The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
LESSONS OF THE SHAM WAR.
NEAL RESULTS or ENGAGEMENTS
NOT MADE PuBLIC.
EXPERTS, However, Are Not Much Concerned
About whether the Army or Navy Won
Rules Laid Down We're Not Observed
at All Times--lnterest In Coming Report.

at Al Tin,es--lnterest In Coming Report
Fort MONROE, Va. June 1.-THE joint
army and navy war exercises ended at noCn
to-day and the next thing in order is the
consideration OF the report of the umpi'cs
and observers and the ultimate formation
OF plans for the improvement OF the coast
defense and the naval service, based on the
facts broight out.
Such marked degree Of secrecy has been
maintained here during the week that out
siciers have had much difficulty in getting
A, the real results Of the various engage
ments between Major-Gen. Wade's land
forces and the naval enemy" under Admiral
pickns In many cases it was absolutely
impossible to obtain official information
Of any kind thus making it necessary to
RELY altoget her on the purely obvious phases
Of the exercises. 1t is the purpose Of those
in authority to make no public statement
concerning the manner in which the various
problems prescribed by the board from
the War and Navy Colleges have been
worked out.
The order as to the manner in which the
proper authorities will arrive at their con-
cI,sinns rega riding the constructive slencing
Of land battery o. tn, sinking or dis
uIIIlB Oh a UNI IlttS uttli Pu''ii''
A. tn, ships and batteries are not to
10 ruled out, this order says. this cir
constance will be allowed for as follows;
Fire commanders will decide when. in
their opinion ships are to Ee considered
out of action and will communicate such
decision at once to the batteries, VINO for
the rest of that phase will regard ships
a. negligible units. The commandments
l;nr 10 Il; 81, nInt
will exercise the same prerogative in re-
gard to the elements of the land defenses.
he object of this provision is to permit
the withdra wal of fire from ships and de-
lenses that seem to lie out of action and
to permit concentration of fire on the re-
naming ships and defen-es This action
will te at the risk of the responsible COM
mander who orders it.
Apparently the later part of this rule
was not observed at all times. In prac-
ticaly every attack made here during the
week all the vessels of the fleet. or a part OF
them, continued to fire long after they must
inevitably have been disabled or sent to
the bottom had the conflict been real IN
stead Of theoretical
II remains to be seen whether the boa rd
Of review will take cogniAance Of this fact
in arriving at its final conc usions, but
the Ignoring of the rule mentioned seems
to have | cen so marked that 1t is difficult
to see how the board can avoid taking the
matter under consideration. The attacks
On NE Nat.e'les IN .'ie aitlllrrS ',lSVlic's y.
the fo'oI''a' anu on billllhoIe u!ousht oul
tle feNrrHe n.'ie Oh ll'e s'i.e POM, .l.e lot.s
FIRE on the ships as they We're sailing by,
III stoi shot range, and with all their guns
silent.
Nh.It' sucl, iea'uIes az .hese cav d
cise., there can be no doubt that much
good will result from the tests of the per-
soili'eI anu ma 'ai Oh potn Nioes' lht'i'
100 many Ni'ai iacts were developed "hlcr
can Ne used 10 Erea. pLao.',al a Nv neii
N 'he future. ohe OF the'e was the eI'ci-
ehcy OF shore searchhen,s. Az ll'seh.
seIy ie" o. ine lor.a sral,'reu along .ne
"AtIahuc ''uii ana facliic coasts are
EQUIPPED with me nights nu. lhe iem Iont
etiat"n ol lhe'r value our ny 'ns ias'
week VIII doubt!ess nave 'he erect oi ca US
ing them TO he purchased ana placed as
!asldly as the aNalahie ll't'ns " NJ permit.
lTll M"hroe sit'ot ll".ec, w si i. ai'ue
.HSateane Day. ''I 49, IT. et
s'raled mat TACT c9hclusiNely. lht search
,ighls cannot PICK w. Vessels coming II,
ne."eel ',Ie cal'eS' nor can w "e' ~ -
batteries mere reach thehi' ohr OF tht,
results VIII pr"nanIy be tne renewal OF
the aendllon LOT tile eSlapi'7'''s'en' Oh q
lori d. iorl tiehry Sucn e" ior' couu
prevent me entrance OF al large vessels
but smaller ones might ge' IN through a
chahhei very close 10 APE 'harieI, me
shoalest point IN which Is about eighteen
feet ar mean tide. The ESTABLISHMENT OF n
SUBSIDIARY battery on cape Charles; now
ever, would cover ne entrance TO the bay
most enecuvry; Inc cost OF such loru-
nca.lons "9uid be qui'e heaNy' ana .om-
gress VII doubtless move slowly, II at ALL
IN providing funds for their CONSTRUCTION.
Even though hostile fleet should succeed
IN getting by the home feet, winch would
naturally he set to protect the lower END OF
the bay IN me event OF war, It could not nope
70 90 any Damage TO either Washington or
baltimore ne NINE system whlci the land
FORCES operated 50 ehectlNely during the
exercises could possibly perform the Work OF