The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-07-18 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF THE FORTS.

The long.expectsd bombardment of the menacing
Egyptian forts at Alexandria oommenced at seven
o'clock on Tura& morning, and, according to
Admiral Sir lieaocaamp Soymour's telegram to the
Admiralty, the shike engaged were the Inflexible,
11,40.) tons, turret slue mounting four guns of 81-tons
each, and werong armour of from 16 to 24 10ch..; the
Terneraire. 8.540 tons, mounting eight hoary gum,
four of 25-tons each and four of 18-tons each, and
carrying eight and ten inch armour; the Superb, 9,100
tons, mounting four 25-ton guns, and being protected
by 10 to 12-inch armour; the Sultan, 9,290 to
mounting eight 18-ton guns and four 12-ton guns, and
carrying armour of from 6 to 9 inches in thickness ; the
Alexandra (Admiral Beauchamp Seymour flagship),
9,490 tons, mounting two guns of 25 tons each and 10
of 18 tons each, and bearing armour of flu 12 inch..'
the Monarch, 8,320 tons, mounting four 25-tons and
two of si tons each, and being armoured with from 8
to 10 inches of iron ; the Invincible, 6,010 tons, monnt-
ing 10 to 12.t0n guns. and ontrfinif 8 to 10 Wm of
armour ; and the Penelope. 4,470 tons, also mounting
ten uten gone, and carrying sto inches of armour.
These eight powerful fighting shins were supported by
the gunboats Beacon, Bittern Cygnet, Condor. andDoooy. All the 13 Telesis woie fully manned, sad, is
addition to their heavy armament, most of them were
fitted with torpedoes and machine guns of the modern
Nordenfeldt and Getting patterns, Tha Egyptian
forts and batteries extended from Pharos Castle, on the
extreme east, to Marseel-fienat and Marabout Wind,
on the west.
The ironclad' =vied the following positions at the
commenosmont of the action :--Alexandra, Sultan,
Superb, under weigh on a N.E. by E. line from 1,1500
to 1,900 yards W. j N. &nook* Lighthouse.
Inflexible in Corvette Pam 3,7)0 yards N. by W. of
Moks Fort. ToSmirtire in Control Pass, 3.50019.N.W.
Maks, Penelope, In_vincible (flag), Monarch, 1,090 to
1,300 yards W. by N. bieks.
The chief fortifications 'between the two extreme
points were Fort Ada, on the pothers' point of the
town, • loag line of batteries extending from ehe east
of the .Tin Palate to the lighthonse at the shore
end of the breakwater, and the row of forts bearing
upon the outer harbour and mooring the road by
which vernal, must steam after pandng the shore by
way of either ths Corvette Pam,, the Boghas Central
PAIS, or the Marabout, or Western Pass, to get inside
the breakwater. To. forts prewanted an almost
=brown line of defences, from Forte Toole, to the
south.witst of the landing piece, to the tett and battery
of Maros-el-Kum; situated just where the shore
maths; away to the north. Then come the long stretch
of low sand hills terminating in Chersonass Point,
which was protected by Fort Adjenii and the guns of
Marabout Island, covering more or less effectually the
Marabout Pass, with its five or six fathoms of water,
Thera were therefore two distinct systems of Menai—
those which protected the new port and ...tern town
and of which Forte Phone and Ada were the principal,
and than which prote-Aed the sat:sow to the outer
western herbour. Admiral fleymosr'a plan of attack
oessistod of dividing bin vOloolooto as ImootkollY to

simultaneously bombard the whole of the Kgyptian
positions. The British men-al. war steamed into their
allotted poidtions at five o'clock in the morning, neutral
vesiels anchoring pit of range. The Alexandra, Sultan,
and superb etainned Lath, front. The first-named veinal
°ponied fire on the feet Biteal•Tin. The fire was returned
by the forts, aid then in rapid succession the British
irondads joined ia the bombardment. The Meartrob.
Penelope, and 'evincible engaged the forts guarding
the western harbour. They went right inside and fought
et dose quarters, being supported by Oa Tandralre in
Ilair heavy anomie& upon Fort Kelm. The Inflexible,
from the great range at her 81-ton gun, was able to
assist both the eastern and wawa equardrome of the
British fish, and meantime the gunboats were on the
earn= west Gagging the A.cljesai Fort and
Marabout Island. From the first the attack was
anoressfiaL no greet power of the naval guru and the
skilful way those guns were worked won took effect.
The Alermadra, &Uri, and Superb were oontlimously
engaged with the forts aloes the northern frost of the
town Iran fort Pharos to the lighthouse; but the first
Sgyptian disaster occurred at the other and of the line
of operatioas, Fort Maresal•Kariat being destroyed by
the lire of the Monarch and Invincible about hall-pest
vkikt o'clock in the morning, and exploding in • vast
sheet of flame. The gunboats were able to sileace the
Marabout forts soon after eleven o'clock. It was
evident that great damage had been done to all the
attacked prettiness, and whim the Temereire anchored
in the Central Pass and aided in the direct •
cannoned. upon Fort Meks at • distance of
• mile and three-quarters, the fate of that
work was waled. The liiindraire did great
*ma ti on, while the Inflexible f rum • longer
range kept up a good firs, assisting discloser bombard-
ment by the wagon« of the Monarch, Invincible, and
Penelope. On the other hand, the reply from the forts
was feeble and ill-directed, the misene either felling
abort of the ships or flying above their mastheads.
Fort Mika was unable to withstand the combined
attack, for the gonboats, after sileactog the Marabout
gum, eau close in and shelled Make, which was
captured by • Landing party and blown intei ruins.
tie the west, the Get had thus cio,npletely euoceeded,
end on the east UN Nee. amailing Fort Ada was now
straugthousd by the Inflexible, tins vaned brought
Der Wavy gaps ti bear upon the fort, the whole lace
of which was pounded into dust by the abide nom the
81.tonners. About • quarter pest one o'dook tits
magazine of Fort Ada bier up, and no further danger
was to be apprehended trues that pert of the defences.
Fort Phan* and the adjaceat batteries, however,
bold Out; so she Infierible and Wisner/dee turned the
toll power of thaw fire upon them poestioos, and by
four eniccot In the afternoon the tort and betteries
were silent and in ruins. Of the peatione attar-kid en
Comday, and sad capable of berating, there only
remand the haelioni forts, and upon them the
Monarch and other Telesis of the fleet directed their
batteries, until at ball-poet five in the afternoon filing
ceased for the nay. The Admualts telegram *Jaw-
ing the laid intimetioa says tn. Late were eileacied.
Of the ships engaged with Fort Kau the Penelope
was struck five temee, and had eight men wounded and
one gun disabled. Tim Invincium was struck many
times, but only six shots penetrated; her foreseen was
struck, and the fore/wet braces oat away. She had
six wounded. The Monarch was not hit nook probably
owing to her ability to shift her ground. Upon the
other hand, being in movement, the practice of her
guna was inferior to that of the Invincible. Tim
Superb was struck several times, and from where the
Invincible was lying it could be seen that her armour
had been patiatreted, Toe Monarch and the Peoslope
were both wutaurag clomp together, and tee soAr of
their heavy guns, taw ceseame ratds of their (lading.
and Nordenleit machines, and the rush of the rocketul
which the Monaca was discharging, added to the
sound of the levincibie's, made up a deep and oon-
tinu.ius din Impossible to describe, but which was
almost bewildering.
Tea seems tired,principally round shot, and directed
thew aim allay asalnsi 1110 Inflexible and Pen,lipe.
Lads caild be seen on either aide of the result of the
firing, as the smoke hung Us a veil between the ships
and the shore. .

At half•peet too the Khedive's Palace, called the
Kasel-Un, or the Harm Palace, lying behind the forts,
took fire, sod at the line of the report being nut
uff was still burning.
The fight was nearly over all along the line by
twelve o'clock, although the ships' all continued their
fire in order to complete the dismantlement of the
forts, and several small magazines were, in the Course
of the afternoon, exploded by our shell—a Large one iu
Fun Ada being Wows up by a lucky shot hose the
lufierible.

At one o'clock volunteers were called for on board
the Invincible to go legion and spike the gnus in Fort
Melee which the Ins of the ships had failed to dis-
mount Th. wore wee very Clingstone, for troops
might have beau lying behind the fort. However,
there were plenty of volunteers, and twelve men were
chosen for the adventure. Lieutenant Bradford was
in oommand, end Major Tulloch and Lieutenant
Lambton accompanied him. This duty was skilfully
and rapidly carried out. To effect a landing they
had to swim through the surf, but no opposition met
them as they lanced. Toe guns were bunt with
charges of gun Cotton, and the party returned on
board ship without • casualty.

The patty who loaded to destroy the &num saw
several deed lyiug Inside and the tote loot of the
enemy mud have been holey.
No message or news had reached the Fleet from the
town, end nothing was known of what was policing
there what lass had been suffered, or what holdup
had been excited among the soldiery or pvalace by
the event+ of the clay.

The We seers that reached tb• Float Wore the fight
commenced wee to the effect that the Nationals "
were about to cot the wire from India, 1112,1 were con.
aideriog the advaaeb"ity of blockteg the ()anal.

The events of Tuesday show that the determination
expressed by Arabi and his party to °pp..' the Fleet
the deatb has not so for beenavalu treat. They
fought their guns to the last, but the fire of the Fleet
was crushing, and the weight of our metal so superior
that their resistance, although very creditable, was yet
ineffective. They appear to have no wells which
was well for us, for had they used them Instead ol
round shot our casualties would have been very mach
larger. As it is, our success, although not bloodless,
Ins been achieved at • mach smaller cost than could
have been expected, seeing the fornild•bls nature of
the works we had to attack.

WILDIRSDAT.

A correspondent on the Invincible on Wednesday
says :—At eight o'slock this morning the Admiral
summoned the captains of the Fleet to • consultation
on board the Invinciole, and the result of the Sather.
anon was that the sea was too heavy for serious opera-
tions. Admiral Seymour therefore deferred the in-
tended attack upon the Marabout Forts but directed
the Tithidreire mid Inflexible ti watch the Hm-el•lia
and Ada Forte. At half-past ten the T6m6raire sig-
nalled that parties of soldiers were at work in the
buttery known settle Hospital Battery, which is armed
wilt guns on the Mom-nett priocipha Toe Tibigraire
aeLed, "Shall we fir• upon town to prevent repairs?"
The Admiral signalled his consent, and the two iron-
clads opened fire. Only six rounds of shot and dbrap-
nell were fired. AU took effect, the practice being
excellent, especially when the state of toe sea is wa-
ndered. The troops engaged upon the work at once
abandoned it, and the firing owed. The white flag was
now hoisted at the Lighthouse, and the Bittern gunboat
was sent inside with Fiat; Lieutenant Lambton on
board to inquire Si to the intentions of the Govern-
ment. After she had shroud of the Ttimgraire made
the following signal :—" The body of men whom we
saw working at the hospital battery dispersed after
our hat Shrapnel shell was fired and took refuge In
the casements clam by. We saw &boat 160 men,
armed with rifles, running towards Lighthouse Fort.
They carried bag,. We saw also an Egyptian General,
apparently Arabi himself, surrounded by his staff."
At hilt-pest three the Bittern returned alongside.
Lieutenant Lambton. on coming on board, reported
that the evident object of the hoisting of the flag of
t. Me was to gain nine When the Bittern went in
large bodies of troops were evacuating the barracks
behind the forts, going out in full marching order.
The Ministers bad no proposals of any kind to make.
Lieutenant biathlon informed them that be did not
come to offer °auditions, but to receive proposals.
He informed them that we did not consider ourselves
at war with Egypt, but that Mike Fort must be
occupied by our troops, and Fort Marabout destroyed.
They replied that Fort Marabout was already
evacuated, but could give no definite answer to Mob
Fort. Finding that no agreement was likely to be
arrived at, Lieutenant Lambton took his leave. Loufti
Psalm. the Military Governor, conducted the investiga-
tion. He was in oommiind during the action on Tuesday,
and admitted that the troops had suffered heavy loam.
According to his statement to myself at to what his
course would be were be driven from the forte, Arabi
I. preparing to evacuate Alexandria and resat in the
Interior. News has just been received that the
Orontes, with Marines, has arrived at Malta. The
Admiral has ordered her to come on here instantly.
The reinforcements she brings will be most welcome,
and will be of groat aarisiaaoe in lending parthe to
destroy the batteries, and, perhaps, to occupy per-
manently some of the principal tits. At five o'clock
this afternoon the Invincible fired a nine-inch shell at
Fort MA,. The shell struck the exact point aimed
at, sad in a short, tints flames broke out from the
beildiag. A few minutes after the shot was fired a
white flag wadi again hoisted. Donee nooks we. seen
riming over Alexandria from two quarters, and
another tire had just broken out. here are fears
that the mob ham begun to Pillage and destroy. Much
Irritation is expressed at the enemy's hoisting flare of
truce which they know to be melees when they will not
comply with our demands. The Admiral again
sent ashore to Inform the authorities that he
accepted the SAO of truce, but that it would
be the last trace to which he wouji agree,
and that henceforth he should consider that the
hoisting of • white flag signified unconditional
ankle iun
?. Bo far as Lientennet Lbton could judge
lie In the harbour, Aler.andria appeared to be
quiet, !h. hopebardiment had eventually produced •
great moral effect upon the military officers with
whom be conversed. If the Egyptian,' oppose our
troops with the ratae gnilaritr,y with which they
fought their four last guns yesterday, our soldiers will
hage their moth mil out for tileal before they roach
Osirn With tremendous fire of four ironclad.
concentrated upon them, with the forte mumbling is
nine among them, the. gnallem_ yet mot shot back
through the storm of shell and ballets for more than
an hour. Sir Beauchamp Seymour himself expressed
his ems of millet when at last it was • "dent that
the gene were silenced, and the unequal and heroic,
contest at an mid. Since his arrival here the admiral
has had indeed an anxious time of It; but, in the
unanimous opinion of the fleet, he has conducted the
difficult negotiations with tact, judgment, and dignified
. firmness, while the meaner In which he arranged the
action peeves his high capabilities for command.
From the beginning to the end there was not a single
hitch or the slightest confusion.