Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-03

morning the naval enemy made it's
third attack on the forts of the New
London district and it is said to be
the most effective as well as spectacu-
lar that has taken place since the ma
neuvers commenced. The firing began
at 4:5O and continued almost inces-
sanity for just two hours, the fire of
the enemy being directed at Fort
Wright, Fishers Island The enemy
fleet was composed of the battleships
Kearsarge, Alabama, Massachusetts
and Indiana.
Ihe sun was well up when the four
shlps We're seen coming from the di-
rect1on of Block Island, where they
were located all OF yesterday after
noon, and just as soon as the first ship
was within firing distance she was
tired upon from Fort Niche, but no at
tention was paid to this warning, for
the ships came right along, heading in
the direction of Fort Wright, it being
the evident purpose to capture that
strongly foItitied place, believed to be
capable OF coping with the strongest
fleet afioat, with the aid of Forts
Michie and Terry.
The ships kept pretty well out In
passing Race Rock Light, but made no
attempt to enter into an engagement
with either Niche or Terry, very few
guns being fired from these forts dur
ing the two hours Of fighting. 1t was
determined attack on Wright. and
the fire from the guns and mortars of
the fort was kept up incessantly as
fho Ch
and sailed slowly by the fort, ex-
changing shot for shot, so far as DOS
sible.
Before attacking the fort the ships
made detour and then swung well
in towards Fishers Island and com
menced firing, after two ships each
nad taken position on front and rear
OF Fort Wright. This work was kept
up Tor about half an hour, when the
ships sailed well out towards the Race
again, the defenders Believing that the
sh1ps We're to retreat In the direction
from whence they came. Suddenly
the ships turned and again made vfg-
orous attack on Fort Wright, this time
attempting to make a landing. One
OF the big ships drew in pretty close
to the fort and with rapid fire guns
covered the landing party, but in on
position to this movement the Calling
guns at the fort We're brought into re-
QUESTION and the landing party was
evidently repelled or rather that par-
| tlcular phase of this attack was NOT
considered successful After the con-
clusion 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 Fort Mansfield at Napatree Point.
and it is quite likely that Mansfield
Will be considered as having been re-
duced BY the enemy, and perhaps the
enemy will claim Fort Wright. for the
ships certainly did put up the fiercest
KIND or a naval attack, and were
handled skillfully andNNthe firing was
very effective. Still army officers
claim that Fort Wright was compe-
tent to cope with four battleships.
even without the assistance from
Forts Niche and Terry. The latter
forts did not take very active part in
the maneuvers this morning, perhaps
not over 20 shots being fired from both
these forts at the battleships engaging
with Fort Wright
Either the dispatches are conflicting,
or Terry had something to do in re-
pelling an attacking feet which had
come by way Of Gardeners Bay, as
five war vessels were reported in that
vicinity shortly before the attack was
made on Fort Wright.
The result of this mornings conflict
will not be known until after the um-
pires make report and perhaps it will
be the occasion of much discussion on
the part of the board of arbitration
1t was certainly a most magnificent
attack and an able defense.
At 600 the parting shot was fired
from Fort Wright