The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-24
.PiIIsbuTy's Fleet Believed to be Near the Isle of
 Shoals
WILY COMMANDER RAY
 HAVE LANDED IN NIGHT
Signals Are Evidently Being Sent From the Shore, and Admiral Hio- onson's Wires Are Reported
 Crossed at Several Points.

Rockport, Mass, August 2s.-The lire of battleships of Admiral Higginson-s fleet, which are defending a lengthy strip of New England coast from a for eIgn fleet, put to sea under urgent orders at 9:90 o'clock tonight, indicating that some news has been received of Com mander Pillsbury The weather condl- tions at 10 o'clock were slightly in favor of the enemy, the sky being overcast ard an essteriy wind prevailing.
 Many dispatches came during the early evening, the tenor of them indicating that the white squadron was not far at sea off the Isle of Shoals, CT Portsmouth. At 10 o'clock tonight the cruiser Olym- pia was inside the islands, the Brooklyn was cruising to seaward on the shore and the Decatur was patroling Ports- mouth harbor.
 With Admiral Higginson's battleships bound northward it would appear that Commander Pillsbury is expected to make his run in towards land tonight off ther Portsmouth or York harbor.
 This afternoon it was understood that enc of Command sr PiIlsbury's cruisers had been reported off Rockland, Me. This is long distance beyond the north erly limit of the blockade line, but 1t was suggested that either the enemy was aklng a feint to draw a preponderance cf fighting strength of Admiral Higgin- sens fleet to Portland, so that quick counter dash could be made Into Massa- chusetts bay, or t'se Commander Pills bury desIed information as to the block ade conditions.
 Signals From Shore.
 The blue squadron officers are certain that the enemy has it's own intelligence bureau along the shore, and has landed officers at Rockland, Me, and Providence, Mass. Suspicious signals at Cape For porse, on the Isles of Shoals, and even here at Rockport, indicate that the blockade-runping plan has not been en- tirely drawn up at sea-
 A signal of the blue squadron at Ii o'clock tonight reported to the naval base officer that he sighted three large vessels going to the northward at fourteen knot clip, but they were too far off shore for him to identify them
 Many Of the navel officers have con jectured that Commander Pillsbury would delay his atteck as long as possible, anu then by strategy endeavor to strike the raval bese. Something appeared to have gone wrcng with the line of communica-
  ipg the naval intelligence officers The wires at several points 1re reported crossed or cut, and some messages re- ceived were rather mixed
 Extraordinary Order.
 An extraordinary order was being made at late hour to determine if the breaks along the line were from natural causes or the result of the enemy's plans. In view of what had happened in the central station here, there is now wonderment If Admiral Higginson will find the white squadron at the north end of his line.
 During the afternoon the trial of the Maine engaged the attention of both the sailors and the landsmen on the battle ships. The enemy was not forgotten by any means but eyes of both men and officers were kept on the horizon as the Maine went by on its speed trial.
 About this time one of the torpedo boats under zhe lee of the Kearsarge re- ceived orders to be transmitted to the Brooklyn. On receipt of these orders both cruisers went In a northerly direc- tion. A dispatch had reached Admiral Higginson that one of the enemy's ships had been sighted off Rockland, Maine, and it was to that point that the cruisers set sail.