The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-28
SHIPS READY
TO MEET
THE ARMY
Admiral HIggInson's Fleet Of
Warships Take Coal at Mar
tha's Vineyard.

On Board Battleship Alabama, OF Me-
nensha Light. Marthas Vineyard, Mass
Aug. 2s.-Rear Admiral Francis l.. Hig-
ginson's crack feet of fighting warships
is anchored here today. making nnai
preparations for the second series OF war
manoeuvres
While last week Admiral Htgginson
with his blue squadron found himself
called upon to defend the New England
coast from Commander Pillsbury's cruis-
ers, he now IS confronted with the task
of tho aggressor He must attack ana
reduce the forts of Narrasansstt bay and
Long Island sound. opposed all the time
by artillerymen and militia. 10 the NUM-
ber OF 1900 men. 49,
From the experience OF defending the
coast line from Portland 10 Proyinoetown
from q hostile squadron Admiral Hisgln-
son must now assume quite an oppoHte
point OF view-that of the enemy enoeav-
oring 20 destroy a warr1ng conntrys toLts
and OF trying 10 effect seizure or the
ports. with the constructive destruction
or occupancy OF the same,
Although IL Is true that amongst the
officers and men the feeling Of interest
as 10 the approaching manoeuvres Is not
as acute as during the time OF the fleet
combat of last week. the problems OF this
week are so full OF new and complicated
situations that they are anticipated with
great relish by those who will partake
therein.
There is, for instance, in the coming
war game" the condition where battle
ships and cruisers will engage In actual
bombardment OF forts and land batteries.
BY thorough system OF umpirtng and
observation decisions will be announced
as TO which war work Is the more ef-
fective--the army or the navy. While
therefore. there does not exist amongst
the men the thrill OF chasing or defend
ing q naval foe there is the greatest Of
interest as to what the navy will perform
In the face OF the work OF an efficient
land force.
Admiral Higginson has issued TO all the
officers under his command printed copies
Of the rules governing the approaching
manoeuvres. These rules and observa-
lions are substantially as has been pub
lished.
The feet at this point today which com
prises the attacking squadron is made up
of the Kearsarge Qfagship), Alabama.
Massachusett (all battleships), the crui-
ser Brooklyn. (fiagship Of Rear Admiral
Coghlan), the cruiser Olympia. the con-
verted yacht Gloucester, the gurSboa,
Scorpion. and the tugs Ploria, Leyden and
vina. Since their arrival here on Mon
day all the warships have been coaline
for the crucial manoeuvres OF a later date
| the last TO coal being the Alabama, which
| took ON her supply today.
| This feet Of vessels will. II Is expected
| soon be reinforced by the training
| ship Puritan. The Puritan Is now a
New Bedford. In the actual war game
she VIII be assumed to he a real battle
ship and will be possessed OF an eoua
number of points of fighting strength.
The period of preparation amongst the
feet begins at midnight tomorrow night
As a preparation to this Admiral Higgin.
son has introduced a new set Of signals
and codes by which he hopes to confuse
the shore stations and forts. He has alsc
issued circular letters TO officers con
taining complete sets Of privately distrt'
buted rules which are not made public
for fear that the defence at the forts may
obtain valuable information with respect
to the movements Of the squadron
New Bedford, Mass.-General Mac
Arthur arrived this afternoon. He wal
unaccompanied by any other officer ant
at once proceeded to Fort Rodman. wher'
he made an inspection Of the fortifcatior
under the guidance Of Lieut.. Johnston
| The general inspected the old fort wher'
| the large searchiight has been set up
| looked over the large guns. visited th'
magazine and went over the whol'
| ground from the west side Of Clarks Poin
| to the east side He also Inspected tn
| work In progress by the officials from tn
state arsenal