The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-18 00:00:00

M.P.'S OUT FOR A HOLIDAY;

On Saturday about 300 members of the House of
Commons availed themselves of Lord Charles Beres-
ford's invitation to witness the naval operations at
Portsmouth. The Speaker, being kept up to four
o'clock in the morning, did not find himself equal to
catching a nine-o'clock train. Nearly 400 invitations
had been accepted, and the prolonged debate of the
previous night must doubtless be held accountable for
the great number of the absentees. Mr. Matthews
was the only Cabinet Minister of the party, and Col.
Nolan, Sir Joseph WlCenna, and one or two others
represented the Parnellite party. Liberal Unionists
were present in great strength, as well as the members
of the Gladstonian party. On the arrival at Ports-
mouth of the special train the distinguished visitors
were divided into parties under the guidance of naval
officers specially detached, to make a tour of the
establishment. Most of the members made a careful
inspection of the turret style of ship as exemplified
by the Duke of Edinburgh, and the barbette style as
seen in the Collingwood. Attended by the chief
officials of the port, Lord Charles Beresford's
party were conveyed to Whale Island, where
luncheon was served. Afterwards the visitors
took up positions on the elevated platforms, and the
mimic battle commenced. Captain Domvile, of the
Excellent, was in command of the operations. The
•
attacking force consisted of a squadron of gunboats—
the Blazer, Mastiff, Pike. and Snap which were
moored in Porchester Lake, a good position from
which to shell the island and cover the landing of a
storming party. This latter consisted of about 600
men, with four field guns, in ten launches. The de-
fending force numbered 200,with eight guns, and occu-
pied a new gun battery at the crest of the beach. The
defenders also possessed an armoured train, with a
enick-firing gun, and had laid down two mines of
200 lb. of powder each, and had two outrigger torpedo
boats to prevent the advance of the storming party.
The action commenced by the gunboats opening a
shell fire on the island, to which the battery replied:
This was soon silenced, and then the boats of the
storming party advanced. The defenders now fired
their submarine mines, but prematurely, the effect,
however, being very pretty, and showing the damage
which could be done to the vessels of a landing party
in actual warfare. The boats were soon on thebeach ;
with great smartness the suns were got out, dragged
up the the steep incline, and brought into action, a
rapid fire being poured on the now retreating de-
fenders. These presently rallied and returned the
fire, the action now waxing very warm. Being
threatened by a flank movement, the defenders were
compelled to dismount their guns, and retreat to the
viaduct leading to the mainland, the armoured train
in the meantime doing effective service. On reaching
the parade ground the retreating party took
shelter behind the buildings there, and made
another attempt to keep back the invaders, but to no
purpose, as the storming party dashed forward with
a ringing cheer' and captured the position. The de-
fenders retired to the viaduct, over which they re-
treated on the armoured train. When all was safe,
the end of the viaduct was blown up, thus effectually
preventing further pursuit: A few volleys from
either side concluded the engagement, and a march-
past follee-. After leaving the island the party
embarked in tugs, and were conveyed up the harbour
to the Actscon, where they witnessed two interesting
experiments. Two launches, supposed to be the
enemies' ships making for the harbour, encounter an
obstruction and discharge a submarine mine. A tre-
mendous eruption of water followed the explosion, but
the experiment was so arranged as not to endanger
the launches. The operation is called "bumping"
the mines. Two other boaia supplied with a long
pole of 30 feet, with an explosive charge at the end,
demonstrated how much damage they could do to an
enemy, without hurting themselves, if under cover of
darkness or fog they could get within touching
distance. After these experiments two of the tugs
proceeded down the harbour along with the admiral's
yacht to Spithead to witness the evolutions of eight
first-class torpedo boats. Some very clever manceuvring
took place, the torpedo boats steaming at full speed,
and showing that our sailors have not lost their
cunning in the art of seamanship. The tugs returned
to the dockyard, and the members left by special
train for London.