The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-06-15
WAR GAME ATTACK ON
WASHINGTON BEGINS
Two Of Attacking Fleet Theoret-
ically Sunk by the Fort
Howard Guns.
THE PLAY IS IMPORTANT
u Will Disclose Weakness in the De-
Tense OF the National Capital
Novel Method OF Defending
the Potomac.

Baltimore. June ii-Admiral Dicklns'
squadron made demonstration on To-
cal fortlfcations early this morning
and four :rpedoboat des;royers were
theoretically blown out or the water by
artillcrymen stationed at Fort Howard.
Then he battleship Texas made a
frontal demonstration and from sew
en-foot knoll fired her big and little
guns at Fort Howard While the Texas
was making this demonstration n swift
cruiser made nank movement and
went up the bay toward Rooles island.
IL was discovered Ia the nick OF time
by men at Fort Howard. who fired on
the ship. The fire was returned and
after u. ,ly skirmish the gunners at
the fort theoretically sent both the
Texas and the cruiser To the bottom.
Expected a Night Attack.
Fort Monroe. Va, June 1.-THE vigil
OF searchlights OF the artillery defenses
here last night was fruitless None OF
the units OF Admiral Dickins fleet. con-
shutting the naval side or the joint eN-
ercIses of the army and navy. was
picked up during the night. The prac-
tice ot the scarchlights was declared To
be most satisfactory. Their range.
however IN far short OF the twelve
mile channel available To Admiral Dick
inns and the supposition IL the could
have run the capcs anS proceeded To
Washington ana Baltimore from the
ocean unobserved II he had So elected.
Could Sink Them on rotomae.
Washington. June I.-WashiEgton
according To American military SCI
entists. IL ms perfectly fortified city
as there Is In the world. IL IT, In mill
tary equipment and scientific organizn-
ton OF defenses. what the Russians
thought Port Arthur was. and what the
Japanese proved Port Arthur was not.
The combined naval and military ma
neuyers which will be held during the
week beginning June IL are designed To
determine TO what extent the Americans
have been guilty OF the Russian crime
uf oyerConfidence. IL In claimed that
Washington In ConstructiVely impreg-
nable To "A sea attack. The navy will
conduct an attack and the land forces
VIII undertake the defense. The move
ment Ii intended To test the defensiblc-
ness OF both Washington and Balti-
more. but especial attention viii be CIV
en- to the capital,
Probably nowhere I'm the world IL
there to be seen "A better example of
the method OF modern coast defense
than In the protection Of the Chesa-
peake bay cities. II you will take a
large map showing the coast region
from Fortress Monroe. at the mouth os
the bay, up to Baltimore. and will. with
ruler and pencil. cover II with a
myriad OF little squares, you viii have
the basis OF the modern plan of de-
Tense. These squares. as they are drawn
and numbered and carefully recorded
on the military maps, are OF about lJ0
yards.
Now imagine a series Of forts along
l.s,N h..
river, I'm which huge guns. many III
them Of the disappearing pattern. are
mounted. Add to this a conception Of
many skiifully concealed observation
points These observation points are all
connected by telegraph and telephone
wires. and In addition wireless equip
mcnts are now installed at many
points.
How the Plan Works.
Imagine n hostile feet To have passed
Fortress Monroe. as u might easily do
and ia attempt To sail up the Potomac
From the nearest point 81 observation
/ "a telephone message would be sent "a
every company In charge OF huge
battery OF coast defense artillery. stat
ing that hostile ships were In squares
Nos. lie. $40 and i2.Is1. for instance
The men behind the gun would not
see any OF the ships. they would not
need TO see them. They would raise
4 their pieces. aim them "a the designat-
/ ed squares. insert the proper charges
and IRE into the air. But the huge
! shells would come down exactly where
they were wanted. maybe ten. maybe
fifteen miles away. As the hostile
/ ships change their positions the gun
ners. under the wired instructions
| change range and elevation and charge
For every square OF the thousands or
their maps. the exact range. elevation