The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
ARMY And NAVY WAR GAMES.
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON TO
ATTACK PORTLAND, ME.
Gen. Chasree to Command the Land de-
fence Elaborate system or
Torpedo and Submarine Mine Defence
Rules Prepared for Army and Navy.

Torpedo and Submarine Mine Defence
Rules Prepared for Army and Navy.
WASHINGTON, July l1.--Problems for
the attack and defence Of Portland, Me-,
in the army and navy war game next month
are being prepared by Major George F.
Harrison of the Artillery Corps and Capt.
William Swift Of the General Board Of the
Navy. 1t is planned to have the North
Atlantic squadron, under command Of Rear
Admiral A. S. Barker. make a series of at
tacks upon the offences Of Portland, with
the object Of effectiDg an entrance into
Portland harbor. The stratt & cal prob
lens involved in the attack will be known
only to the officers of the naval feet, end
the plans Of attack will be made known
TO Admiral Barker by the Navy Depart
ment only few days before Aug %, when
the man0uvres arc to begin.
Gen. Adna X. Chaffee. commanding the
Department Of the East, will have COM
mand Of the entire defence works Of Port
land. He will not be permitted to know
what the naval plans are but will be cX-
pected to have his officers llse the utmost
vigilance to detect the approach Of the
tack by the naval vessels.
The war game this year will prove more
interesting to the two branc hes Of the
man9uvres Of last summer. Prcfiting
by the experience Of last year the artillery
has undertaken an elaborate system CT
defence and avoided the weaknesses de-
velCped in the engagements on Eort Wright.
This year the navy will not be able TO locate
the searchlghts OF the army, as 1t is pro
posed to have in use no less than half
dozen portable searchlights that can be
moved from place to place to baffic the
enemy To this end arrangements are
being made for the construction OF num-
Der Of automobile searchlights CT cnOr-
nous power and enc or more will be sent
to each of the forts composing the defence
works Of Portland.
The torpedo and submarine mine defense
system will also be more perfectly carried
out and Gen. Greedy, Chief Signal Officer OF
the Army has completed plans for a very
thorough cable system connecting all the
works The rules prepared for the man
guvres contemplate the securing Of much
valuable information in regard to the or
ganization of the coast defence works and
their impregnability. The value OF TINS
information TO the service IL shown in the
following extract from the rules prepared
by Major Harrison of the army and Lieut..
Mark l.. Bristol of the navy.
For the Army General features OF attack
on postS and the defence of same; the most
efficient way for district commanders to ex-
ercise command Of the defcnces Of artillery
districts in action. including the practical
coordination of such defcnces as whole;
The use of movable ornaments; the best
system of fire commanders and battery com.
manders to gun emplacements: the best Use OF
searchli ghts in detecting the approach OF an
enemy. the best location of senrchlights, TO.
gether with all information as to the use Of
same in connection with the fire oi guns on
ships AT night; the utilization OF commercial
life saving and lighthouse stations: the num-
ber type, calibre and mounting OF guns al
ca CHI fort and the sufticiency and adapthbhty
Of sumo to the purpose Intended; ehtct or
fire guns in and about emplacemcnts III the
target practice preceding the naval attack:
means OF lighting inside and out; location
and dimensions OF rcplottin9, telephone and
telautograph booths; electrical firing devices.
and method OF using cables. wires, conduits,
telephones and telautographs: the practical
application OF wireless telcSrnphy and use OF
For the Navy--The best method of obtain
ing the ranges OF the forts and batteries fired
at, the order OF fire in the ship considering
the dircct ion and force o! the wind the effect
of mines and obstructions ana the progress
of the ships.
For the Admiral The best method of con-
cealing his approach; in the attack. whether
II is possible to designate separate targets
for the different ships after the aCtnn mas
begun Or to cease rirtns NJ eeraah p on,Is.es
trate the fire OF the ships on tho remaining
batteries; the method OF nan9uyring under
fire; considering the character Of the channel.
the best formation to be used. the distance
between ships. and the speed. the efficiency
of the signals used; the method ~ ATTACKING
in fog, or by night tho use Of iearchiisht,
of beams and the forming OF dark sectors
beyond: the binding effect Of the opposing
searchlights. both on navigation ana on aim
ing ut the designated target the possibility
of shielding the eyes and looking unaer the
beam: the methods to be adopted in forcing
mined and INSTRUCTED channels.
The manpuvres will be divided into
phases, or definite movements. to attain
a specified object. The reports of the UNI
pircs, observers and commanding officers
will afford the basis for decision by the
board of arbitration. The rules contain
an elaborate series of directions for con-
Quoting the operations, keeping record
of them and making reports. final
opinion is expected from each commanding
officer ashore Of the suficency Of the pres
ent fixed defences and their relative vnlu e
at night, or in thick or foggy weather;
also to what extent mines and obstTuc-
tons are applicable, whether there are
enough scarchlights and rnpd-fre batteries
to cover the mine fields and prevent counter
mining, and whether some mobile defence
is necessary for the same purpose in thick
or foggv weather or at night.
The life of shore defences in points ia
given in the rules al follows
One Finch gun, non-disappearng 1900
dav. 400 night one y. 10 or l2-inch gun,
disappearnS, 5000 dry. 500 night; one one
night; ono battery, 8-inch or less non-dis-
appearing CASUALLY two, guns. 200 day.
ago night: one battery, s-pounders or 5-inch
Siege bleD. 1900 day $500 night: posi-
ton finder tower. 1000 day, 900 night; posi-
ton finder without tower. 1000 day, 5000
night sAnrchlight. In operation, 1000 night,
mortar battery cannot be destroyed by
gun fire
The life of ships H. points is as follows:
Battleships, ,OOO day, 200 night: armored
cruisers, 500 day. 400 night: protected cruisers.
$50 day, J2) night; unprotected cruisers 200
day, $40 night; gInbOnts. 100 day. 100 night.
The points for siencing guns ashore and
afloat are as follows:
one disappearing gun tnnr. calibrel. COG
day. TO night one Pinch barbette gun.
400 dar, 100 night one battery, 8-inch or
less barbette, 300 dav. 100 night: one
battery, movable armament 25O day, 800
night Mortar batteries cannot be silenced.
Rapd-ire and auxiliary batteries of ship.
$50 dav. $40 night.
In m attack upon an intrcnched position
ten times the number OF the defen ders OF such
position actually engaged shall be required
TO take II, and the clsuRlties suffered by
the assailants shall be twice tho whole num-
Der Of the defenders. In estimating the ef--
under the practice conditions Of the mnnpu-
vrea shall not be considered to exceed the
average rate of f,re for each calihre as deter
min ad under apryire conditions from rpDprts