The Washington times., 1902-01-19
DEF ENCES OF
NEW YORK.
War Game Planned for a
Practical Demonstration.
THE MILITIA TO PARTICIPATE.
VIII Conduct the Defence of the
trOpOliS Against Naval Contingent
The Plan Suggested by Assistant
Secretary of War Sanger.

The long cherished project of military
tion of plans for the defence of the east
ern or Long Island approach to New
York is about to be carried into effect.
There has been much discussion of this
subject, and several plans of defence have
been considered. but their practicability
has been questioned.
One plan called for the passage of an
American feet up the East River through
He'll Gate and into the sound, and vice
versa, in order that fleet might meet
an enemy's naval Iorce at whatever point
1t appeared to attack New York - the
Sandy Hook approach or the sound ap-
proach.
BattIcship Through He'll Gate.
Capt. Henry n. Manner, of the battle
ship Massachusetts, recently demonstrat-
ed that this plan was practical by taking
his big vessel through He'll Gate. The
Navy Department did not approve Of the
risk and issued an order that no battleship
should hereafter pass through that
treacherous strait without special per-
mission.
The plan OF practical demonstration
does not provide for the passage of heavy
ships of war through He'll Gate, but con-
templates only the defence of the eastern
approach to New York That it will be
carried into effect is regarded as GER
tain.
Colonel Sanser's Suggestion.
The suggestion that a practical expo
Cit he, fr;u of ha NJ ha f.
ern defences to resist hostile naval at
tack originated with the War Depart
ment. Assistant Secretary of War
Sanger, in letter to the Secretary of
the Navy, proposed that the Brooklyn
naval militia battalion be detailed to as
sist i'll carrying out a joint military and
naval war game. which the War Depart
ment was anxious to try.
Nr. Sanger's letter was referred to the
general or strategy board of the navy
which will consider his suggestions at it's
meeting on Tuesday. That the board will
approve the request of Mr.. Sarge is ap
parently certain.
Now Planning the Game.
The War Departments plans for the
game have been entrusted to Brig. Gen.
Wallace Randolph, chief of artillery,
United States Army. He is In correspon
dence with organizations which are to
take part in the practical demonstration.
The central idea Of the game is to have
a feet of warships attempt to force its
way past the defences at the eastern en-
trance TO Long Island Sound. These de-
fences are on Fishers, Plum, and Gull
Islands. which practically form a chain
across the entrance.
Militia to Participate.
Seven hundred men will be required for
manning the mortar and dynamite bat
teries and the long-range rifle batteries
at these places. AS there are not enough
regular coast defence artillery men avail
able Ior the purpose, the Twelfth New
York Artillery. of Brooklyn, and the First
Massachusetts Artillery. of Boston, have
been asked to assist and have accepted
the invitation.
1t is intended to have the naval force
do its work without any knowledge of its
plans being conveyed to the army con-
tingent. The naval vessels will probably
have their rendezvous in the fine harbor
OF GARDENERS Bay. There will be night
and day attacks, and the artillerymen
will man their guns at all times. This is
to be the first of a series OF war games
In which the army and navy will CO.
operate.