Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-30
ALL ARE READY FOR BATTLE
Land and Sea Forces Await Action in
Counterfeit War;
MACARTHUR HAS LOADED SHELLS HID
Takes All PrecautiOn 60 any
one Being Hurt In the Maneuve
Now in Progress on
Jersey Coast.

NENfONlt ~. L. aug. Gos-lut Nibhb w"
fore the battle finds the army Of defense
in the several ports along the shore be-
tween New Bedford and, the east entrance
to Long Island Sound practically In readi-
ness to repel the attack Of the hostile feet
under the command Of Admiral Higginson.
The only thing that remains is the addi-
tional armament on both sides, Massachu-
sets heavy artillery for the shore, and
the Massachusetts,, Connecticut and New
York navy militia for the feet. These or
CARNATIONS will arrive tomorrow afternoon.
The artillery will be at once distributed
among the posts at the entrance Of Nara
gansett Bay and also at New Bedford.
As to the naval militia, the gunboats
Mayhower and Scorpion will be here in
readiness to receive the Massachusetts, and
Connecticut troops, the New York naval
militia arriving on Supply. These three
boats will Immediately leave for sea and
the militia will be distributed among the
vessels of the fleet. 1t is expected that the
fleet of Admiral Higginson will disappear
from the coast som time tomorrow night
and will not be heard from again until the
attack is made.
The principal event today in this vicin-
ity was the arrival Of Major General
Macarthur, Of the Department
OF the East, on a tour of inspection. He
was received at Fort Adams late in the
afternoon and a long consultation was held
this evening at headquarters. After his
inspection Of three forts defending Nara
gansett Bay, General Macarthur wi. leave
for New Bedford, probably tomorrow after
noon.
where wig-Wagging Will he Done.
A large number of signal stations reach
- r.
end Of Rhode Island, which is practically
the city OF Newport, have been established
by the army. These stations are all in tele-
graphic communication with headquarters at
Fort Adams. A wireless telegraph system
has also been established between Fort Ad-
ans and the mainland, and also with the
forts on Canonicut Island and Dutch Island,
Fort Wetherill on the former and Fort
Greble on the latter.
The main reliance Of the army Of defense
In this vicinity is the searchlight station at
Prices Neck, very close to the life-saving
station. 1t is hoped that this station will
be able to pick up, by means Of its power
full light, any vessel Of the enemy. 1t Is
also a very exposed point and may be the
scene OF an attack, with the object of cut
tins the wires.
The mines at the entrance Of Narragansett
Bay are practically in position and the UNI
pires have charts Of the same. These UNI
pires and observers all left for their differ
emit positions early this afternoon and to-
night are expected to be ready for duty.
Explains the Walt.
The date for the commencement Of hos
tilities is at midnight tonight, but the actual
warfare will not begin until midnight on
Sunday. The forty-eight hours are allowed
Admiral Higginson to obtain some advan-
tageous position of shore.
1t is learned that on Wednesday night
Colonel Hasbrough informed the local forts
tina he would try to run their searchlights
as a test. Going out to sea he lay in under
the Narragansett shore and under it's shadow
tried to creep up on Fort Greble. He failed,
as he hoped he would, being picked up at a
point where the guns at the fort could have
done terrible execution to a real enemy.
Outside Of the mortar emplacements at
Fort Adams a camp has been established
for the use of detachments, so that In
case OF alarm the guns may be manned in
stantly.
AS far as can be learned from the vari-
Gus stations in this vicinity, preparations
are practically complete. Tests have been
made and everything is declared in salts
factory condition. Especially is this true
Of the signal service. 1t is stated by those
familiar with the department that there Is
no better outfit than they have here.
There lie material sufficient for q complete
duplication, II necessary, In case Of
trouble.
MacArthur Takes Precautions.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-Carrying out
the plan to have the combined army and
navy maneuvers duplicate the conditions
Of actual war as far as training Of the
personnel is concerned, an order has been
issued that the maneuvers are to be re-
garded as actual field operations. There
fore every officer connected Herewith is
expected to act Just as he would In case
of actual war. This is with the view Of
deriving the greatest benefit from the OPP
erations. The officers are especially en-
Joined not TO comment on the maneuvers
outside their line Of work. With a view
of preventing any accidents which might
result from the presence in the soldiers
belt of a ball cartridge, General MacAr-
thur has directed all company officers to
take away all such ammunition. The same
rule Is TO apply 10 the ammunition chest
Of small ealiber machine guns.
No personal salutes will be fred during