The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-25

~Rockport. Mass, Aug. zo.-Ine naNai
search problem on the New England
coast was terminated at $40 o'clock yes
terday morning by the signal Surrender,
dema nded unconditional" from Rear Ad-
miral Higginson's flagship, and the reply.
Accept surrender from the fore truck
of the Prairie, Commander Piilsbury's
flagship The battle between the Blue.
or defending squadron. and the White or
attacking squadron, was thus quickly
ended eight miles south Of Thatcher's
island. The enemy had most sgnally
failed to make a harbor. having for Its
objective Salem.
A preponderance of fighting strength.
relatively 81 points. represented by the
battleships Kearsage. Alabama and
Massachusetts,. Scorpion and torpedo
boat had overwhelmed the 10 points rep
resented by the auxiliary cruisers Prai-
RE, Panther and supply. To speak from
q theoretic standpoint, the White squad
ron was entirely destroyed by the guns
OF the defending battleships. Thus on
the fourth night the game OF naval
strategy was brought to an end, II hay-
. ing covered a period OF unceasing toll,
sleepless nights of anxious and weary
vigil, and of grave uncertainty to It's
participants.
WHITE SQUADRON DESTROYED.
The destruction of Pillsburys squad
ron occurred at a point just within the
outer limit Of Gloucester harbor; not over
eight miles southerly from Thatcher's ISL
and. of which had been anchored since
Wednes sday, when the war game was de-
clared open, the three powerful battle
ships OF the Blue squadron.
The surrounding and putting out OF
action OF the squadron In charge Of
Commander Piusbury was the culIninat-
ing incident OF one of the most inter-
<sting chapters In the peace history OF
the American navy. For the placing In
operation OF the moneuvres OF the war
ship or the coast OF New England the
navy had long prepared itself and had
long looked forward TO with keen ancipa-
ton.
The mimic war was the outcome of the
belief that the rapidly growing navy
ohould have some opportunity OF engag-
ing In practice. In tactics and In STRAIT
sgy. In brief, with all conditions OF a
state OF war.
at Washington two squadrons were u
be put into the game. one the Blue, the
defending feet, and the other, the
White, TO be a hostile feet bent upon ef
fecting an anchorage IN some unprotect-
cd harbor on the coast from Cape Eliza
beth 10 Cape Cod opposed all the time by
thc irst-named feet. This anchorage had
90 be maintained against the defender
for q period OF six hours.
Commander Pillsburys White squadron
consisted OF auxiliary cruisers Prairie
(flsgship). Panther and Supply The two
former boats were each assigned ten
points Of fighting strength. while the
supply was assumed TO represent five
points
SUPERIOR IN NUMBER.
Admiral Higginson's feet was actually
superior In the number OF It's members
and by the same arrangement made as
20 the Pillsbury ships II represented a
grand total OF 81 points OF strength. The
kearsage Alabama and Massachusetts,
battleships, were given 90 tho cruisers
Brooklyn and Olympia each. the Ley.
DER and Montgomery. Gloucester. May
.nower and Scorpion points each. whils
q number OF TORPEDO hoatg made ur
the remaining numbers. To win in this
mimic war the Blue squadron had 10 brins
against the attacking vessels. as II did
early. warehps superior in their com.
ibined assumed hghting power
Each side had the right 20 capture In.
1ividual craft Of the other feet BY over.
coming thcm In point Of strength, and
,under the rules OF the game the captured
vessels were 20 retire altogether from ths
Geld Of action
In the defeat OF Pillsburs the defence
with three bsttieships, with the Scorpion
and with n single torpedo boat wa.
valued az a points, 80 that the balanc,
was against the attacking squadron
Throughout the mimic war there wa,
placed In operation a system of cons
defence which was admittedly of credi
~ those who engaged IN H.
The anal event Of these war move.