The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-21
STRENGTH OF THE FLEETS.

STRENGTH OF THE FLEETS
While the vessels OF the Blue Squadron
are understood 10 represent an attacking
force OF great power. In reality Il can
hardly be compared with the defending
complement. Commander Pillsbury's q
three auxiliary cruisers have an average
displacement OF 6000 tons, and an average
speed OF l3 knots. Admiral Hlgginson's
squadron includes battleships OF nearly
ll,0o0 tons average displacement. and
nearly IL knots average speed; cruisers,
the slowest OF which is a 19-knot vessel,
and torpedo boats good for 2s to % knots.
BEFORE THE BATTLE.
The group of great white vessels OF
the North Atlantic squadron. when the
morning sun broke upon them today,
were as motionless as the rocks on the
nearby shore. The little torpedo boats
We're not far from the larger craft, and
there was nothing in either feet TO serve
as a reminder OF last nights episode.
when the smaller vessels, having put out
TO sea In the afternoon. were repulsed In
an attempt to surprise the squadron in a
night attack.
II was a beautiful morning. with a
cloudless sky ano a cool northwest wind
and very early In the day a number or
the summer visitors here. whose rest for
an hour or more last night was disturbed
by the mimic sea battle, sought points OF
vantage TO view the ships prompted by the
belief that the great war game OF the
navy. which Is TO take up the next two
weeks. had virtually begun. y
There was little TO satisfy the OBJ
servers. however. save n thrilling marine
picture with warships and torpedo boats
In the foreground, resting under the shell
ter OF breakwater, beyond which
stretched away the calm surface OF the
sea.
At about s o'clock some activity was
apparent on board the warships Then a
launch put out from the Kearsarge and
headed for shore At about the same
time torpedo boat, larger than any OF
those In the harbor, was sighted of
shore. She steamed I'm near the break
water and anchored. Meanwhile the
launch had reached the shore. II brought
an orderly who came to get the mail.
WATCHERS ON QUI vIvE.
While there was little to be seen above
deck, something apparently was going on
below. Every now and then the great
tunnels OF the ships sent up clouds of
smoke as II the fires were being fresh
ened. This made the spectators more ex-
pectant but after a little the stacks would
cease To belch the black vapor and the
watchers would look for something else.
IL was about the middle OF the fore
noon when the crew of the Kearsarge
began running about the ship. A few
minutes later II was seen that hose had
been run out and streams were playing on
various parts OF the deck. This was
taken as showing that the seamen were
being given fire drill
HIGGINsoN UNDER WAY
Admiral Higginson lost no time Ian 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 about "
O'Clock they began to weigh anchor
Half an hour later all except the fiag-
ship Kearsarge had started out First the
Maynower and one OF the torpedo boats
headed out. bearing toward the north
A second torpedo boat followed toward
the northeast The Brooklyn and the
Olympia moved out together. with the
Alabama astern OF the latter, and the
Massachusetts, at the end OF the line
These ships seemed 90 make directly east
Just before noon torpedo boat came In
from the south. and after Joining another
vessel OF the same class both steanied
out together, accompanied by the Scor-
pion.
The Thornton and Gloucester went out
by the southern passage just before 2
O'Clock At about the same moment the
Montgomery. accompanied by the Beydon
moved out TO the southwest. This left the
Kearsarge and one torpedo boat inside the
breakwater.
All the ships after going two miles