The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-30
N|GHI BEFORE BATTLE
Ports Along Atlantic Assume
Warlike Appearance.
FIGHT BEGINS SUNDAY
HigginsOn Puts Out to Sea 10
Locate.
TIGHT BEGINS SUNDAY

Newport, r. I, August 2s.-The night
before the battle finds the army of de-
tense in the several ports along shore
between New Bedford and the east en-
franc TO Long Island sound. practically
in readiness to repel the attack Of the
hostile feet. under the command OF Ad-
miraI Higginson. The only thing that
remains is the additional armament on
both sides. the Massachusetts heavy ar
tillery for the shore and the Msssachu-
sets, Connecticut and New York naval
militia for the fleet. These organiza-
tons will arrive tomorrow afternoon. The
artillery viii at once be distributed
among the posts at the entrance of Mar
rangansett bay and also at New Bedford
As 10 the naval militia, the gunboats
Maydower and Scorpion will be here in
readiness to receive the Massachusetts
and Connecticut troops, the New York
naval militia arriving on the Supply.
These boats will Immediately leave for
sea and militia will be distributed among
the vessels of the feet 1t is. expected
that the feet Of Admiral Higginson viii
disappear from the coast some time to-
morrow night and Will not be heard from
again until the attack is made.
The principal event today in this vi
cinity was the arrival of Major General
Macarthur, commander of the depart
ment of the east, on a tour of inspection.
He was received at Fort Adams late in
the afternoon and long consultation was
had tonight at headquarters. After his
inspection of the three forts defending
Narrangansett bay, General Macarthur
will leave for New Bedford. probably to-
morrow afternoon. large number of
signal stations, reaching from Fort Ad-
ANS along the southern end of Rhode
Island, which is practically the city of
Newport, have been established by the
army. The stations are all in telephone
communication with headquarters at
Fort Adams. A wireless telegraph sys-
tenn has also been established between
Fort Adams and the main land and also
with the forts on Canonicut island and
Dutch island--Fort Wetherill on the for
mer and Fort Greble on the latter. The
main reliance of the army Of defense in
TINS vicinity is the searchlight station at
ing station. 1t is hoped that this station
will be able to pick up, by means of its
powerful light, any vessels Of the enemy.
1t is also a very desirable point and
may be the scene of an attack, with
the object of cutting the wires. The
mines at the entrance Of Narrangansett
bay are practically in position and the
umpires have charts OF the same. The
umpires and observers all left for their
different positions early this afternoon
and tonight are expected 10 be ready for
duty. The date of the commencement Of
hostilities is at midnight tonight. but the
actual warfare will not begin until after
midnight Sunday. The forty-eight hours
are allowed Admiral Higgison TO obtain
some advantageous point OF shore.
It is learned that on Wednesday night
Colonel Hasbrouck gave the local forts
notice that he would try TO run their
searchlights. just as test. Going out
to sea. he lay in under the Narrangan-
sett shore and in its shadow tried 10
creep upon Fort Greble He failed. as he
hoped he would. being picked up at a
point where the guns at Fort Greble
could have done terrible execution TO a
real enemy Outside OF the mortar en-
placements at Fort Adams. camp has
been established for the use Of detach-
ments. so that in case Of alarm the guns
NAV be manned instantly