The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-21
White Squadron VIII Attempt
10 Effect Landing at Un-
protected Port
HIGGINSON'S FLEET IS
TRYING TO LOCATE HIM
PlIlsbury Is at Disadvantage as He
Only has Small Cruisers With
Low Speed Limit-Must slip
by the Scouts.

Rockport, Mass. August zo.-The New
England coast from Portland harbor to
Cape Cod is on a war basis and will be
SO far some time to come. The men
who are the most interested are the Of
ficers and crews of the vessels of the
North Atlantic fleet which Rear Admiral
Higginson commands.
To put the situation in few words. is
to say that somewhere In the Atlantic
is feet supposed by the North At
lantic fleet to be hostile one which,
by stategy purely, intends reaching the
New England shore. On the other hand,
Rear Admiral Eigginson is to use his
fleet to stop that enemy. It is a war
game to be worked out with real men
manning actual fighting machines under
unavoidable conditions Of wind ana
wave. with the probabilities of fog and
storm, and what is more important, the
ever-present danger of disaster on the
reefs and shoals which naturally guaru
much of this coast line.
The war game began at noon when
Rear Admiral Higginson moved his fleet
out of the harbor of refuge here and
went in search of the enemy. Tonight
the picket line has been established and
mimic war without the burning of gun
powder may begin at any moment.
The question which confronted Ad-
miral Higginson as he studied his maps
on the Kearsage tonight was the loca-
tion and hour of attack of the opposing
squadron. He has his naval intelligence
bureau connecting all points along the
shore from Portland to Provincetown
and the central point is in a shed on
the shore of the Harbor of Refuge. BY
telegraph communication the flagship
can be informed of the appearance of
any strange vessel off the coast
All was activity on the defending
squadron. although the night was one
of the most beautiful of the summer,
making it almost certain that Com
mander Pilsbury would not be so rash
as to attempt to run into the coast when
his craft could be seen miles away.
First of Series.
This is the first series of maneuvers
In which the ships will participate and
1t will be under the direction of the navy
department alone. Such practice as fol-
lows the conclusion of this first contest
will be the joint work OF the army and
navy department.. Commander Pisburys
fleet, which is known as the white squad
ron, sailed from Proyincetown on Mon
day and is now at sea. It's present where
abouts is unknown to Admiral Higginson,
whose force is known as the blue SQUAD
ron.
It was understood that the latter fleet.
which made its appearance in this har-
Dor last Satui day, would under the rules
of the contest remain here until after
noon today. At any time after that hour
Admiral Higginson was free to sail in
search of the enemy.
Must Seize Port.
It will be the object of the white squad
ron to effect a landing at some unfortified
place along the coast as soon as possible
after the fixed hour and occupy the po-
stion without interference for at least
six hours. 1t is the duty of the defend
ing fleet to prevent the invaders from
accomplishing their purpose. If Admiral
Higginson finds the hostile vessels before
they get within striking distance the
victory is with him. If Pillsbury with
his ships should elude Higginson and
land his forces he must occupy the place
he has captured and be free from duty
during the six-hours period agreed upon.
If he is located before this limit expires
1t is a defeat for him.
The first series of maneuvers is purely
technical and there win be no semblance
of an engagement between the ships. No
shots will be fired except possibly upon
the discovery of the hostile fleet at night.
when the firing would be entirely for
signalling purposes and to announce the
discovery of Pillsburys squadron.
Hlgglnson Under Way.
Admiral Higginson lost no time in get
ting under way after the hour agreed
upon for the beginning of the contest
had arrived. During the forenoon
ships were getting up steam, and about
IL o'clock they began to weigh anchor.
and about half an hour later all except
the flagship Kearsarge had started out.
First the Mayfiower and one of the
torpedo boats headed outside the break
water, bearing toward the north. A sec
ono torpedo boat followed toward the
northeast. The Brooklyn and the Olym-
pia moved out together, with the Ala
bama astern of the latter and the Massa-
chusetts at the end of the line. These
ships seemed to make directly east. Just
before noon a torpedo boat came in from
the south, and after joining another
vessel of the same class both steamed
out together, accompanied by the Scor-
pion.
The Thornton and Gloucester went out
o'clock. At the same moment the Mont
gomery, accompanied by the Leyden,
moved out to the southwest. This left
the Kearsarge and one torpedo boat in
side the breakwater. The ships, after
going two miles off shore dropped their
speed and laid to, apparently waiting for
the Kearsarge to join them.
Commander Pilsbury's squadron in
cluaes the auxiliary cruisers Prairie,
Panther and Supply.
Rear Admiral Higginson had his flag
ship. the Kearsarge, and two other bat
tleships, the Massachusetts, ana the Ala
hama. and the cruisers Brooklyn, Olym-
MIA and Montgomery, besides seven tor
nedo boats. two unarmed gunboats. two
tugs and the converted yachts Mayflower
and Gloucester. The gunboats are the
scorpion and Peoria.
While the vessels of the white squad
ron are understood to represent an at
taclxing force Of great power, in reality
f-a hardly be compared with the de-