Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-23
ENGAGEMENT is IMMINENT
Defending Squadron in Nook War Thinks
Enemy Near.
WHO SEA cOMPLlcATts CONDITIONS
FIagship's Launches Have Dimculty
In Making Landing-crsWs Are
stiII Enjoying strenuous EH-
fstence Night and Day,

ROGhfOftl, MISS, aug. kS.-Commanoef
PiilsburY and his feet OF three auxiliary
s~ruisCss are still at sea. Unless tho com
mander OF the white squadron makes an ef-
fort to reach a harbor within sixty hours
from midnight his Efforts in the war game
will have failed, for theoretically It will be
considered that his ships have sunk or he
has found that the blockade established by
Admiral Higginson from Portland to Cape
ood cannot be broken.
II is only fair to say that naval experts
believe that Admiral Higginson's defense Is
good. Everything today certainly favored
an attack by the enemy. but no scout OF the
blu squadron reported signs OF Commander
Ptisbury's feet. Fog and storm swept the
soast during the afternoon and though for a
while tonight the sky was clear, haze con-
linucd on the wStef. $3.50 -ff''
Admiral ~Higginson's three battleships
we're, at a late hour. stsll at anchor of
r%hatcher's island, and with them two tor
pedo boats, but there was a nasty sea run.
oins. At midnight the dagship's launches
found difieuit wortQ1n making landings aud
Incoming craft reported a Wild sea outside.
On the battesbips, the men are wide awake.
IS everyone expects "a get word Of the en-
smy before daylight.
Put in a Trying Day.
RoCKPoRT. Mass.o Aug. 22-The con-
srast in the conditions prevailing OF shore
this morning and thUBe Of yesterday were
most marked and those participating or
watching the war maneuvers OF the navy
early today found things favorable to the
1eet under Commander John q. Pillsbury.
This, morning a fog so thick that the water
Of the harbor could not be seen from. naval
~headquarterF shrouded Cape Ann and the
adjacent ocean, Yesterday, for miles, in
the bright, clear atmosphere, objects at sea
could clearly be seen.
When the sun came up today the atmos-
phere was as clear as u could be and
extended observations were made from all
signal and lookout stations.
1t wac not long after sunrise that the fog
set in. II was a dense cloud and at first
impenetrable 70 the eye, beyond tent or a
dozen feet. just before 0 o'clock there
were Indications that the sun was burning
through the mist on shore.
Aside nom the fact that Keafsarge. at
least, was still at anchor of this place, lit
tie was actually known here as to the posi-.
tions of the various ships OF Admiral HiE-
g~inson's squadron. Scouts had been re-
ported of Portland. The cruiser Brooklyn
skirted the end Of Cape Cod carly in the
forenoon and went across to Plymouth.
TAss Beth sESs Sf tAz-ssss 5f defense we're
said to be well guarded. and as the naval
experts here felt zreasonably sure that Ala
bama and Massachusetts, were with Kear-
sarge OF straitsmouth Point, the center
was thought 10 be safe.
Lookout. Line Established.
The station keepers here have been. sd-
visited that the lookout line mas been ex
tended to sAnkaty head, on Nantucket,
where the wireless telegraph station IL To-
Gated. Ff0ht there all incoming vessels
will be querlsd, . to whether or not they
have seen anytsSf Commander Pillsbury's
ships, and the biscuits Of these investIga-
tions will be slgHhied to the scout boats or
the land statlOna
BY IL o'clock the fog had lifted and the
battleships were seen In their usual posi-
tionb. Observation In the distance, how
ever. was impossible owing to a haze which
hung low over the, water All the signal
and lookout stations. reported during the
forenoon, showing that the message system
was Intact. All the scout boats were heard
from before ii o'clock either at the station
here or on board Kearsarse.
1t is learned that the rules OF the mAneu-
vers In which the vessels are engaged per-
NIT the destruction Of the ships OF the op-
posing squadron, and It appears that the
fear that Pillshprys may dash in and '.dis.
able one OF the vessels is one reason WHY
the defending fleet is kept so compact by
Admiral Higgipson.
On sBoard the FlasshIp.
on board the flagship Kearsarse, Friday,
Aug. q. II a, m.-Admiral HiggInson has
his three battleships az anchor In the same
positions that they occupied at shutdown
last night. With steam up they are ready
to start for any points at the slightest warn
Ing, ~ ~, ~
The thick fog Obseursd the vision of the
lookouts on the ships early this forenoon
and more uncertainty was apparent on
board than has been seen at any previous
time since the maneuvers began, as Il was
the opinion that Il was an opportune time
for Commander Pillsbury and his feet TO
make a dash under cover OF the fog and
land at some Convenient point during the
clear weather.
The conditions we're fully discussed on
board and II was learned that Commander
Ptilseury's authority enabled him to take
possession Of certain steam craft, such al
q tug or a yacht that came in his way. 10
be Used IN connection with his plan Of at
tack. u 10 Inquired that 1t he should do 40
he might place Aboard such a craft. a force
from one iots hts Ships and under his dis
guise land them near ZONE lighthouse or
signal station used by the defenders and
thereby interrupt the system OF
catien maintained by Admiral HlgEInsop
and CAUSE any amount Of trouble. E
Matters on = War Basis. Dbl
Matters certainly Ars on a war basis on
the dsfendipg neet. Yesterday afternoon
drtl vas dispensed with and %ofaeers and
men alike stored up plenty Of good sleep
In Anticipation OF the enemy being located
during the night. The watch slept on deck
prepared for instant call.
Once during the NIGHT there was an sx-
citing moment. At II o'clock a dash signal
came from shore When the message was
completed there was 4 tumnlt. for Il stated
that the enemy was entering salem harbor.
An instant later, however. the message was
emendedSt having been discovered that the
Meet included q three-masted schooner, a
yacht and a scouting torpedo boat.
One other cause for alarm came in the
prolonged absence Of one OF the torpedo
boats, which was not reported within rea-
ENABLE time. Later. however, the missing
traft was located.
NsALEM, Mass. Aug. 22.-The torpedo