New-York tribune., 1902-07-10
TO ATTACK NEW YORK.
1HE JOINT ARUI And NAVY
M4NEUERES.
FLEET WILL ATTEMPT To FORCE THE
PASSAGE OF LONG ISLAND SOUND,
WHILE THE ARMY WILL De
FEND THIS CITY.
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.

DIoOhe OF the command of the Department of
the East on the latters retirement from active
service, on July II. he will assume Immediate
control of the military situation. and in the
brief but energetic mimic war Will direct oper-
ations from Governors Island, rather than take
the field in the immediate vicinity of the fight.
Preparations for the arny's part in the affair
are being rushed at the War Department. and
the rivalry between the military and naval ser
vices promises to make the evOIutiOns exceed
fngly exciting 1t is principally for the reason
that the army is bringing such tremendous re-
sources tn bear to check the navy in it's efforts
to reach New-York by passing the forts Of Long
Island Sound that the Navy Department has
determined to conceal Its plans. recognizing
that success must depend largely on strategy.
1t was the navy's realization of the superior de-
fences of New-York. considering the compara-
lively small offensive sea force that could be
concentrated on the Atlantic Coast this sum
mer with so many powerful vessels away in
Europe and in the Pacific that led to the agree
ment confning the attack TO the eastern ap-
prOach to New-YOrk. instead of having TO di-
vide the feet for attempt to force an en-
trance at Sandy Hook
The army, on the other hand has little 10
conceal All the available artillery forces from
most of the coast forts are TO be assembled in
the vicinity of Fort TrumbulI Conn, which will
he the headquarters of Colonel Randolph the
at Fort Mansfield. Rhode Island; Fort Wright
Fishers Island; Fort Terry New York and it's
sub-post, Fort Niche. General Macarthur will
undoubtedly order out the 2d Cavalry from
Forts Ethan Allen and NIyer for duty on Long
Island and along the Connecticut shore, as well
as the 9th Infantry. from Madison Barracks
and the 23d Infantry. from PIattsburg Bar
racks, to prevent the navy from landing ma
rines at any point General Greedy win have all
the available signal corps in the field to main
tain lines of communication ashore and il is
estimated that the force at General MacAr-
thurs disposal will exceed six thousand officers
and men,
PLAN OF OPERATIONS OUTLINED
Beyond a general idea of the character OF the
army and navy manRuvres on the Atlantic
Coast this summer, nothing official is ObtainabIe
at the War and Navy departments II is NOT
likely that any specific details of the manoeuvres
will be given to the public, as information re-
garding the detailed plans of either defenders
or invaders will thwart the chief objects of the
government But from a high official source
general sketch of the nanosuvres has been,
obtained There are to be two distinct sets OF
maneuvres. The first will be purely naval and
will probably consume the first three weeks of
August. Two three of the vessels belonging
TO the North Atlantic Station will represent an
enemy's fleet and will attempt to eIude a de-
Htgginson, and accomplish landing at some
point on the New England coast inside of limits
not yet prescribed The duty of the defending
squadron will be to send out scouts to locate
the enemys vessels before they can reach the
coast. The vessels taking part in these
manPuvres will include the battleships Kear-
sarge, Alabama and Massachusetts, and the
cruiser Olympia comprising the North Atlantic
Squadron as Well as the Montgomery the
other vessels as can be spared the time At
these naval manoeuvres the officials hope to
make experiments with wireless telegraphy, il
suitable arrangements can be perfected in time,
and it is said that there will also be expert
ments in coaling ship transporting supplies
and other comparatively minor features OF
naval warfare.
Further general details of the naval ma
noeuvres such as the commander of the enemy's
ships and the division of the vessels into de-
tenders and invaders. are not 20 be had as yet
Captain William Swift is in conference with
Rear Admiral Higginson. commander in chief OF
the North Atlantic Station. concerning these
and other points.
THE POINT OF ATTACK.
The second and more important set OF sum
mer manCeuvres will consist Of a naval attack
on a point on the North Atlantic coast by a sup
posed hostile fleet, This attack is to be met by
a joint defence by the army and militia.
sisted by a small number of naval vessels de-
tached for the purpose from the North Atlantic
Squadron
Active preparations are in progress by the
army for it's part in the nanoeuvres. The de-
fence will he under the general direction Of the
commander of the Department of the East al
though the actual work devolves on the coast
artillery whose officers will be in active COM
mand of the districts which are to be attacked.
1t has been determined that the attack shall
be made on the eastern defenceS of Long Island
Sound. This will include the artillery district
of Narragansett. commanded by Colonel Henry
c. HasbrouCk, and the district of New-LOndOn,
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel j. NJ X
Davis The Narragansett district includes
Forts Adams. Wetherin and Greble, Rhode ISL
and. and ROdman, massachusetts, The New
London district is composed of Forts TrumbulI
Connecticut: Mansfield, Rhode Island II. G.
Wright Niche and Terry, NewYCFk The New
York forts are at the entrance of Long Island
Sound. and are located for the purpose OF de-
Tending all the cities of the Sound well as the
upper approach to New-York City
All the available engineer officers have been
ordered to these districts, and are directing the
preparation of the portions of the defence which
will come under their charge Ordnance officers
have been directed To give attention TO the in
SpeCtiOn of guns, and quantities of ammunition
with blank charges have been sent to the forts
The defence will rot only consist of handling
and firing the guns, but will also be test of
the appliances, such as range finders telegTaphic
facilities signal operations and everything else
necessary in a perfect seacoast fort
Within the radius of the operations the army
will have no notice OF where and when the
attack will be made. The army must find that
out for itself. The signal corps Will be utilized
for this purpose, as well as all telegraph and
telephone stations along the coast. The navy
will take every precauttOn TO conceal the point
of attack, and the army VIII do IT'S utmost 10
fnd out lust where the fleet will approach the
coast and also at what time
Nv.-iv, to hA