The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-11
RHODE ISLAND
FORTS NAMED.
Naval Evolution to Pr0c0de Army
and Navy War Game.
UNCLE SANS SCOUT SHIPS
The Land Troops viii Be Kept In Reail-
ness for a Day or a Night
Attack.

Washington. July 1.-THE navy depart
ment is preparing for some independent
manoeuvres by the North Atlantic Squad
ron prior TO the attack TO be made on the
batteries at the eastern entrance OF Long
Island Sound.
Three ships of the squadron will go to
sea and. representing ships OF an enemy.
will attempt 10 approach some point on
the Atlantic coast without being detected
by the North Atlantic squadron. Ad-
mral Higginson will be informed that
three hostile ships are approaching the
coast and that they will seek to strike
a blow at some place between two given
points. He will send out scout ships in an
endeavor TO locate the foe before they
can come near enough to do harm
PRACTICE FOR SCOUT SHIPS.
The main object is scout practice. The
speediest vessels will be selected for
'fscouting. while the ships which they will
be sent TO locate will be OF formidable
character.
The purely naval manoeuvres will con-
sumo probably the first three weeks OF
L August. The vessels participating will
include the battleships Kearsarge, Ala
bama, Massachusetts and Olympia. as
well as the Montgomery. Scorpion,
Marblehead, Hist. and such other vessels
as can he spared at the time.
AT these naval manoeuvres the officials
hope to experiment with wireless teleg-
raphy If suitable arrangements can be
perfected I'm time. Captain William Swift
Is now in consultation with Admiral Hig-
ginson concerning the details
The second and more important man
oeuvres will consist OF naval attack
A..
a joint defence by the army and militia,
assisted by small number of naval
vessels. The defence will be under the
general direction of the commanding Of
ficer Of the department or the east.
though the actual work will devolve upon
the coast artillery.
FORTS THAT WILL BE USED
The attack will be made between New
Bedford, Mass, on the east and the
eastern defences OF Long Island Sound.
This will include the artillery district
OF Narragansett. commanded by Colonel
Henry G. Hasbrouck. and the district Of
New London. commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel J. M. X. Davis
The Narragansett district includes
Forts Adams, Wetheril and Greble,
Rhode Island and Rodman, Mass.
The New London district is composed
of Forts Trumbull Conn. Mansfield. II.
l.. II. q, Wright. Niche and Terry, N.
Y. The New York forts are situated at
the entrance OF Long Island Sound and
are located for defending all the cities
of the sound as well as the upper ap-
proach to New York city.
All the engineer officers available have
been ordered to these districts and are
directing the preparations. Quantities of
ammunition, with blank charges, have
been sent 10 the various forts. Not only
will the defence consist Of handling and
firing the guns. but II will also be test
of the appliances such as range finders.
telegraphic facilities and signal opera
tions.
Within the radius of the operations the
army will have no notice of where and
when the attack will be made. The army
must find that out for itself. The Signal
Corps will be utilized for this purpose as
we'll as all telegraph and telephone sta
tions along the coast. The navy, OF
course, will take every precaution TO
conceal the point of attack. The troops
in the forts will be kept in readiness
either for a day or night attack.