Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-09-06
NAVYS FIRST ATTACK
Attempt to Capture New London
Repulsed By the Army.
sENEMY" SEXES TWO STATIONS

Newport, R L. Sept 2. - Admiral
Higginson did not long delay after the
declaration OF hostilities yesterday to
cut out work for the jackies and ma
rines of his fleet. accomplishing In day.
light, but under cover of fog. two
things that General MacArthur's army
had anticipated. These were the
seizure Of Martha's Vineyard and
Block Island and the capture OF the
army's signal station at each place
Last night he followed up his good
work by a demonstration IN force
against the extreme western end OF
the line OF defending Notifications, but
1t cannot be determined until later Il
he actually attempted to force his way
into Long Island Sound or simply aim.
ed to give his crews a little big gun
practice and his captains the oppor-
,~Shnity TO mahoeuvre within striking
distance to determine the location and
calibre OF the ordnance in the forts,
The navy's night attack was not ex-
pected at the western end OF the line
quite so early in the game. The theory
was held all day, after II was known
that Higginson had secured a base on
the outlying islands. that he would
send his cruisers for a reconnaissance
against both ends Of the line, and then
swing his feet into the center or
around Newport for n sharp yet heavy
attack there, manoeuvring quickly.
and then. when things became most
interesting, sail 10 the westward and
~ l.. r.
into Long Island Sound. This would
have been his night attack, for II
seems almost certain that the day at
tack will be against Fort Rodman, the
eastern point.
Once last night Newport got scare
when a message came from Port Ju-
dith that marines were being landed
there in the fog. All communication
with that point was cut OF. Then at
1890 came an official bulletin an
nouncing the commandments of Forts
Michi and Wright. but when Point Ju-
dith signal station was again in touch
with the central intelligence bureau, t
$50 exple.red shat the signal men
there were given drill in saving
equipment. on supposition that the
enemy was making landing. They
cut out the telegraph and telephone
wires. picked up their equipment aud
made a Notwithstanding retreat, then,
returning. re-established the station,
doing creditable piece of work.
First Attack In War Game.
New London Conn. Sept. 2.--At Just
1920 last night the big guns of Forts
Wright. Terry and Niche belched forth
almost simultaneously and there was
no longer doubt that the first attack
in the war game was in effect For
an hour the cannonading continued
and the result from the army stand
point is best stated IN this official bull
letin posted at headquarters early this
morning:
Movement TO pass through the Race
began at 1920 D. N. Forts Niche,
Wright and Terry engaged fifty min
utes. Apparently the ships entering
have been put out OF action by points
scored by the army guns"
All was quiet at army headquarters
when suddenly the reports OF the big
guns was heard and General Macarthur
listened attentiVely. The attack was
on, bat It came sooner than was ex-
pected by the major general command
ing.
vesseIs Sunk" BY Cannon and mines.
New London. Conn, Sept. S.-Major
Best, commanding Fort Terry, has
sent report to headquarters, which
gives a good idea OF the work done
by the army In defending its positions
against Admiral Higginson's feet The
report Is as follows:
Fort Terry. N. Y, Sept. 2, 1902
AdjutAnt General, Department OF
the East-At 4.45 a. M, September 2,
a searchlight was revealed in the mist
eastward of GARDENERS Pont battery
The Kearsarge, Indiana Cor Massachu.
setts) and Alabama were soon in view
and began firing at the battery named
standing 70 a point to the west and
north and some 1890 to 5000 yards
from the F. G. station. All our pieces
soon opened on this fleet Except the
six-inch battery).
At SIS the firing ceased on our side
as a telephone message was received
from Gardeners Point battery that the
three ships had been sunk in PASSING
over the mine field. At this time the
Puritan was seen approaching over
the same course as that followed BY
the three ships Just under considera
ton Fire was opened on her by the
Bix-inch rapid-fire, the mortar and 10
inch batteries, and continued until
word was received from GARDENERS
Point battery that the Puritan had
been Sunk" in passing over the mine
field at 6.37 O'Clock.
At 6.15 n M. all the ships and the
small vessels alluded to in this report
were steaming eastward. Under the
rules 1t Il believed that all of the ships
named were sunk By either cannon OF
mines, and IN some cases both.
CLEMENF l. BEST.
a la