Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-09-04
NAVAL ENEMY MAKES
A BRILLIANT ATTACK
Spectacular Move In Game of
Mimic Warfare.
BRISK FIRING FOR TWO HOURS.
Attacking Squadron Was Composed
Of the Battleships Kearsarge, Ala.
hama, Massachusetts and Indiana.
Most Spectacular Move.

Fort Trumbull, New London Conn,
Sept. 3.-(Headquarters of the Army
of the Defense )-Early this morning
the naval enemy made its third attack
on the forts of New London district
1t is said to have been most effective
as well as the most spectacular move
which has taken place since the ma
neuVers yesterday The firing be
gan at 450 and continued almost in
cessantly for two hours, being direct
ed at Fort Wright, Fishers island
The attacking squadron was comp0s'
ed of the battleships Kearsarge, Ala
bama, Massachusetts and Indiana,
The sun was well up when the four
ships were seen coming from the di.
lection Of Gardeners bay, where they
were at anchor late last night. Just
as soon as the first ship was within
firing distance she was fired upon from
Fort Niche, but no attention was paid
to this warning, for the ships came
right along, heading in the direction
of Fort Wright, it seemingly being the
purpose to capture that strongly forti.
fed position believed to be capable
with the aid of forts Niche and Ter
ry of coping with the strongest fleet
atioat The ships kept pretty well
out in hazing Race Rock light, but
made no attempt to enter into an en-.
gagement with either Mitchie or Ter.
ry, very few guns being fired from
those forts during the two hours of
on Fort Wright, and the firing from
the guns and motars of the fort was
kept up necessarily as the four ships
formed in line of battle and sailed
slowly by the fort, exchanging shot
for shot, as far as possible.
Before attacking the fort the ships
made a detour and then swung well
in toward Fishers island and com
menced the bombardment after two
ships each had taken position at the
front and rear of Fort Wright The
firing was kept up for half an hour,
when the ships sailed well out toward
the Race again, the defenders believ.
ing the ships were to retreat in the
direction whence they came SUD.
denly the ships turned and again
made a vigorous attack on Fort
Wright this time attempting to make
a landing One of the big ships drew
in pretty close to the fort and GOV.
cred the landing party but in oppOsi.
tion to this movement the gatling
guns at the fort were brought into
requisition and the landing party was
evidently repelled or rather that par.
ticular phase of this attack was not
considered successful.
After the conclusion of this second
attack the ships steamed out into the
race and back in the direction of
Block island Both on the passage to
and from Fort Wright, the ships made
attacks on Forts Mansfield at Napa.
tree Point, and it is quite likely that
Mansfield will be considered as hav.
ing been reduced by the enemy and
perhaps the enemy will claim Fort
Wright for the ships certainly did
put up the ferciest kind of a naval
attack Still army officers claim
that Fort Wright was competent to
cope with four battleships even with.
out assistance from Fort Niche and
Fort Terry The latter forts did not
take very active part in the ma.
neuvers this morning.
The results Of this mornings on.
gagement will not be known until the
umpire's decision is made public. 1t
was q most magnifcent attack and an
able defense, from the strategist's
ctaDJDOipF