New-York tribune., 1902-08-21
THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES
PLANS TO CHECK LANDINGS
ON NEW ENGLAND COAST.
HIGGINSON AND PILLSBURY PITTED
AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE
GAME OF WAR
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.1


Washington Aug 2o-The test of the naval
defence of Boston and vicinity. which has long
been one of the chief problems of the War Col
lege at Newport. began at noon to-day. and will
end not later than noon next Monday The
enemy's squadron. known the White. under
Command PiIsbury. to win. must land a force
within forty-fve miles of RoCkport Harbor,
whence the Blue fleet started 10 sea to-day.
The big Blue defence fleet is divided into two
heavy squadrons. under the direct command
of Admiral Hisginson and the other. subordinate
to him. under Rear Admiral COghan-
The confidential orders to the White and Blue
fleets were made public at the Navy Depart
ment to-day. in order that the public could gain
adequately intelligent idea of the manoeuvres
and not be wholly dependent upon the mislead-
ing guesses that have been current in the last
week. These instructions and the other de-
tails of the problem. wei the points that
will count and the rules that must be observed.
are clearly set forth in the following official
memorandum:
Under the instructions defining the character
of the narbcr he must seize. Commander Pills
bury is considerably restricted The Prairie.
which is the heaviest draught vessel in his feet,
draws slightly under % feet, the Panther Is
feet = inches and the Supply 20 feet.
CHANCES AGAINST PILLsBURY.
Naval officers here generally agree that the
| chances against the White squadron in the
! game which is great. and that prac-
ticaIly its only chance of success would lie IN
| the existence of a heavy fog. under cover OF
/ which Commander PiIlsbury might slip through
! the Gordon of scouts and reach ar anchorage
/ in an undefended port. The distance between
Cape Cod the southern extremity Of the coast
/ defended by Admiral Higgfnson's feet. and
Portland. Me. is only about 100 miles. In ad-
| dition to the torpedo craft and his lighter
, ships which he could as scouts and string
along between these points almost within signal
ling distance with each other. while the heavier
ships were held together ready to move at some
| central point, Admiral Higginson has stationed
ensigns all along the shore TO report the enemy.
| These naval officers will be reinforced by all
! marine observers along the coast. To win, the
| White squadron must be in port for six hours
| without being confronted with superior force
| Within that time after the White squadron was
i sighted Admiral Higginson. if he held his heavy
/ ships midway between the two extremities OF
| the line 10 be defended-at Rockport. for in
| stance-could reach his enemy by steaulins ten
/ or eleven knots an hour From Cape Ann
which is just outside of Rockport to Cape Cod
i is only forty-two and half miles. and from
| Cape Ann to Elizabeth Light outside of Port
land. is only ffty-eight miles
! Another feature Of the situation which viii
| initiate against the chances of the White
! SQUADRON is the instruction which requires
/ Commander PnIsbury TO enter an undefendsd
! harbor' one with deep water approach with
/ six fathorns of water. one capable Of defence
! by guns and mines. and one in which heavy
( ships could anchor. These restrictions will cor
! fine him TO less than a dozen harbors. an1onS
/ them Portland Portsmouth Rockport. Salem
/ and Provincetown-
| None of the many other places. like New
j buryport Ipswich Annisquam, Gloucester. Man
| chester. Beverly Marblehead. above Boston, or
1 Plymouth. BarnstabIe and the other ports be-
| low would be available
BEST CHANCE UNDER COVER
| In the circumstances the naval experts gen.
! during the daytime would be foolhardy for the
| attacking fleet. but that at night. with thick
| weather it might be possible for Commander
! PiIlsburv with his ships darkened, 20 creep in.
| pass the scouts and quietly anchor without
/ being reported unit! too late for Admiral His-
| gtnson 10 reach him with a superior force
| Commander Pillsbury is said TO be one OF the
most resourceful men in the service, and If not
! c7upht al sea bv such an overwhelming squad
| ron as Admiral Higginson will undoubtedly send
in search of him. will spare effort in effectins
| a landing. He has studied this problem at the
Newport War College. and was selected for his
present command on account Of the great STRAIT
| egic skill in coping with theoretical conditions
/ He is also thoroughly familiar with his ships
| COMPANY and on one occasion last April in
| Guantanamo Harbor made ma agnificent display
bv landing five hundred and fifty men armed