The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-27
NEXT GREAT GAME OE war.
Army and Navy to be Pitted
Against Each Other.

New York, August 25.-Major Gen
eral Macarthur made public today the
text OF the rules agreed upon for the
coming army and navy manoeuvres.
The whole schemeof operation is based
upon the assumption that, in anticip pa
tion of declaration of hostilitles, a
strong hostile feet, without torpedo
boats, must make sudden dash on
the eastern entrance of Long Island
Sound to secure naval base, in the
expectation of finding the land forces,
in the absence of declaration of war,
in somewhat unprepared condition.
The periods of the manoeuVres are
to be divided into two distinct phases
period of preparation and period OF
hostilities. During the first period 1t
is intended that there shall be day
attack and a night attack by the feet,
and if possible bombaldment and the
forcing of passage. During the en-
suing period mines and obstructions
may be placed by the defence, and the
conditions Of war are to be followed as
closely as possible.
On the part of the army the infor-
nation to be gained relates to the gen
eral efficiency, down to the smallest
detail, of all that appertains to the
construction and armament of the land
defences and the training Of the forces
manning them. The navy will concern
itself with the best means Of obtaining
ranges, the effect of mines and OBJ
structions, formations ofBattack, eff
cheney of signals, the use Of search
lights and the general control of artil-
lery fire.
Umpires of both services are to be
detailed to all ships and forts, and
will report to a board of arbitration
of five officers, whose Judgment will
be final. In addition a number of ob-
servers will act with each of the forces
as the representatives of the other.
The period of preparation will be
from midnight, August 29, to mid
night, August 81. the period of hostil-
tiles extending from the latter hour
to noon, September g. The defence
will consist of Forts Rodman, Adams,
Wetherill, Greble, Mansfield, Wright,
Niche, Terry and the fort on Gard
ner's Point. There will be no floating
defences. The attack will consist OF
about fifteen ships, Of which five viii
rank as battle ships, and the rest as
cruisers and gunboats.
The umpires and observers will as
semble at the War College at Newport
on August 81 to discuss the rules and
on August % will be distributed to
their various stations. The naval
militia will embark at Newport on
Angus t30, to be distributed to the
ships. At the close of the manoeuvres
the attacking fleet will pass in review
before the forts.
Elaborate rules are laid down to
estimate the value of the fire of guns
of all calibres so as to determine when
any ship or fort shall be considered to
have been put out of action or sIlencec;,
Ali mines are to be fully connected
and finished with dummy charges and
fuses, the explosion of which will be
supposed to entail the destruction OF
any vessel passing over a mine. NO
communication will be held with the
shore by the fleet except uner flag OF
trucessand no boats will be allowed
alongside the ships of the enemy.
Gen. Greely, chief of the signal OH
ces. arrived here today and will COM
mand that branch of the service.
Every scheme known to the signal
service, including balloons, will be
employed.