The Washington times., 1903-07-19
Important Lessons to Be
Learned From Military
Maneuvers Off Coast of
Maine-To Be Conducted
on Gigantic Scale.
Two Immense Fleets, Flow
er of American Navy, to
Combat for Supremacy.
To Combine Later and At
tack Land DefenseS.

been held on such a large and compre-
hensive scale as those which are TO TAX,
place next month of the coast of Maine
First. two immense fleets. comprising
the flower of the American navy. will
combat for gUDremacy-one represent
ing an American squadron defending {
port on the New England coast. the
other taking the part of an enemy at
tempting TO capture the port, or so elud-
ing the watchful eyes Of the home fleet
as to AFFORD an opportunity to prey on
the coast commerce of this country.
To Attack Coast Defenses.
At the conclusion OF this so-called
search problem the representative
American squadron and the former en-
envy viii combine forces under the COM
mand OF Rear Admiral S. Barker and.
forming the largest and best equipped
feet Of warships that has ever been
modified off the coast Of the United
States. viii swoop down upon Portland
Harbor. Maine. and will endeavor by all
means known to naval strategists of
this country to prove that the army
land defenses of that important port are
unable to withstand the attack of a feet
of this strength.
Such are the general features of the
mammoth maneuvers that have been
planned under the direction of the most
capable and best-known army and navy
officers of the United States.
Rendezvous at Frenchman's Bay.
On July q. the powerful North At
lantic squadron, comprising some of the
most efficient fighting ships In the en-
tire world will rendezvous at French
mans Bay. on the coast of Maine. with
the coast squadron under command of
Rear Admiral Sands: the training
squadron under Rear Admiral Wise, and
the Caribbean squadron under Rear Ad-
miral Joseph B. C'Hoch Der Kaiser'')
CoghlaR
At the present time the various squad
rons are hurrying from different parts
Of the world to arrive at the designated
place for mobilization in ample time;
from the Azores, the battleship squad
ron of the North Atlantic fleet; from
Portsmouth. England, the famous mon
ster Kearsarge with her unusual double
turrets; from the Caribbean, the fast
squadron which has been carefully
guarding the interests of the United
States during the recent revolutions in
Central and South America, and from
Chesapeake Bay, the new training
squadron.
Ships to Coal First.
Some time will be devoted by the com
|bined squadrons after their arrival in
lTrenchman's Bay to coaling. Early In
august. probably about the Sd. Rear Ad-
'miral Barker, the commander in chief.
will divide his feet and the search prob
lem viii begin.
The details Of the problem will not be
announced until just before its begin
ming. 1t is thought probable, however,
that Rear Admiral Barker will person
ally command the defense squadron and
Rear Admiral Coghlan that Of the So
called enemy
The search problem Will end August
10. Then there will be q reconciliation
and the squadrons will again meet in
Frenchman's Bay TO coal, proceeding
thence to Long Island Sound for a cruise
and for tactical exercises.
President to Inspect Fleet.
on August Il a most spectacular in
spection Of the immense feet will be
made by the President OF the United
States. the Secretary Of the Navy, and
Admiral George Dewey, of Oyster Bay.
The keen interest always taken by the
president ~ u.v,f ,e.f-. Iii -. -
officer on his mettle to make his ship
the most military in the entire feet.
1t is expected that the President, who
will be on the beautiful little man-of-
war Mayfiower. will carefully criticise
the various ships. He will be greeted
by the national salute Of twenty-one
guns fred from every vessel in the
After the review by the President the
fleet will again proceed 10 the coast of
Maine for tactical exercises and to take
part in the joint maneuvers with the
army. which viii begin at Portland
Maine. on August %. 4 week later the
summer maneuyers will close and sonoe
OF the vessels VIII begin their ser,-
annual target practice In the vicinity OF
Martha's Vineyard.
Submarine Boat Tests.
Others will go to Newport for the DUR /
pose Of participating In maneuvers with /
he submarine torpedo fotiIIa. These /
new boats are to be thoroughly tested /
N order 20 determine their actual em- /
,iency or ineficiency in event OF war.
Valuable information Will be obtain /
d by both the army and navy In the /
summer maneuvers. only a few days
lgo the Secretary Of the Navy directed /
hat several of the largest and best
hips OF the navy be equipped with the
'laby-Arco system OF wireless tele-
'raph, which will probably be officially
idopted for the entire navy Of the
United States. and has also ordered that
wireless telegraph shore stations be
Established before beginning the ma
leuvers at Cape Elizabeth. Cape Cod.
APE Ann, Montauk Point. and at the
highlands. n. Y