The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-18
Plans for Mimic Battle Between
Army and Navy Now We'll Un-
derStOOd--Land Defenders
Show Improvement.

Washington. Aug 1s-secrecy is no
longer thrown around the plans for the
Joint manoeuvres by the officials of the
war and navy departments. There 10 now
nothing to conceal.
Officers who have had most to do with
the planning Of the war game Of which
New York, defended by the forts along
Narragansett bay and at the entrance Oh
Long Island sound. will be the point or
attack of the North Atlantic squadron.
under Rear Admiral Higsinson. from Aug
ust % 20 September 9. have gone to New
port and to other points In the zone OF
war. The ones left behind know nothing
Of the plans and appear to care less.
There was much ado about the prepara-
tions six weeks ago. It was declared that
the conditions of war were to be hmuia-
tad 10 as great q degree as possible All
orders. recommendations ana conferences
in the navy department which hsd any
thing 10 do with the Joint manoeuvres
to be oioaked IN great secrecy.
The authorities intended to make IL as
difficult to obtain advance Information as
~ would be Ia time OF war. but the Inn
nortance of the manoeuvres has dwfndled
10 a sorry Size, and with this diminution
in the scope Of the mimic war has come
n fallinx OF OF interest, especially In the
navy department.
One Of the most important modinoauons.
which detracted greatly from the pracu-
oability OF the operations was the decision
not 10 have the torpedo boat hotilia aug
ment the shore defences. II was deoioeo
that the problem would be too complex
a. the torpedo boats were aiding the forts
along the shore.
RAPIDIrY OF FIRE.
Much of the decision as to victory In
,ns evsnt OF a bombardmept OF any OF
the fortications will be based upon the
rsp,dity of the nre. TIE speed and accu.
racv with which the guns OF Admiral
Dewey's feet were worked was the cause
OF the victory IN Manila bay and tne
same thing was responsible Tor the tr'-
umph over Admiral Cervera.
II was demonstrated last week that the
~arrisons OF the coast defences have ma
tsr,aily improved in their handling OF the
ntr r,,ns This will doubtless be sub
tantial factor In their favor when rear
Admiral Higginson. commanding the
| North Atlantic squadron, attacks roi,t
| wright. Michie. Adams. Rodman. Greoie
| Trumbull and the rest. q the enuanc'
| OF Long island sound and on Narrasan
| sett bay. -
or course, accuracy cannot be deter
| r,ined when projectiles are not useo, ou
| one of the rules on which the umpire'
srii, baso their decisions will be the mum
| ber OF guns fort win be able TO nre De
| fore an attacking battlesniP opens hre'
ira eract armament Of the coast de
t.ncss is always kept seorsA but y
known approximately. At Fort II: @
| Wr,ght there are four 1o-inch and l2-inci
| runs mounted on disappearing gun car
r,a res. together with several or smale
caIibre mounted on disappearing any bar
bette carriages. That these are oapsoie
i he,ne worked with great rapidity ~ evi
Ssnt from the tests made before the dis
annesr,ng gun testing board, which visit
| "a rort Wright fast Tuesday. one or tn
| sygsn,ic i2-inch guns, mounted on dis
| appsaring gun carriage. wss nrea .el
| times. with en- average intervai Oh hf'y
| nine seconds between SHOTS.
This is faster than gunners used TO %
,,,s to Are f,eId guns. A fo-inch gun wa
csed-,h,rty vines. with an average inter
/ -, 80 eftv-three seconds between shots
| ,,t,.r. ata no records OF the excellence o
,h,s work ever having been surpassed
Ons OF the things which has militate'
/ against rapid and accurate operation o
| sssaa guns I'm the past has been the igno
,-a,ca ~ their mechanism on the part o
| ~ coast artiIIerymen and their Officers
/ xa.ry ~ the enlisted men have been re
sr,,,,es within the last year or so. an'
| many officers have been appointed IRON
civil life. But for the period OF the man
oeuvres this drawback has been onset ol
ordering all available ordnance on'cers t'
| the hghting district.
Many OF the best Officers OF the oru
nance bureau will be distributed amonl
the forts, Thus. II there are any breaks
or n any Of the intricate pechanism ol
The guns IL injured. the skilled eye OF th'
ordnance expert will detect II instantly