The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-25
TEE FIRST E4yAL BATTLE.

The French Fleet Lured into Range Of the
Gunbonts Drache, Bfitz, md Nm lama nder
A ThrecHourr' Running Fieht-The
Explosion Of n Shell the Deck Of a
French vessci-The Prussisns Unhn rmed.
LoSpoS, Aug. 94-our special correspondent
sends from Hamburg, Monday, an account of the
first naval engagene OF the war.
On the morning Of The tTtn Inst, the Ger man de-
spatch boat Grille started out Of the bay Of Rureu
to reconnoitro the position and strength of the
French ships Of war, whose arrival In the neighbor
hood had been reported, though nobody had as yet
seen them.
After proc eoding out TO unit, within sight Of
the DAMS issnd OF Moen the Gisee at length dis
covered the tan masts Of the squadron consisting Of
seven iron clad rigatcs and couple OF smaller
sells and approached boldly until within 5000 PAGES
The French then opened Gre, and directed several
broadsides at the little craft. at the same time civ
ing chase, every and then lying to to fire few
shots at her pursuers from her two rned twelve.
Founders in answer to the guns OF the whole
ncet
She lured them TO follow her az far M the post
house Wilton, where the three guuboats, Dracho,
Bltz, and Salamander were lying which. on hear
ing the report OF the cannonading at sea- Immediate
~ got up their steam and weighed anchor to stand
by their corsort.
The Commodore Of the little squadron Captain
Count Won Waldcrsee, made the signal to the COM
mander Of each gunboat TO attack tue enemy at his
own discretion, which produced loud cheers, and
they all steamed out ready for action with tho
superior force OF the enemy. After running fight
three hours, the gunboats, finding that their guns
harmless against the plated sides OF the iron
clads returned to the protection OF their shore bat
| teries toward evening. II is thought the French
pointed their guns in good direction they either
FIRED TOO mon TOO Low;
but 1t was difficult in fresh breeze 10 take steady
aim at the little gunboats lying low in the water and
| painted gray. to be almost invisible. Several
saots from the gunboats hit their marx and shell
| from tae Snlmander was to explode on the
deck OF one OF the ships, and done some damage 10
the men a, the guns The German foilll suffered
no losso whatever, thought It might nav be-. very
| different had any OF the twenty-eight centmetre
shells fred from the French SHIPS taken eiiec, and
| EXPLODED on TUE prcE
OF the gunboa,s. The latter having filled up their
stock Of ammunition AMI Goals At stt.; iln' re-
turned 10 their stations In the outer fCa - where
Our srscia correspon dent with tao Gro "a P.iacss
| headquarters describes
| TnE COMMANDMENT OF rHAL>BuRG.
Prslsburr has already de,ainc I..1gir of Ger.
| IL showed no e ms OF givin, -
True. the ggas thGe detsiuD Hrt q i'h' cqi.b." (;
| they are nevertheless ..nt irS-n sIcr " ORR. and
this is sonet1ing for n sdsbs-i! - g.. Ti.o town
| was sLar;ly cdnaouAded lis ~..is4, aid
| / went to sec tic German lpttr-'"' e1ea
| the fire. There was shfht iaz' over TIE
| surrounding country q. daYJro * hI. "a sac
| sun grew more powerful tie haze n d ia' ,
genti, driving clouds. A bTcsli ia strong enoash
| Of tie tall poplar trees along ta' strl'-t fr'1cl
chausee. and 1t was altogether H. ia l'a, Z IS
| you could Ni-I to see. Er ln hl.i9cs .,.! .
| Village ofZfirS there was g2!caai w o: bJtt
the uuack and dere,.ce.