The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-10
Captures Mayaguez and Mines
 the Entire Harbor
TOO SHREWD FOR PURSUERS
Ills Plans of the Naval War Game Were Carried Out Perfectly and His Careful Figuring Is Re-
 sponsible for Success.

@N-A----N~-AN~ the White Squadron with the Iowa, Illi- nois, Albany and Chicago
 He captured Mayaguez without resist anee at 6:24 this morning and immediate ly mined the harbor. The Nashville and the Eagle subsequently entered the chan nel and reported that the Atlanta and San Francisco had been seen off Ponce and that perhaps they had been over taken.
 Admiral Summers victory was due to the careful execution of his plans At Trinidad he directed the White Squadron to proceed to a point within circle, with in radius of 720 miles, the center of which was latitude 15 and longitude 40 The White Squadron was reported to Admiral Higginson, commanding the blue or opposing squadron, at 6 o'clock on the afternoon of December 5. Admiral Sum- ners object was Mayaguez. Guayanilla, Ponce, Enzenda or Culebra.
 Under tho rules the White Squadron would win if it entered the port selected and worked for one hour laying mines before the arrival of 8 Blue Squadron 50 per cent superior, or if 1t entered it's harbor and completed the work of min ing before the arrival of a Blue Squad- ron double it's strength. The White Squadron would lose if it was intercepted by a superior force at sea, or within one hour after having anchored in the port selected.
 Got Information at Trinidad.
 While at Trinidad Admiral Sumner found that Admiral Crowninshield, com manding the European squadron with which the South Atlantic squadron com bined, had prepared a plan of procedure similar to his own. Having ascertained that the Nashville, Atlanta and San Francisco and Eagle were slow Admiral CroWninshield suggested that upon the arrival within the curve these vessels be detached and ordered to proceed, deploy- ed by the scouts by the nearest course. by course one hundred miles south of the east end of Porto Rico and the north to a point twenty miles southeast of Ponce.
 The great aim of these scouts" Ad- miral Sumner announced, 'is to deceive the enemy as to whereabouts and in- tention of the remainder of the squardoni they should make use of every possible means to attack and draw away to the eastward any force of the enemy guard ing the western end of Porto Rico. Hav-
 
 disappear from the circle and rush the harbor of Mayaguez at daylight of De- cember g. The score gives 63 for the white squadron. The white squadron sailed from Trinidad the morning of De- cember 8. The Iowa, Albany, Illinois and Chicago forming an indented column left the remaindet of the squadron and steamed at the rate of 12 knots an hour to latitude 144O, longitude 5724 which point they reached at 6 o'clock on the afternoon of December 5.
 Great Care Exercised.
 The four vessels then steamed north in line with the islands. The greatest care was exercised to prevent discovery. No lights were shown and only small red and blus flags were used. The flag officers did their night signaling by whistles and shielded lights. There was clear weather throughout the run. An especially care- full watch was kept December 7 when the four vessels were due north of Culebra island which Admiral Sumner supposed to be the center of the north and south line of the blue scouts. In order to avoid these scouts Admiral Sumner kept over ECO miles away from the land. On Decem- Der the Iowa, Albary Illinois and Chi cago ran parallel with the north shore of Porto Rico until directly north of the Mona passage, when they turned to the south with the intention of making Santo Domingo, sneakiRg along the shore of that island and making a dash across the Mcna passage under forcea oraGght to Mayaquez. In view of the average speed of thirteen and one-tenth knots an hour it was not feasible to make greater de- tour. Some of the officers Of the white squadron desired to enter Mayaquez at once, but to this Admiral Sumner was opposed. When entering the Mona pass age at o'clock this morning, the squad ron stopped for a short time.
 No blue scouts were sighted until dawn came from the east, then the Olympia, Cincinnati, Detroit and Montgomery were seen. These vessels had been scouting on the north shore of Porto Rico. It is that they failed to sight the White squadron, especially as the night was clear and ther was half moon un- til 1 o'clock. All preparations for mining the harbor had been made when the four vessels of the White squadron dropped their anchors in Mayaguez harbor at "A minutes past this morning
 Boats Were Lowered.
 Boats were lowered at once and the mining of the channel was finished in 3i minutes, Upon the appearance of the White squadron, the Hist discharged green and rcd signals and attempted to escape. No effort was made to prevnt her The other scouts of the Blue squadron, fearing capture, hastened to search for Admiral Higginson. The com mander of the Blue squadron was last reported at Wiequez island, where he will be advised of Admiral Summers victory.
 The problem is held to be a further demonstration of the need of exercise in scouting and of a greater navy
 It is thought Admiral Sumner will sail tonight for Culebra island, where he will transfer his flag. Admiral Dewey will then organize the fleet. Admiral Hig- ginson will have command of the first squardon. All the battleships will be in the second division, which will be under command of Admiral Crowinshield. The second squadron, to include all the eruis- CTS, will be under the command of Ad-