Evening star., 1902-08-27
RESULT IS VALUABLE
Admiral Higginson's Report
on Initial ManueVers.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY
NO EXPENSE SHOULD BE SPARED
TO HASTEN ADOPTION.
Torpedo Boat Flotilla Specially Com
mended-Special Orders to observ-
ers Under His Command.

The Navy Department made public today
Rear Admiral Higginson's official report
upon the search problem which was con-
Quoted by the Blue fleet, under his own
command, and the White squadron, under
Commander Pilsbury, off the New England
coast. The admiral says:
Il have the honor to report that at $40
am of the 24th instant, off Magnolia,
Mass, the Blue fleet, under my command,
captured the White fleet, under the COM
mand of Commander John E. PillSbury, U.
S. navy, after four days of anxious watch
ing. Commander Pillsbury's fleet was def
cient in speed. His evasion of the outside
scouts and arrival on the coast undetected
was, l think, very creditabe to him.
Valuable Information Obtained.
THE result of the operation, in regard to
my own force, was to gather very valuable
information for the intelligence office con-
corning the capabilities of defense and
means of communication along the stretch
of New England coast from Cape Cod to
Portland. This information is valuable and
should be preserved for future use. I di-
rected the observers at the different sta
tions to answer the questions on the in
closed list in regard to the point at which
they were stationed.
The line of coast over which I had
charge was divided into five districts, each
in charge of an officer, provided with scout
ing vessels and number of observers at
shore stations. These districts all reported
by telephone or telegraph or by whatever
means of communication they could estab-
lish with the central district at Rockport,
where Ensign Berry, U. S. navy, was in
charge of the central office and transmit
ted to me by means of steam launches tor
pedo boats and signals from ashore what
ever information was received.
THE reports of the district commanders
and observers will be forwarded to the de-
partment for it's information.
Operations Beneficial.
Il can only say that the operations have
been very beneficial in training the young
men in scouting and as observers 1 have
already written to the department about the
valuable service rendered by the torpedo
boat fiotila under the command of Lieut.
Chandler.
Il take this occasion, however to urge
upon the department the establishment
upon all vessels of the navy of a wireless
telegraphy outfit. In my opinion it is of
lncalculable value, and no expense should
be spared to hasten its adoption.
The squadron has been withdrawn to
Menemsha Blight preparatory to the COM
bined army and navy maneuvers."
The special order, referred to in Admiral
Higginson's report, which has been issued
to the Observers who We're at various sta
tions along the coast during the progress of
the war game is as follows:
Special Orders to Observers.
THE commanding officer of the scouting
districts and all observers will make re-
ports on the search problem as far as their
special duties extended In making up their
| reports they will answer the following
questions as far they pertain to the
duty they were employed upon:
% What means of Communica ton did
you establish?
"(2) What other means would you sug-
gest toutside of wireless telegraphy)?
"C3) What difficulties did yon encounter
in keeping up the communications or of
reporting to stations?
90 Could you reach all places by tele-
phone and what centers did you have to
go through?
90 What stations did you esta ablish, and
were they efficient?
90 What other stations would you es-
tablish now after the experience of this
problem?
% What accommodations were found
for lodging and subsistence?
"(O What should be the outfit of stations
to suit the conditions you found?"