The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-21
HIGGINSON DEFENDS IT
The Enemy Will Attempt to Move in
Secretly.
THE WHITE SQUADRON ON THE WATCH
If This Fleet Discovers PiIIsbury at Sea or
Within Six Hours After He Lands Pills
bury Wi he Considered
Defeated.
Defeated,
(By the Associated Press

Rockport. Mass, Aug. 2O-The unique
war game in which the rival fleets of
Admiral Francis J. Higginson and Com
mandcr John E. Pillsbury are pitted
The North Atlantic coast is now threat
ened by a theoretically powerful squad
ron of hostile ships from the attack of
which an equally able feet will attempt
TO defend. This is the first series of
manoeuvers in which the ships will par
ticpate and it will be under the direction
Of the Navy Department alone. Such
practice as follows the conclusion of
this first contest will be the joint work
of the army and navy departments.
Commander Pillsbury's fleet is known
as the White Squadron, sailed from
Provncetown on Monday and is now at
sea. Its present whereabouts is un-
Known to Admiral Higginson, whose force
is known as the Blue Squadron.
1t was und erstood that the latter fleet
which made its appearance i'll this har
Dor last Saturday, would, under the rules
of contest, remain here until after noon
today. At any time after that hour Ad-
niral Higgnson was free to sail in
search of the "enemy."
1t will be the object of the White
Squadron to effect a landing at some un-
fortified place along the coast as soon
as possible after this fixed hour and oc-
cupy the position without interference
for at least six hours. 1t is the duty of
the defending fleet to prevent the inva-
ders from accomplishing their purpose.
If Admiral Higginson finds the hostile
vessels before they can get within strik-
ing distance the victory is with him. If
Pillsbury, with his ships. should elude
Higginson ard land his force he must oc-
cupy the place he has captured and be
free from discovery during the six hour
period agreed upon. If he is located be-
fore this time expires it is scored as a
defeat for him.
The first series of manoeuvers is pure
ly technical and there will be no sem
lance Of an engagement between the
ships. No shots will be fired except
upon the discovery of the hostile
fleet ut night when the firing would be
entirely for signalling purposes and to
announce the discovery of Pillsbury's S
squadron.
Admiral Higginson lost no time in get
ting under way after the hour agreed
upon for the beginning of the contest had
arrived. During the forenoon the ships
were getting up steam and al about -
o'clock they began to weigh anchor rrd
half an hour later all except the flagship
Kearsarge had started out. First the
Mayflower and one of the torpedo boats
headed outside the breakwater. bearing
toward the north. A second torpedo
boat followed toward the northeast. The
Brooklyn and the Olympia moved out to-
gether with the Alabama astern of the
latter and the Massachusetts at the end
of the line. These ships seemed to make
directly east Just before noon tor
pedo boat came in from the south and
after Joining another vessel of the same
class, both steamed out together, accomz
panied by the Scorpion.
The Thornton and Gloucester went cut
by the southern passage just before 2
o'clock. At about the same moment the
Montgomery, accompanied by the Ley,
den. moved out to the southwest. This
left the Kearsarge and one torpedo boat
inside the breakwater.
All the ships after going two miles of
shore dropped their speed and Law to,
apparently waiting for the Kearsargu to
join them.
The big vessels of the squadron when
the morning sun broke upon them today
We're as motionless and gave as little
sign of life as the rocks on the nearby
shore. The little torpedo boats were not
far from the larger craft. As the fore
noon advanced various signs of pros
pective movement were noted. Signals
were exchanged and small craft were
lodging about The torpedo boats began
to throw out black smoke ana tnen the
larger vesses showed that their fires
Were being freshened. The crowd of
spectators increased and from every ad-
vantageously point the proceedings were
eagerly watched.
Commander Pilsbury's squadron in
cludes the auxiliary cruisers Prairie
Panther and Supply.
Rear Admiral Higginson has mis- leg
ship, the Kearsarge and two other bat
tleships, tho Massachusetts and the Ala
bama, and the cruisers Brooklyn, olym-
pia and Montgomery. besides seven tor
pedo boats, two unarmored gllnboats.
two tugs and the converted yachts May
flower and Gloucester.
The torpedo boats are the SnuhrIek,
Decatur (destroyer), Thornton, Stockton,