another feature Of the situation
which will initiate against the .hanccs
of the white squadron is the instruction
which requires Commander Pillsbury
to enter ian undefended harbor," one
with deep water-approach. with six
fathOms of water" one capable of de-
fense 'by guns and mines" and one in
which heavy ships could anchor. These
restrictions will cOnfine him to less than
dozen harbOrs, among them Portland.
Portsmouth. RockpOrt. Salem. and
ProvincetOwn None of the many ether
places, like Newburyport, Ipswich,
Annisquan, Gloucester, Manchester,
Beverly. Marblehead. above Boston, or
Plymouth, Barnstable, and the ,.her
ports below, would be available A full
moon is also another factor against the
enemy's success.
ROckpOrt, Mass, Aug. 21.-The New
England coast from Portland harb0r to
Cape Cod Is on a war basis. III Is is
not condition of fact, but of theory.
Admiral HigGinson has under his COM
mand 20 vessels consisting of line of
battleshfps, cruisers, converted yachts
and torpedo boats. Theoretically lis
fleet Is placed at 80 points, while that
of Commander Pillsbury made up of
three cruisers. is credited with only
half the fighting strength.
Admiral HigginsOn moved his feet
out Of the Harbor of Refuge here at
noon yesterday and went in search OF
the enemy. The picket line las been
established and mimic war may begin
at any moment.
The question which confronted Ad-
miral HigginsOn as he studied his iraps
on the kearsarge last night was the To-
cation and hour Of attack of the OPP OS-
ing squadron. He has his naval in
telligence bureau connecting all points
along the shore from Portland TO Prov
incetown, and the central point Is in a
shed on the shore of the Harbor of
Refuge. BY telephone cOnmunica-
ton the fagships can be informed of
the appearance Of any strange vessel
Off the coast, and in such an event he
can quickly assemble his feet, proceed
to that point and endeavOr to crush the
enemy. All was activity OH the de-
Tending squadron last night, although
the night was one of the most beautiful
of the summer, almost making 1t certain
that Commander Pillsbury would not
be so rash as to attempt to run into the
coast when his craft could be seen
miles away.
Beginning at midnight the defend
ing squadron put into use an elaborate
system of coast defense. nOta bly, The use
Of all the lighthouses from Portland to
Barnstable on Cape Cod. In addition
Tariff and Trusts.
Rockland, Me-, Aug. q. Secretary Of