The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-21
A MIMIC WAR GAME ]. S. YANDIVER DEAD
1t Is Being Played on the Atlantic
Coast. go. - z.~s
.PILLsBURY ATTACKS (
And Admiral HiggtnsOn's Squadron
Is Trying to Head
Him Off.

Rockport, Mass, Aug. H.-The New
England coast from Portland harbor to
Cape Cod is on war basis. The men VINO
are the most interested are the ohcers
and crews of the vessels of the North
Atlantic fleet. which REAR Aonlll "A h1le
ginson commands.
To mt the situation in a few words 1t
Is to say that somewhere In the Atlantic
is a feet supposed by the North Atlantic
feet to be a hostile one which, by strategy
purely. intends reaching the New England
shore.
On the other hand Rear Admiral Hig-
gtnson is to use his fleet to stop that
enemy. 1t Is a war game to be worked out
with real men manning actual hghtlng
machines.
The question which confronted Admiral
Higginson as he studied his maps on the
Kearsarge last night, was the location and
hour OF attack of the opposing squadron.
He has his naval intelligence bureau con-
Meeting all points along the shore from
Portland to Provincetown, and the cen
trail point is in shed on the shore OF
the harbor Of refuge.
BY telephone communication the nag
ship can be informed of the approach OF
any strange vessel off the coast and IN
such an event the admiral can quickly as
semble his fleet, proceed to that point and
endeayor to crush the enemy.
Highland Light, Mass, Aug. I-The
cruisers Brooklyn, Olympia and Montgom-
cry and torpedo boat were lying off Race
Point at the entrance to ProvincetoWn
harbor early to-day. Shortly before 6:3o
the Brooklyn steamed across the bay,
heading towards Plymouth, and at the
same time large vessel, taken to be the
Alabama, was steaming In rapidly to the
southeast.
Rockport, Mass, Aug 21.-All conditions
at the beginning Of the day were consid-
cred as favoring the defending fleet, as
apparently it would be inviting destruc-
tion were Commander Pillsbury to at
tempt to approach the coast under the
clear sky and with absolutely no mist
or haze to obstruct vision for miles and
miles at sea. Nevertheless the coast
guard ships were on the move early in
the morning. Off towards Cape Cod were
the Brooklyn and the Olympia. The bat
tleships Kearsarge, Massachusetts and
Alabama were outside Straitsmouth Point
near Thatchers Island, their position
being at about the center of the line OF
defense. The Mayflower and the Scorpion
were on duty off the Isles Of Shoals and
the other vessels were stationed at more
distant points or were moving to and fro
acting as patrols along the picket line.
Just after s o'clock the torpedo boat
Bagley was sent into this port to get
dispatches.
The telegraph and telephone were very
busy to-day with the transmission of re-
ports from various signal stations. There
IS not a point from Portland to Province
town where extended sea observation can
be obtained, but what Is manned by
wat chmen from the vessels of Admiral
Higgnson. Each station has been heard
of from time to time and those in charge
of the central naval station here are sat
isfed the signal system is as nearly per-
feet as it can be- Not only are the i'm
portant points occupied by men from the
warships, but In some cases marines anC
signal men are with them and they have
the cooperation Of the lighthouse keep
ers and of the various life saving crews
All reports received up to noon to-da.
were the same, to the effect that nothing
had been seen Of the enemy"
"spies" at Provincetown.
The first intimation of anything came
from Provincetown where it was sus
pected that an officer had been landed
Investigation led to the belief that a
other places and even at this station
such spies had been sent This prompte
to even closer secrecy, If possible, thai
had been maintained before and to or
der that sharp watch be kept for sus
piciOus PERSONS.