New-York tribune., 1902-08-21
HUN7YNG FOR THE ENEMY.
.n,rp,I uIGGINsoN'S FLEET STARTS
OK THE SEARCH FOR COMMANDERS
PILLSBURY-

80 >,s ,ue na-The war game in
uhic, the rival fleets of Commaloei '"i'' -
pi,lshurr and Admiral Francis j. hissiiisop a.
ritted against each other, hesah al Hu''
asx The North Atlantic Coast Is no" i"'e
ered hy theoretically powerful squau'"" -
hos,ile ships from the attack OF WIN" O.
.,,-oI,,. sbl. feet will attempt TO defend TINS
country This is the first series OF ma =, =
~ which the ships will participate. III VIII oe
=,nder the direction OF the Navy pefai '"i.'''
alone.
-r,r,.n6a- PirIshury's feet includes the aux
sl;srv cruisers Prairie, Panther and supply
Rear Admiral Higsinson has his hasShlp' 'he
Eesrsarse and TWO other battleships. the Mas
sschusetts and the Alabama, and the CRUISERS :
Brooklyn, Olympia and Montgomery peSioes
seven torpedo boats, two unarmed snnooatS'
two tugs and the converted yachts MaYno"er
and Gloucester. The torpedo boats are the
shubrick the Decatur destroyer the Thorn
ton. the Stockton. the Bagley, the Barney and
the Biddie. The gunboats are the Scorpion ana
the Peoria
While the vessels of the White Squadron are
understood to represent an attacking force OF
great power in reality il can hardly be COM
nsred with the defending complement. Com
mander Pillshury's three auxiliary cruisers have
Al average displacement of 5000 tons and an
average speed of thirteen knots. Admiral hig-
sirson's squadron includes battleships Of near
" Il, 600 tons average displacement and nearly
seventeen knots average speed The slowest OF
his cruisers is a nineteen knot vessel. and his
torpedo boats can make from twenty-six to
tE enty-nine knots.
Commander Pillsbury's fleet, which will he
known as the White Squadron. sailed from
Provincetown on Monday Its present posi-
ton is unknown TO Admiral Hgginson. whose
force will he known as the Blue Squadron. It Is
the object Of the White Squadron effect
landing at some unfortifed place along the coast
soon possible after noon to-day and oc-
cupy the position without interference for at
least six hours IT is the duty Of the defend
ing feet TO prevent the invaders from accom-
plishins their purpose. If Admiral Higginson
finds the hostile feet before it can get within
striking distance, OF if ne finds Comma uder
PfIisbury within six hours after the latter has
landed the victory is with him.
Admiral Higsinson lost time in getting
under way after the hour agreed upon for the
beginning of the contest had arrived. During
the forenoon the ships were getting UP steam
and ct about i O'Clock they began 10 weigh
anchor.
First the Mayfos-er and one of the torpedo
boats headed outside the breakwater. bearing
toward the north. 4 second torpedo boat fol-
lowed toward the northeast. The Brooklyn and
the Olympia moved out together. with the Ala
hama estern Of the latter. and the Massachusetts
al the end or the iinS- inese SHIPS seemed 10
make directly east Just before noon a torpedo
beat came in from the south and, after joining
another vessel Of the same class, both steamed
out together accompanied by the Scorpion.
The Thornton and the Gloucester went out by
the southern passage just before o'clock. At
about fhe same moment the Montgomery, ac-
sompanied by the Leyden. moved out TO the
southwest This left the keaTsarge and one
torpedo boat inside the breakwater. All the
ships after going two miles off shore. dropped
their speed and lay to. apparently waiting for
the kearssrge to join them