Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-08-15
THE MIMIC WAR PLANS
Land Forces at Portland Ready
to Resist Fleets Attack.
TWO ELECTRIC PLANTS BUILT.

Lights-S1gna1 Corps Will Keep q
Sharp LOokOut-Army Omcers ON
Duty Fear That Rear Admiral
Barker Will Creep In Under c. er
of Fog.
eve are ready and waiting" said
Brigadier General George L. Gillespie,
chief of engineers, who has recently
returned from an inspection of the de-
lenses of Portland, Me-, which will be
the point of attack Of the hostile force
under Rear Admiral Albert S. Barker
in the combined army and navy ma
neuvers, beginning Aug. %, says the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald.
General Gillespie spent several days
in the vicinity of Portland and at head
quarters, inspecting every detail Of the
defense.
II found the men working enthusiasts
tically," continued the general, ''and
everything in fine shape. Last year we
were working right up to the time the
maneuvers opened; but, getting an ear
lier start this time, we find ourselves
ready and waiting for the enemy Two
power houses have been constructed at
Portland for the generating Of all the
electric power needed in the various
electrical devices used in the forts that
defend Portland This has put US to
some expense, but it will prove of per-
manent benefit to the army post there.
"Every gun in Forts Mckinley, Preble,
Levett and Williams has been put in
excellent condition and inspected by
the ordnance officers. The board Of
submarine defense has come all the
way from it's headquarters at Willet's
Point, N. Y, to superintend person
ally the installation of the submarine
defenses''
Entirely to the board of submarine
defense has been left the mining Of the
three channels leading to Portland.
Even to Brigadier General Wallace
Randolph, chief of artillery, the board
has not disclosed the number or loca-
ton of the mines to be placed in the
channels, and on both these points the
greatest possible secrecy is being OBJ
served that the enemy may not be
able to avoid the mines in the ap-
proaches should he successfully elude
the guns of the outlying forts and get
close into the harbor. 1t is known,
however, that several important i'm
provements have been made since last
year in the connection of the mines
Lo cfo chnrn
the concealment of their location also
the authorities have been more success
full.
Important will be the work Of the
search light in the defense of Portland.
General Gillespie has ordered installed
in the vicinity Of the city twelve enor-
nous lights, with the aid Of which
the watchers on shore can easily pick
up vessel away out at sea. Last
year the search lights were not alto
gether a success, and the result OF
their employment in the defense prof.
ect this year will be watched in engi-
neering circles with keen interest. The
trouble with the search lights last year,
according to naval officers, was that
they were not properly managed. Ex-
IRENE precautions will be taken in the
coming maneuvers to prevent the cross
ing Of the various search lights and the
consequent destruction of their useful
ness.
Two kinds of lights will be in use,'
the searching and Illuminating lights.
The former are considerably more pow
erful than the latter. The searching
lights have been constructed well in
side the line of defense and so dis
tributed as to cover every avenue Of
approach to Portland and give the
proper authorities there as soon as pos
sible the news of Rear Admiral Bar
ker's fleet.
During the day it is ordered that all
search lights shall effectively be hid
den from view, but that they shall be
located as near the shore line as pos
sibIe The Illuminating lights shall be
hidden while the searching lights are
in operation Special effort will be
made to avoid the crossing of the
beams Of light from the search lights,
which results in the creation of dark
angle When this beam comes between
the gun and it's target the latter Is
hidden.
The Illuminating lights installed will
be used to light up the advanced or
distant flank positions and in illumtnat-
ing the mine fields. On the inner line
of defense will be placed reserve lights
which may come in we'll in the event
of interruption Of communication with
the more advanced searching lights.
In installing the searching lights an
effort will be made to give them high
position and one near the shore line.
What army officers on duty in the de-
Tense district dread, however, is fog
or thick mist at night, when Rear Ad-a
miral Barker would have an excellent
opportunity to make dash for Port
land The signal corps will have sta
tons in the vicinity of Portland and
elsewhere along the New England
coast, where sharp lookout will be
kept for sight Of the enemy. Co
operating with the signal corps will be
the weather bureau and the lighthouse