The Florida star., 1902-07-25
PLANS OF TIE WAR GAME
Army and Navy to Engage In
a Mimic Conflict.
ALL WILL BE IN FIGBTING TRIM
hostile Fleet From Europe to APP
Forts About Newport without
Warnins-searehliSh and Watch
ers VIII Be Employed.

A condition apprOXimating actual
war will exist along the New England
coast Oh land and sea for the period
OF week about the middle of August,
writes a Washington correspondent of
the Philadelphia Press. Every fort
along Long Island sound and the Con
necticut and Rhode Island coasts will
be manned by trained artilleries.
Every war vessel along the eastern
seaboard will be called TO form IL part
of squadron that will attack these
forts.
The fall maneuVers is what this
movement is designated. The navy is
TO attack and the artillery is TO defend
against the invasion. 1t will he the
greatest thing of its kind that this
country has ever seen. Never before
has there been anything approac ching
the proposed maneuvers OH this side
of the Atlantic.
Some idea OF the magnitude of this
undertaking can be obtained from the
number and character of the warShips
HigSinsOn will he in charge of the
evolutions, with Rear Admiral CO%h-
Ian as second in command. The flag
ship of the squadron will be the Kear
sarge. The other battleships and
cruisers will include the Alabama,
Massachusetts. Brooklyn, Olympia,
Montgomery, Panther and Prairie
The general plan Of the maneuvers
indicates that this array of warShips
is TO constitute hostile fleet approach
ing from Europe and having in view
the subjuGatiOn and reduction of al!
the forts contiguous TO Newport and
that portion of Long Island shore
south
The attacking squadron will be in
fighting trim, with all temporary or
movable gear sent below and the decks
| cleared fer action. All the cOncOmi-
tants of war conditions. including the
play OF scarchlghts and the eternal
vigilance of officers and men, will be
employed.
1T will be as nearly a condition of
war as il is possible 10 secure" said Il
naval official the other day. There
will be no child's play about it. The
movement OF the vessels will be pro
| tected by as much secrecy as though
| they were bent on IL bona file hostile
! mission. Newspapers will be given no
! information. They Will be left 10 shift
! for themselves. The same will be true
| of the army. 1t will be an artillery
| duel, and beyond q mere general idea
| as 10 the character of the maneuverS
! the two branches of the service will
| act entirely independent of each OH
cr"
General Randolph. chief of the artil
lcry arm, will not be acquainted with
the day and hour when this hos lie
fleet will appear above the horizon
Its coming must be detected 10y his
own officers stationed i'll the various
forts along the sound.
The forts that will play conspicuous
parts along Long Island and the adja
cent mainland are Fort Adams a
| Newport. Forts Wright, Mansfield
Nichic. Terry, Trumbull, Slocum
Schuyler and Tottcn Watchers 10y
day and by night will wait for the ap
proach of this fleet and signal its ap
/ prarance 10 the other artillery station:
along the coast.
Particular efforts will bc made I,
keep the newspapers of the country
from ohtaimin" any facts whatcVcl
/ about the mancuvprS of the squadron
or the defensive preparations ami op
crationS OF The artillery establishments
on the mainland. Newspapers Will b'
compelled 10 hire their own boats ant
gather their Information uurcr tE'
same difficult conditions that prcvailc,
( during the Spanish war. Officers wh'
arr, detected il giving away iuf"Tlua
Iion or furnishing anything cOuccrHn.
the manuuVerS To newspaper CORE
spoudcntS will be dealt with hy thci
commanding officers in summary fash
ion.
puring IN" SpHui>h-Amerlcan Wa
the press a<SuCtaIiunS We're pCrmittU,
IL have correspondent on the hag
ship of each tcct. This will not be- prl
mittrd during the mancuvvrS. vt III
forts the greatest efforts Will be take
10 urevrnt any civilians from obtainin;
information of any kind whatever.
Two Ideas prevail aS To the move
ment of the hostile fleet under Ad
miral HigcinSon. one IS that II VII
rendezvous off Portsmouth and prOcee'
south. making its appearance OF New
port from the north. Another il that
will rendezvous off the southern coaS
of Long Island and make the inVaSl"I
from there, sweeping down the soun'
under cover Of darkness. No one. un
less il be Admiral Taylor OF the bureau
of navigation. the secretary OF the nav,