New-York tribune., 1900-09-26
ANOTHER TORPEDO ATTACK.
A VICTORY CLAIMED-DECISION GIVEN
on MONDAY NIGHTS BATTLE.
rsr TELEGRAPH To The rRIBuSE.I

tBT TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE-l
Newport r. l. Sept 2j.-This has been IN ex-
citing day for the officers and men on the tor
pedo boat fotiUa OF the North Atlantic squad
ron. The War Board has decided that the tor
pedo boats lost last night
The War College. considering the proposition
from an official point Of view this afternoon. de-
clared against the torpedo boats Their report
is based on the reports OF the different UUpires
who were stationed about the bay. They say
that the torpedo boats failed in their attacks
on tie feet. The umpires give victory TO the
hlockading feet. but assert that the attacking
feet ran the forts. though they were badly Grip
pied IN the running
HOW THE TORPEDO BOATS ENTERED.
The Board reports as follows regarding the
torpedo boats. Four boats went up the vest
passage. The lights from Fort Greble sighted
three-the Porter. the Norris and the Crwynn.
and put them out OF action The Rodgers es-
capped. went up around Conauicut Point. and
came down on the vicksburg, which picked her
up with her one light. but as the Vicks5urg
was rated as a batueship she is regarded
having put the torpedo boat OUT Of commission
with full complement Of lights. The Dahlgren
and the StLetto came in by the main passage.
The Dahlgren was picked Up by the lights at
both Fort Adams and Fort Werhereu and put
OUT Of action The Stietto ran the forts, The
lights OF which could not be kept on her the
necessary two minutes, but the claim that The
StiIetto torpedoed the Massachusetts has not
been acted upon.
In the passage Of the big ships the intervals
between them represented Two other ships ana
The Board Is Of the opinion that with the actual
ships leading the column and the imaginary
ships in the rear. the fire from the actual ships
yvoEId have bAen so great that il would have had
4 serious effect on the forts. and that the ships
would have supported each other. and the forts
would not have had such good opportunity 70
+ concentrate their r-e-
The claim that the Leyden. representing
/ battIeship and anchored north of Dumping
Rock, ramned the Aearsarse has not Yer been
I acted on. The Board is or the oplE-on that a
torpedo boat Is far from being invisible without
a light. on account OF her bow wave, and II a
vessel is under way, with lights properly ulaulp-
/ uIated. she has good chance Of escaping from
/ z single or 4 small number of torpedo boats 4
4 vessel remaining at anchor, and within q short
/ would make a shield for the torpedo boat, is in
/ imminent danger Of being torpedoed-
Admiral Farquhars report VIII be made 10 the
/ Navy Department and until that has been
acted on ne viii give Eothins TO The press.
LAST NIGHTS WORK
The problem before the North Atlantic squad
I ron tonight involved a blockade OF Newport
| Harbor by the red feet and an attack by the
/ torpedo fotiIIa. including the submarine boat
I Holland The Kearsarse Indiana Texas and
I Two gunboats went 10 sea at > 2. M. and took
up widely separated stations far al sea The
Z
Holland slowly bringing up the rear The boats
/ were ready 10 attack al : o'clock but had some
/ trouble finding the feet
The batrleships did not use their searchIighrs
/ as they had the night before, and the torpedo
/ boats had needle hunting time OF IT, The
/ Scorpion and the Eagle were darting around
! trying 10 avoid the much feared Holland The
/ little Gwin fell into the wake Of the Scorpion
! and followed her for twenty-seven minutes AT
SLa Trar
/ signal she was so close that the rocket fell on
! the gunboats stern The Gwtn also asserts
/ that she pur the Eagle. The Rodgers
l the Gwin and the Morris finally sighted the
1 Kearsarge and went at her from different di-
| rections. The Rodgers was put out. but the
/ Norris declares she escaped the searchlight and
/ torpedoed the flagship
! The DahIgren ran TO open sea searching for
/ bv finding the Indiana, and her officers claim a
strike OF the Texas nothing was seen by any
| OF the boats The Leyden, torpedo station tug
/ tried 70 run the blockade, but was put out BY
/ the Scorpion
/ All OF 'to-uighrs action took place five or six
+ miles beyond Brentons Reef lghtship. The
/ only display was the occasional glare Of red
or green rocket. and the silver trail left BY the
! torpedo boats as they rushed back TO station
/ Commander Mason, Of the torpedo station
/ SAYS that ne is confident his boats have scored
] a victory tonight He says he Is ready % make
/ a big fight for the War Boards decision. The
! torpedo boat Heutenants came into port indig-
/ nant because the big feet had scattered 50. They
say that the close blockade demanded by the
{
The submarine boat Holland, nearly sub
/ merged, ran i've miles sea before sight
+ ing anything. Only when the ships fred rockets
/ could she get any line their position Lieu
I tenant Caldwell, OF the Holland. expected that
. the bIoczading fleet would use their searchllghJs
freely. and hoped 10 show what the disappearer
could do. He finally made out a small light on
/ the kearsarge, and made all speed in her di-
rection He stopped close 90 the batleship's
side
! We've got you"' cried Lieutenant Caldwell
/ from an open port The voice seemed 10 come
from the sea itself, and some OF the loOkOuts
on the Kearsarge nearly fell overheard with sur
prise. Part OF the Hollands pride IN the sue
cessful attack was taken away when officer
I yelled back. We've been torpedoed several
times already. thank you"
Captain Gable. who represents the Holland
company here, says that the submarine boat did
not have fair trial He SAYS the hattleships
J AFRAID nf ha- M ken