The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-03
Defending Forces on Eastern
Coast Kept Continually
on Alert
MANY BELIEVE SHIPS
WILL ATTACK NEWPORT
Big Vessel Can Be Seen Plainly From
Fort Wright and searchlIehts
Are Continually Kept.
Upon Them.

New London, Conn. September 2.-The
defending forces In the New London dis
trict are tonight on the alert and await
ing an attack by the navy. At midnight
no decisive move had been made by the
fleet under Admiral Higginson. At that
hour General Macarthur left his head
quarters and boarded his yacht Kama
waha for the night, leaving Major Har-
rison in charge.
The impression prevails here that New
port is the point which will be next at
vessels, supposed to be battleships. at
Gardeners bay causes considerable un-
easiness. They can be plainly seen from
Fort Wright and the searcnlights arc
kept on them continually. The defending
force is all at sea in regard to the next
move to be made by Admiral Higginson,
and every possible precaution has been
taken to guard against a surprise. Early
in the evening it was feared that an at
tack would be made on headquarters.
This is hardly to be expected, however,
for the weather conditions are against
the navy and it is believed to be impos-
sible for them to reach a point of safety
at which they could land enough men to
overpower the defenders without being
observed.
Mr.. Sanger on Visit.
New Bedford, Mass, September 2.-The
event today at Fort Rodman was the
visit of Assistant Secretary of War San
ger who came over from Newport by
train and trolleys accompanied by Col
onel Dyer, of the Twelfth New York
regiment and Lieut.. Cornelius Wander
bilt of the same regiment.
During the day claim was made at
Fort Adams that tvsJ of the large ves-
sells sighted this morning were destroy
ed technically by the Mortar battery fire.
This evening the observers at Prices
Neck saw government vessel head into
Narragansett bay and at once gave the
ranges to Fort Adams and sixteen shots
were fired. The government boat brave
ly sailed through an imaginary storm OF
bombs and bullets and finally anchored
under the shore of the forts. Fort Adams
claims that it destroyed the vessel be-
fore 1t passed Brentons Reef light ship
and 1t claims a victory in this respect
under supposition thu the craft was
the naval tug Triden. The craft to be the
revenue cutter Dexter which is not taxi
ing part in the conflict
Army Men Claim victory.
New London, Conn.,, September 2.-The
second attack on the island took place at
o'clock this morning and as far as they
went the maneuvers' were practically
repetition of last nights engagement,
though Of course there were different tao
tical movements. The army men claim
a second victory The shipe ntfer~.N+e6 y
pass through Plum gut but were OBJ
structed by mines, Tia. &c u ths b. )
being put out of action. After the en-
gagement. which lasted over an hour, the
ships proceeded towards Block island. At
noon General Macarthur, commanding
the army of the defense, made his report
to the adjutant general:
New London. Conn, Sept 2, 1902
"Adjutant General, War Department,
Washington:
''At o'clock last night information was
sent the district commanders by these
headquarters that the enemy's fleet
would divide in squadron, attacking the
west end line and attempt to force en-
trance, the other squadron attacking
Newport. At 10:15 p. m. the enemy's fleet
was sighted simultaneously by Forts
Wright, Niche, Terry and GARDENERS
Point. Concentrated and well-sustained
fire was maintained on the ships by
Niche and Terry for forty minutes, with
result as reported by five commanders
that the Brooklyn and Indiana were de-
stroyed. About a. m the enemy at
tempted to pass through the mine fields
in Plum gut Major Murray, In charge of
the mines. reports the destruction of the
Alabama and Puritan by judgment fir
ing and Massachusetts by contact firing.
Passage of ships through this mine field
apparently not preceded by explorer or
any attempt made to remove mines.
Therefore reports accepted as conclusive.
Soon thereafter the enemy retired At
midnight three ships of the enemy were
sighted off Brentons reef. The mortar
batteries at Fort Adams Immediately
opened and the ships retired. About a.
m. two small ships of the enemy attempt
ed to open Sugar reef passage by removal
of obstructions. during which they were
under fire of the guns of Fort Mansfield
and soon thereafter retired.
(Signed) ''MacARTHUR."