The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-23
THICK FOG SHROUDED COAST.
Defending Squadron on Alert to
Prevent Landing.

DcAehuAuE squadron on Alert 10
Prevent Landing.
Rockport, Mass, Aug. 22.-The con-
trast in the conditions prevailing off
shore this morning and those of yes
terday were most marked, and those
participating in or watching the war
maneuvers of the navy early to-day
found things favorable to the squad
ron under Commander John e. Pills
bury, which is trying to make a land
ing on the New England coast between
Portland, Me-, and Provincetown,
Mass, while Rear Admiral Higginson
and his vessels defend the seaboard
This morning a fog so thick that the
water of the harbor could not be seen
from naval headquarters shrouded
Cape Ann and the adjacent ocean. Yes
terday, for miles, in the bright, clear
atmosphere objects at sea could clearly
be seen.
When the sun came up to-day the
atmosphere was as clear as it could
be and extended observations were
made from all signal and lookout sta
tfons. Each reported that all was
well and that there was no sign of the
enemy. The receipts of these early
messages interrupted the quiet which
had prvailed at the naval headquarters
here since a. M, unbroken save by
one report received from Portland at
3:45 a. m. This report was like most
others sent in, that all was quiet The
report added that, scout boats We're
sighted outside the harbor.
Fog n Dense White Mass.
1t was not long after sunrise that
the fog set in. 1t was a dense cloud
and at first impenetrab to the eve
beyond ten or a dozen feet. Just aft
er 8 o'clock there were indications
that the sun was burning through the
mist on shore.
Aside from the fact that the Kear-
sarge, at least, was still at anchor off
this place, little was actually known
here as to the positions of the various
ships of Admiral Higginson's squad
ron. Scouts had been reported off
Portland. The cruiser Brooklyn skirt
ed the end of Cape Cod early in the
forenoon and went across to Plymouth.
Thus both ends of the line of defense
were found to be well guarded, and as
the naval experts here felt reasonably
certain that the Alabama and Massa-
chusetts were with the Kearsarge off
Straitsmouth Point, the center was
thought to be safe.
The station keepers here have been
advised that the lookout line has been
extended to Sankaty Head, on Nan
station is located. From there
all incoming ships will be quer-
led as to whether or not
they have seen any of Commander
PillSbury's ships. and the result of
these investigations will be signaIled
to the scout boats or the land stations.
Lifting Fog Shows the ships.
BY II o'clock the fog had lifted and
the battleships were seen in their usual
positions. Observation in the distance.
however, was impossible owing to a
haze which hung low over the water.
All the signal and lookout stations re-
ported during the forenoon showing
that the message system was intact.
All the scout boats were heard from
before IL o'clock, either at the station
here or on board the &Kearsarge.
II is learned that the rules of the
maneuvers in which the vessels are
engaged permit the destruction of the
ships of the opposing squadron, and
it appears that the fear that Pillsbury
may dash in and disable one of his yes
sells is one reason why the defending
fleet is kept so compact by Admiral
Higginson.