The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-23
PILLSBURY IS
 STILL AT SEA Must Reach Some HafbOr Within Next Sixty Hours FOG OBSCURES MOVEMENTS On the Battleshlps the Men Are Wide Awake and Expected to Get Word
 of the Enemy Before
 Daylight.
FOG OBSCURES MOVEMENTS

Rockport. Mass, August 23.--Command- CT Pillsbury and his fleet or three aux Hilary cruisers are still at sea. Unless the commander of the white squadron makes at attempt to reach harbor within the next sixty hours from mid night his efforts to win a victory in the game of mimic war will fail for theoreti- cally it will be considered that his ships have sunk. or he has found that the blockade established by Admiral Hig- ginson from Portland to Cape Cod. can not be broken. It 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 blue squad ron reported signs of Commander Pills burys fleet.
 Fog and storms swept the coast dur ing the afternoon. and while for time tonight the sky was clear, the haze on the water continued. Tonight Admiral Higginsons three battlesIips were still at anchor off Thatcher's island, and be- side them were two torpedo boats, but a nasty sea was running and the light ming occasionally lighted up the bay. At midnight the hlagship's leanches found difficult work in making landings, and incoming craft reported wild sea out side. On the battleships the men are wide awake. as every one expects to get word of the enemy before day light.
 A Decided Contrast.
 The contrast in the conditions prevail ing off shore this morning and those of yesterday were most marked and those participating or watching the war ma neuvers of the navy early today found things favorable to the squadron under Commander J. E. Pillsbury, which is try ing to make a landing on the New Eng land coast between Portland, Me-, and Provincetown, Mass wlh Rear Ad- miraI Higginson and his vessels defend the seaboard.
 This morning a fog so thick that tho water of the harbor could not be seen from naval headquarters shrouded Cape Ann and the surrounding ocean.
 When the sun came up today the at- mosphere was as clear as 1t could be and extend d observations were made from all signal and lookout stations Each re- ported that all was well and there was TO sign of the enemy. The receipt or these early messages Interrupted the quiet winch had prevailed at the naval headauaIters here since a. m., un- broken save by one report received from Portland at 345 a. m. This report was like most others sent in that all was quiet. The report added that scout boats were sighted outside the harbor.
 It was not long after sunrise that tho fog set in It was a dense cloud and at first impenetrable to the eye beyond a distance of ten or a dozen feet. Just be- fore o'clock there were indications that the sun W as bun ming throughsthe mist on shore.
 Little Actually Known.
 Aside from the fact that the Kearsarge 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 squadron. Scouts had been reported off Portland. The cruiser Brook lyn skirted the end of Cape Cod early 1< the forenoon and went across to Ply mouth Thus both ends of the line of defense were said to be well guarded and as the naval experts here felt reasonably sure that the Alabama and Massachusetts were with the Kearsarge off Straith- mouth Point, the center was thought to be safe. The station keepers here have been advised that the lookout line has been extended to Sankatay Head on Man. tucket, where the WlFtiSSS leleBTdpl Sld- ton is located. From there all incoming ships will be queried as to whether or not they have seen any of Commander Pilsbury's ships. and the results of the investigations will be signalled to the scout boats or the land stations.
 The Fog Lifted.
 By Il o'clock the fog had lifted and the battleships were seen in their usual posi- tions. 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 dur ing the forenoon, showing that the mas sage system was intact All the scout boats were heard from before Il o'clock either at the station here or on board the Kearsarge
 It is learned that the rules of the man. euvers in which the vessels are engaged, permit the destruction of the opposing squadron, and fears that Pllsbury may dash in and disable" one of his vessels Is one reason why the defending fleet Is kept so compact by Admiral Higgenson.