The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-04
ENTIRE FLEET
IS Affected
They Ran on Rocks In Buzzard's
Bay and Badly Damaged.
TIE FIRST HEAvlES REJOICE
Attack On Fort Rodman, New BedfoTd,
Occurred on the Date Of a Memo
rahIe Anniversary.
TIE FIRST HEAvlES REJOICE

New Bedford, Mass, Sept. 4-Four hum
dred volunteer artillerymen of the First
Massachusetts Coast Artillery under
command of militia officers and en-
trenched in an incompleted fertilization,
met some OF the picked ships OF Admiral
Higginson's fleet under command of Ad-
miral Coghlan yesterday I'm the hottest
naval assault yet made In the current
manoeuvres, and II the claims at this
post are sustained by the court OF arbi-
tration, completely put II out of action.
ENTIRE FLEET DISABLED.
Certain II is that the crack flagship of
the admiral, the Brooklyn, last night Is
anchored under the fort, damaged, liter
ally, for in the attack she ran on the
rocky lodges OF the bay and Is making
considerable water through ragged hole
in her hull. The Gloucester, OF Santiago
fame is also a victim OF Buzzard's Bay
lodges, and is said to be leaking, while
the tug Peoria is a prisoner In port.
Col Frye. the post commander, claims
that the rest OF the fleet was either
sunk or so disabled that IL Will be dis
qualified from further effect In the war
game when the battle of the score cards
is fought out by the arbitrators. II was
certainly a great victory for the Massa-
chusetts boys, and they are being COM
mended on every hand for their gallant
defence OF the post, even IL IL should
prove that Col ryes claims ia,n. are are NO, not
sustained. II may turn out that even now
the fort is captured and all hands are
F.. prisoners. The dreadful uncertainty
arises out of the way the navy has OF
making effective attacks with ships which
are supposed TO be sunk or disabled.
MEMORABLE ANNIVERSARY.
1t seems a bit strange that the assault
and bombardment should fail. barring
two days. on the exact date OF the l24th
anniversary OF the capture and destruc-
tion OF New Bedford by the British dur
ing the Revolution.
But II is significant OF the changed
status OF the republic that I'm the at
tack tremendous onslaught by some OF
Uncle Sans choicest ships was met by
an infinitely more effective defence than
faced the British and, In all probability.
the enemy was beaten back with serious
loss
There can be no doubt that yesterdays
assault was a terrific one, and II all the
ships engaged were fairly qualified TO
be I'm action, under the rules OF the
war" that the fort was simply over
whelmed But were the ships qualified3
It's question which will be up TO the
board OF arbitrators for settlement, and
their decision will not be known for
weeks. perhaps.
The ships engaged were the Brooklyn
and the Olympia. both famous from their
part In the two great naval events OF the
Spanish War: the monitor Puritan. the
gunboats Montgomery and Mayfiower,
the converted yachts Gloucester of San
tiago fame. the speedy Aileen and the
two large tugs Peoria and Leyden.
AN ovERPowERING FORCE.
II would seem an overpowering force In
the weight OF Its projectiles. But the rules
OF the war" have decreed for a single
coast defence gun such as the s-inch rifles
OF Fort Rodman. fighting life IA times
as great as whole boat such as the
Brooklyn.
Besides, the operation OF the enemy Is
pronounced by those who are upholding
the claims of the artillerymen 20 have
been suicidal, much that when they
came on In line of battle they should
have been turning tail and fleeing back
10 the protection OF their sister ships. At
any rate. the garrison is resting In calm
satisfaction and aching for the second
attack. which is understood to be inevi-
table.
COVERED WITH GLORY.
At evening parade last night, Lieut..
Foster. acting as adJutant. read the fol-
lowing boquet from Col. Frye TO his men;
'"rhe post commander desires to ex-
press his appreciation OF the systematic
ana painstakng execution OF orders on
the part OF both officers and men during
the manoeuvres OF the day, Stimulating
the attack and defence OF this post
He urges strict attention and watch
fulness during the remaining portion OF
the tour at this post. since the attack OF
this forenoon forms only an incident I'm
the general scheme OF manoeuvres, and
no relaxation on the part OF this COM
mand will be tolerated.
''By order cor, FRYE
ROGER WOLCoTT. Captain and Ad-
jutant."
And the boys went 90 supper feeling
that the old First Heavies had covered
themselves with glory and had a great
reputation 20 sustain during the rest Of
the tour.