Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-02
First Attack in the War Game
On---Cannonadcd for
an Hour.
RESULT DETERMINED LATER.
5cmbardment and Capture CT eiccH
island Reported-Nct In Territory
to Ee Defended and Not cuProsed
to Ce Attack ID.

Fort Trumbull, New Lonicn, Conn,
Headquarters Of Army o. Defense,
Sept. AT just 1920 last night the
big guns of Forts Wright, Terry and
Niche beIched forth almost siIui-
.aneously and there was no Longer
L,.ubt that the first attack in tie war
game was in effect. For an hour the
cannonading continued and the result
from the army standpoint is best stat
cd in this official bulletin, posted at
headquarters at 1920:
Movement to pass through the
r; ce began at 1920 p. m. Forts
Mitchie, Wright and Terry engaged
so minutes. Apparently the ships en-
iering have been put out Of action by
points scored by the army guns"
The result, however, will be de-
termined later by the board Of arbi
Lration.
All was quiet, when suddenly th5
rtp0rts Of the guns was heard anI
General Macarthur listened attel.
lively. The attack was on, but II
came sooner than was expected by
the major general commanding.
I'll day yesterday the army Officers
here were kept posted in regard t"
he movements Of the enemy, eve
after the signal stations had EeSL
captured. The detachment Of sigma
men at Block island was in charge
IF a signal officer OF the Connecticut
national guard, who escaped with al
lis men but two. He afterwards es
tablished a signal station and sent tc
the defending force. Information was
received from Woods hole by line
nlher than that which was supposed
tc be destroyed by the enemy, thus
showing the efficiency Of General
Greely's corps of signaf men and the
G c)mpleteness Of their work in prepa'
ration for the game Of war now on.
General Macarthur informed an AS
sociated Press representative last
evening of his extreme satisfaction
with the working Of the wireless tele'
graph. Most of the messages re-
ceived were by that system and was
of decided interest to the general in
command, this being the first time
the system had been used in the
manoeuvres.
Among the first dispatches received
yesterday was the one reporting the
bombardment and capture Of Block
Island. This was somewhat in the ma
ture Of a surprise, as the island is not
within the territory to be defended.
and therefore was not supposed to be
hombarded by the enemy. 1t is said
that the ships, according to strict
Interpretation Of the rules governing
TIE game. should have gone to sea
turing the period Of preparation, to
make ready for the attack, instead
OF lying at anchor just to the east CT
rhe fighting territory until almost tho
beginning Of the fight. At headquar
ters it was felt that the enemy, pow
erful though it be, would be put to It's
severest test in attempting to reach
lu6 SulI dlCc W lOuS lSlduu oOuHN W
passing Forts Wright, Terry, Niche
and Mansfield, in the New London
district.
The opinion was held that tie
greatest fight would be off New Lon.
con. as the batteries are located here,
thus giving a fair test Of the coast
Iefense in the district.
Among the important dispatches re-
ceived before 10 o'clock last night
were the following:
p. m.-Escaped signal party on
R1ock island from concealed visual
station reported. Enemy encamped
northeast side harbor. About &c
round tents Collier in harbor coal
ing converted yacht. Just outside are
the Indiana. Puritan. Montgomery,
Peoria, Pather and four other cruis-
e:s or battleships and dispatch boats.
4:37 p. m.-Olympia just came
through Vineyard sound, from the d.
rection Of Woods Hole.