The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-08-22
SLEEPING ON THEIR GUNS
THE NER MIMIC WAR GAME IS
 NOW ON.
Entire Militia of the State of maine Concentrated at Portland = First AIasaachusetts Expected To-day and Signal Corps Are on Their Way-Eysry
 Point to be Covered. @t

Portland, Me, Aug. 21.-The soldiers
 of defense are sleeping at the guns. to-
 night. Reliable information has been received that the North Atlantic squad
 ron, under Admiral Barker, is headed
 for Portland harbor and the issue is now matter of about forty-eight hours
 distant. The entire state militia is con- centrated here and the First Massachu-
 sets regiment is expected tomorrow. Signal corps are on their way and be-
 fore the enemy can reach the harbor it is believed that every point will be cov- cred and every channel approach to the
 harbor adequately guarded. The har-
 bor is being mined and plans made for
 both day and a night attack. E.
 Major A. R. Chaffee is expected here te-morrow, when he will assume per-
 sonal command of the defending forces. It was expected that an official test of the searchlights would be made to- night. but such was not the case.
 Portland, Me, Aug. 2l.--Rear Ad- miral Barker has received sealed irl- structions relating to the attack The contents are unknown to General Chaf- fee, in command of the army Accord mg to the rules for the manoeuvres. the Blues. two sauadrons of battleships lo- cated at Guantanamo and Culebra, are covered by superior allied fleet of red and black, when the political situation
 in the United States is suddenly strain ed to rupture. A strong red fleet, con- sisting of - vessels, including torpedo
 boats, sails at 6 p. rh., August 2S, from the port of X, heading south with the
 following sealed orders:
 sThe red fleet at x will proceed at once to Portland, Me, seize and hold the same as a base of operations
 Information of the sailing fleet from X is received at Portland six hours af- ter its departure. The time required for red fleet to reach Portland is fifty four hours. It will be assumed that prior to the sailing of the red fleet from A 3i4O CHeiuiltlS are lLllHGu VI OuSlIuGLSus Thereafter all enterprises sanctioned by international law are permitted.
 It is desirable that the operations of the fleet should include all channels of Iapproach to Portland and embrace a re-
 connaissance in force and attempt to destroy mine fields; a day attack: a night attack, and, if practicable, the forcing of passage.
 Preparations will be made to resist attacks on forts by landing parties. The period of hostilities shall be from midnight of August 25 to noon on Au- gust 29, The period from midnight Au- gust 2S to midnight August "A shall be
 known as the period of preparations Newport, Aug. 21.-To-morrow is the time set for the troops in the various forts in this district to go into camp on a war footing, and from that time on
 for one week the drills will be carried on as if a state of war existed. This is in conjunction with the joint war games off the coast of Maine, and although it is not expected that any of the ships of the enemy will make their appear tance off Newport, the troops will be
 ready to repel any attempt to land if one is made.