Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22

rious .fhan moving toy, boats about a great
checkerboard table in childlike, 'aiuless-
manner.
on their knees with muscles tense and
foreheads deeply wTfhkled with thought,
,isey seem as though the very fate of
nation hung upon the movement of tiny
ship either a fraction Of an inch to the
right or 10 the left
Hour after hour these men play with
their toys.
: The little ships are moved from first one
side of the board to the other; and each
move is accompanied by EXPLANATIONS of
eAultation or murmurs of disappointment.
such is the great naval war game
he fate of nations does depend on the
movements of these toy ships, for these
men. at play are none other than Uncle
sans greatest naval officers, to whom is
Entrusted the protection of the Stars and
Stripes on the high seas.
Ofhcers are ordered TO the Naval War
College at Newport to learn to fight. They
study war from scientific point of view.
They learn that brute strength does not
Always win the daE. Often a wrestler of
S.iSht build VIII throw a great hulkino
opponent because Of his superior skill. II
IS just the same in war. The sagacity of
Il great strategist will often overcome
staggering odds and win battle
< x
War is a game. But it is a terrible
game where everything is thrown into
the balance against national dishonor ana
oeIeat' thousands OF men, to the extent
of every tirst-boru, sf necessary, and the
resources of nation are sacrificed Ia
gain the crown of victory
War is like chess There are cert,;,,
fundamental rules dafniteIy interpre,ed
under which all modern war must be con.
Quoted There are chess PLAYERS who GOV
invariably win against unbelieyabIe osas
II is the same In war
Give some adnirals feet but half the
strength Of an enemy's feet and tbev
will win nearly every time II is hece',s
they are greater strategists than the
.nemys leader. In any event IL tba
strength OF two forces is equal victory
would probably 90 TO the leader who
snew most about the business of war.
1t IL TO teach naval officers to overcome
great odds, and to win when he has
fewer pieces than his opponent that
Uncle Sam conducts his war classes at
Newport. only men who have shown
exceptional ability. and particular anti
tude are ordered TO the school. For The
most part they are weather-beafen can
tains destined to command the great
Hreadnoughts, fleet units. and, perhaps
Inc entire fleet itself.
There is always sprinklinr Of
younger officers who have been chosen
as commanders of torpedo destroyers and
submarines. These deadly little craft
have most important places in battle,
and it would never do to intrust them to
commanders who had not the slightest
idea of the finer points of the game. 1t
- a distinct honor to graduate from the
Naval War College. and no officer really
believes his life complete unless he has
taken the course.
A wooden table twenty feet square, rep
resenting a portion of the open sea, is
The game board. 1t is of solid construc-
ton TO enable the players to move freely
about on it without the risk of a tumble.
IL is marked of in four-inch units, each
tour inches representing TOUR mlIes. The
board is theoretically 30 miles square
and each square inch of it's surface rep
-esents one square mile of ocean.
When the battle or maneuvers are to
De played near a great naval base port
or island. the topography of the coast
line at that place is drawn. infinitely
accurate to scale on the table. At the
end of the game this is erased or per-
laps. if the scene of the conflict shifts
20 another point near land the old coast
inc is, erased and continuation of it
substituted.
Pieces Tor the game consist of tiny
tHats, less than an inch long, represent