Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-24

Colonel General stan,
Chief of STAR.
Of1ciai;
W a. SIMPSON,
Adjutant General. Adlutant.
The first Of the winters sessions OF
the Coast Artillery War Game was
held al the Portland Armory Thurs
DAY. November 18th, The program
caIs Tor the assembling Of the Of
ticers Of the Corps for this pu~pose
once each month under the instruc-
tion of Capt. E VI. Niles, [. :. A. IL
spect instructor. During the WIN
Ter Capt Niles VII conCQct a con-
secutive campaign AGAINST the coast
defenses Of Portland The situ4ton
as outlined by him contempiates me
rout Of our Blue feet in sea fight
off Cape cod and the subsequent es-
tablishmen1 Of q naya. base hy The
enemy fleet in the vicinity Of Small
Point Thursday EVENINGS phase
! consisted OF an early morning recon-
aaissance by several hostile divisions
10 develop the location Of our coast
defense batteries and observing sta
lions The main reconnaissance was
conducted by a division Of two old
line battleships and division OF des-
troyers al shorter range, supported
hv a division of four superdread-
nauehts lying just outside the zone OF
fire. Heavy mortar fire was brought
TO bear upon the two battleships, one
of which was declared destroyed. The
position Of the heavy rife batteries
was not disclosed, but the destroyer
division, dashing past the forts al
25 knot clip al comparatively short
range. was able to detect some groups
of observing stations. directing the
FIRE Of the attacking feet upon them
with some consequent damage 10 sta
t,ons and power plants. AT the con-
clusion of the phase the desToyers
formed a dense smoke screen covering
the withdrawal of the remaining bat
tieship.
Plans are being completed for q
Military demonstration at the Port
land Armery Friday. January 2lst.
celebra ting the installation of the
complete Coast Artillery armament
presented by the War Department.
Portland now has the best equipped
Coast Artillery Armory in the United
States The equipment includes a
full sized 10 inch disappearing rife
and carriage observing stations
plotting rooms. power plants, case
mates. magazines. searchlght and
raj io station. all exact counterparts
| of the apparatus in our most modern
/ Coast Defenses. This demonstration
will depict practical work Of Coast
Artillery troops acting as infantry In
the field as well as the handling of
our coast defense batteries under ser
vice conditions, Invitations will be
! issued to the Governor of Maine and
his staff the Mayor and City Officials
of Portland, the officers of the Port
land Chamber of Commerce and
many other prominent citizens Of
Portland and the State.
An invitation is being extended TO
the members Of the State Grange to
visit the Portland Armory during the
coming session of the State Grange
in December and inspect the modern
coast Artillery armament which has
! Just been installed there by the War
| Department for the training of our
| citizen soldiers. An afternoon and
evening will be set aside for this pur-
pose and a staff of officers and com
petent enlisted men will be detailed
/ to properly entertain the visiting
Changers and demonstrate for them
our methods of coast defense. In
view of the great interest which is
being taken in the question of ma
tional defense il is believed that a
great number OF members attending
the State Grange meetings will avail
themselves Of this exceptional oppor-
tunity.