The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-27
WAR GAME
tconnnusd Prom FIRST Pars.,

for its purpose the training of the
officers Of the feet. The problem on
the part of the Atlantic feet was In
brief. to prevent a more powerful
fleet than our own from establishing
a base az some point between East
port. Maine. and Cape Hatteras, from
which TO invade the country. When
Admiral Fletcher moved out from
New York at noon OF May Is with
the J fleet he faced the difficult
problem OF meeting an enemy strong
er than his own in every branch ex-
cept submarines and especially IN
scouts. Admiral Fletcher's plan OF
defense was excellent. but was not
successful owing TO weather condi-
lions n marked superiority OF the
enemy In scouts.
The attacking Red feet under
Rear Admiral Beatty appeared az a
distance OF several hundred miles by
a line OF fast scouts spaced at inter
walls n covering a front OF nearly
five hundred miles: behind this line
and ready to stiffen Il al any point
where necessary came a line OF bat
tie ecruisers and armored cruisers.
These Red sccouts and cruisers mad
the problem not only of locating the
Blue heet but also OF preventing any
concentration of ships from the Blue
neet from breaking through a weak
point In their line and attacking the
Red transports following behind the
main Red fleet. These transports
were intended TO effect a foothold on
the coast and maintain themselves
there until r-einforcements could be
brought to their support.
Out OF Action.
The advance forces came in con-
tact soon after daylight on the goth.
Withinsa few hours about hall of the
Blue scouts had been put out Of ac-
ton. the nos effective work against
them being done by the enemy's
battle cruisers. whose high speed and
Icing range enabled them TO pick on
the slower and weaker Blue cruisers
almost at will. at the same time elud-
ing the supporting dreadnaughts. Ad-
miral Fletcher withdrew TO the north
west, using his remaining scouts 10
search and guard the area from which
he believed the Red feet would pass
II IL contemplated landing on the New
England coast. This was. as a matter
OF fact. Admiral Beatty's plan, al
though Admiral Fletcher had not actu-
ally located the Red feet. The Blue
feet succeeded In protecting this re-
zion and forcing Admiral Beatty in
the end to seek an opening TO the
southwark.
In the meantime Admiral Beatty
was holding his main force well out
to sea and following up every move
OF the defending fleet with his scouts.
Thus one feet was able to make every
move with knowledge OF the enemys
whereabouts. while the other was in
the dark. When convinced that no
opening vas to be expected along the
New England coast. Admiral Beatty
turned toward the south and passed
around the flank OF the defending
forces. starting out about noon OF
the 24th for the Chesapeake. During
the night OF the oath Admiral Fetch
er left he vicinity OF Cape Cod. where
he had remained for three days. and
moved southwark. News Of this move
almost Immediately reached Admiral
Beatty. who was. AZ that time. heading
for Cape Henry. over 100 miles ahead
OF the Blue fleet.
Accomplished Purpose.
AT Oon on the 25th Admiral Beat.
~ turned back with most of his heavy
Z ships TO meet and engage the Blue
fleet, his transports In the meantime
continuing south with a strong escort
toward h mouth OF Chesapeake nay.
A. the force with which he thus
threatened the Blue feet was decided
~ more powerful than that which Ad-
miral Fletcher could bring to meet IL.
end a. the submarines OF the defend.
ing force were not near enough to
take part In the engagement. the UNI
pire decided that Admiral Beatty's
forces could. without difiaulty. seira
= base In or lear the Chesapeake
Bay. that the Red force had been sue.
cessful In its object. and that tho
s~irategical maneuvers were az an
d end"