The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-03
BY IRVING KING.

never III the history OF the united
States have there been joint naval and
military maneuvers on a scale even
distantly approaching those scheduled
for this month. And for the first time
be recognized a new and important
factor in war-the newspaper world
The newspapers will be considered as
enemies; the fleets must beat them if
they can. The government does not de-
sire that the newspapers shall not try
to get the news; indeed, the authorities
want them to try in every way posi-
bic. But they want their ships and
men to prevent them from getting it.
So, in one way, this mimic war will
be real. 1t will be a mimic war for the
possession OF the coast, and an actual
war against the reporters, whose dis
patch boats will be treated as enemies
scouts to be avoided or captured. Sec
rotary Moody regards this as a very
important part of the maneuvers. He
desires to find out just how secret the
movements of a fleet may be kept in
time OF actual war; and he realizes that
II the movements of fleet can be con-
cealed from newspaper men bent on
finding them out, they can be conceal
ed from anybody. Just what plan has
been adopted to prevent the newspa-
pers from getting information meant to
be kept secret the Secretary won't tell
hut it is known that a careful ami
elaborate scheme has been prepared.
and the experiences of the Spanish
war have been drawn on in formulat-
ing 1t.
If any information meant to be Sc
cret is obtained by the newspaper
men, the methods by which it was
obtained will be carefully and fully
reported to the department, and after
the maneuvers are over
such instances will be studied
with view of devising a satisfactory
preventative of similar occurrences in
case of actual war.
Newspapers as Enemies.
1t was proved in the little affair with
Spain that newspapers were not only
factors of civilization, but factors of
war. For the first time in the history
of the world great fleets went out to
make history, accompanied by a great
fleet bearing the men who were to write
It. 1t was realized suddenly that the
future naval commander could not re-
gard the newspaper dispatch boat as a
negligible quantity. So in these most
up-to-date maneuvers planned by the
Navy Department the newspapers have
had a place assigned to them.
The strategy of each of the two op-
posing commanders will be directed to
out-maneuvring the hostile fleet and
the newspaper forces will aim al OUT
maneuvering both fleets. 1t will be a
pretty and most interesting contest en-
tlrely new to warfare. The depart
ment refused to give out even general
sketch of the maneuvers, but the first
part of the maneuvers, which will be
purely naval, will consist of the at
tempt of fleet, supposedly hostile, TO
elude fleet watching on the coast, in
an probability at some point between
Martha's Vineyard and the eastern en-
trance to Long Island Sound. The OPP,
posing commanders will not know, ex-
cept in general way. just what YES
sells compose the fleet against which
they are operatingI and some very
startling surprises may be sprung upon
them by the managers of the man
euVres. Some naval officers would not
De surprised if the European squadron
or the South Atlantic fleet, or both,
should suddenly appear on the coast.
FOR all anybody knows, ships from one
or both of these squadrons may now
De on their way to New England
waters.
All the available ships of the North
Atlantic Squadron will be employed
pattleships, cruisers and gunboats. as
well as a fleet of fifteen torpedo boats
and twelve torpedo boat destroyers.
All along the coast piercing search
lights, some of 100000 candle power,
nave been established to search with
Iheir fiery eyes at night for the coming
OF the hostile fleet. Wireless biography
VIII be thoroughly tested during the
maneuvers as to the practicablity of
using it under war conditions for COM
municating between the fleets and the
shore and between the different YES