The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-14

officers, for not only are the torpedo
boats difficult to "pick up with search
lights on account of their color and low
ness in the. water, but by reason of their
high rate of speed they nre not easily
put out of commission by the shore bat
teries.
The forts scout boat, ''Reno," with its
wireless installation, Gun be of little SER
vice in giving warning OF an approach,
for the odds are all with the dcstroyers.
and it is more than probable they will
capture the scout which steams Mt
only one-half the speed.
What Game is.
The game is something like this: AT
the fort watch is kept from a dozen
H''lookouts,' day and night, while after
dark powerful searchlshts play over the
bay, doing detective duty. Should a YES
sci come within range Of the lights, she
is Immediately flooded with the rays OF
the "searchers," and If she proves to be
Of ''the enemy a call to arms is in
stantly sounded in every camp and like
magic batteries are manned and ready
for action. Up in the range finding tow
crs, stretching for q mile and q half
along the coast, officers and men care
fully calculate the distances and speed
Of the ships, and phone the data to the
officers on the ramparts above the COM
handing officers quarters, from which
place it is in turn phoned TO tho bat
terry commander. AS the warships come
|; close in, firing as they approach, sud-
denly the great twclve-inch guns rear
themselves above the parapet and throw
ing death and destruction from their muZ-
zlcs. disappear agtin like magic. At six
or seven miles tho effectiveness of their
fire is more than 50 per cent. and no
ship is thought to be able to withstand
their fire.
Not less dangerous than tho twelve
inch guns are the powerful 1,000-pound
mortars, whose work the whole military
world is watching to-day, for, it is said,
the navy has not been able yet to find
any means of defense against them.
Not only must the ships escape tho
great guns and mortars, but also must
they pass safely over the extensive mine
field before they can make a claim of
victory"
1t is hardly possible that any war
ship other than a torpedo destroyer will
accomplish the feat.
After an engagement has taken place,
the flagship Texas sends up q rocket at
night and dips her colors during the
day, to indicate that the exercises arc
over for the time being.
d NOIl!nS 1uItHGTaE CdIl lucll. ne ruuict Oll
either side. An armstico is declared
until every warship has disappeared,
when tho game is once more on. So it
is that for this whole week an inccssant
watch must be kept, for a minute of
carclcssness might mean defeat for the
coast defense artillery.
Club Members Going.
on Saturday it is rumored the mem
hers OF the Westmoreland Club will visit
Fort Monroe, running down ON their.
special train Not many years ago the
club made a pilgrimage to Hampton
Roads to present n loving cup to the
Texas, the Richmond built battleship Of.
the navy, which Is now the flagship of
Admiral Dicsins, commanding the hostile
fleet engaged against Fort Monroe.
The Texas, Hartford, Hornet and an
other small boat are at anchor about
ton miles from the fort, evidently walt
Ing for the other vessels of the fleet to
rendezvous. 1t Is thought that mn at
tack will take place to-night. The war
ships are hardly dlscernible through pow
erful glasses, ms the weather is misty
and the sky Is overcast.