The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-22
FLEET GOING TO War GAMES.
BIG SHIPS START soon; TORPEDO
BOtTS on THE NAY.
some ~ the Problems That tho Manru,res
Arc Designed 20 SOLVE General Board
Of the Navy u Now Planning the
winter Campaign In Washington.

WASHINGTON. Oct 2i.-All the pre-
liminary arrangements have been made
by the Navy Department for the fleet
manPuyres 10 be held in the West Indies
this winter The torpedo boat Hotilla has,
already started for the place If operations.
and in a few days the movements outward
Of some Of the large ships which are 10 have
part in the war games 10 he played will
begin.
Orders have been sent out by the Navy
Department 10 the several flag officers
concerned, directing that the manr ivres
shall be initiated with search or scoutng
problem similar to tina, which was engaged
in Last August of the New England coast.
In the repetition Of this practice in the
West Indies the vessels Of the European
and South Atlantic stations will be COM
bined as hostile fleet under the command
Of Rear Admiral Sumner. with Rear Ad-
miral Crowninsheld rs second in command
This fleet will be opposed TO the powerful
North Atlantic naval force under command
OF Rear Admiral Higginson.
The Depart ment's orders are that the
European and South Atlantic squadrons
shall rendezvous about Nov IS in the Gulf
Of Paria. Here Rear Admiral Sumner.
the senior officer. will assume command of
the combined forces. In the early part uf
December. probably on the 5th of that
month. this amalgamated division viii
leave the Gulf Of Paria 10 undertake its
part IN the scouting problem, which will
he, however, on much larger scale than
that OF last August. The North Atlantic
squadron will have its headquarters az
LUlebra Island, near Porto Rico, and it,,
purpose will be TO prevent Summers force
from capturing base to be used for often
sive PURPOSES in Porto Rico or Culebra.
The details of the problem have not been
prepared, but will he completed soon and
be forwarded to Admirals Higginsou and
Sumner
Upon the conclusion of the earch problem
which will last until Dec. 10, all the vessel,
| participating will assemble under the stu
| preme command of Admiral DcH ey, " no vii
| raise his flag on the cruiser yacht Mayi.owe r
| IN the anchorage on the south side of t,.euIa
| Islands. In the ad JaCent bay. known ar
| Great HarDor. the GOLFERS. torpedo boat
hotiila, tugs and smaller auxiliary vessels
| Will be anchored
The beginning of the movement of the
! larger vessels to the West Indies will com,
within week, when the cruiser Olympia
flagship Of Rear Admiral Coghan, viii
leave New York for Porto Rico and Cuebra
accompanied by the tugs Fortune and Lev
| den. The Olympia IL ready TO go now, but
has been delayed on account of failure tc
get sufficient coal. The Navy Department
| is hopeful, however. that she will start on
the 24th
The GOLFERS Lebanon. Brutus and Sterling
| with six coal harges to 60 from Norfolk
and two coal / ar ges 10 J pin later from Pensa-
cola, will leave Hampton Roads on Nov.
! under convoy Of the gunboats Bancroft and
! Detroit. On the way 10 the West Indies
! they will probably engage in what il called
convoy problem, with the Olympia repre-
senting a powerful ship Of al enemy.
Upon the arrival Of the Olympia at Gu
Zebra. Rear Admiral Coghlan will imme-
diately assume charge Of the work of pre-
| pairing anchorages and landing places there
To be used by the ships and the marines
during the period of the manpuvres.
Heavy mooring buoys, mooring tackle
and pilotage buoys. with lumber and tents
| for the quarters ashore TO be occupied by
! the marines, will he taken on the colliers
| The gunboat Wasp will join the Olympia
! from Pensacola and serve as a tender 10
/ that flagship. The tugs and converted
I yachts to be sent to he IVES, Indies will b,
used during the manpuvres a. tenders and
/ picket boats.
/ The general board of the navy which
J il arranging the problems TO be carried out
/ by the combined squadrons and the torpedo
boat fotilla IL now in session in Washing
ton, Rear Admiral Higginson, who will
| command the principal squadron to par
! tlclpate In the nanpuyree, IL here in con-
| sultation with the board.