The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-01

of the regulars. will be on duty at Fort
Rodman. Over at Gayhead IS Private
Mayberr5 of the regulars, acting as
transmitter of the messages from the
Vineyard. whose operators have their
eyes on the hostile fleet in Mermesha-
blight. 1t is pretty certain that any move
ment of the fleet will be known iinmedi-
ately at Fort Rodman.
On BattIeship Alabama.
United States Steamship Alabama,
Mermeshabight. Martha's Vineyard.
Mass, August S1.-Since the arrival of
the Massachusetts naval reserves on the
battleship Alabama yesterday to take
part In the war game, there have been
two incidents calculated to remain in
their memories. One was the service held
today on the gun deck forward, when
Chaplain Reinolds celebrated masses, and
the other the concert last night on the
port quarter deck by the naval reserves
band.
The naval reserves were distributed to
the warship just before the dinner hour,
the Alabama quota numbering 113 men.
The band was assigned to the Alabama
in spite of the fact that the Massachu-
setts has gone.
An immense fleet had mobilized in
Mermesha abight by noon. The last to come
were the battleship Indiana the auxiliary
cruiser Supply. the cruiser Montgomery.
the Aileen and the Scorpion. This makes
a formidable squadron of sixteen ships.
The marines who have been on the shore
of Martha's Vineyard broke camp today,
but their destination was not known.
1t seemed probable during the after
noon that Admiral Higginson's fleet
would move before the hour set for tho
beginning of hostilities.
New London, Conn, August 31-At in
tervals all day the big guns and the
mortars at the forts in this vicinity
belched forth fire and smoke and sent
shot several miles at imaginary targets,
illustrative of moving ships. The con-
cussion was so great that 1t was felt
plainly in this city.
Major General Macarthur and General
Greedy, chief signal officer, will be at
Fort Trumbull until after the enemy is
sighted and will then proceed to what
ever point that may be considered the
most advantageous for the direction OF
the movements of the army forces.
Pasque Island, Mass, August a.-Ad-
miral Higginson was not In a hurry to
get his fleet to sea, for the last cruiser
to leave the anchorage in MeDemsha
Blight did not get away until shortly be-
fore midnight. The battleships put out
about o'clock. other craft following at
intervals. This fact was known on shore
only through the disappearance of the
anchor lights. The lighthouse keeper at
Gayhead reported that the fleet stood to
the westward. and did not round the
point. At sunset a thick fog set in, and
this continued until about the time the
fleet left, wher it grew thinner with the
prospect Of being dissipated by the
southerly breeze.
During the afternoon salutes were fired
from the ships in honor of Assistant Sec
retary of War Sanger, who was taken on
board the Kearsarge on a visit to Admir-
al Higginson. With Assistant Secretary
Sanger were Senator Wetmore of Rhode
Island. Mrs. Wetmore anu a party of
Newporters.
Sunday Was Quiet.
Newport, r. l., August 31.-With i'm
aginary war almost at hand Sunday was
far from a day Of rest to the troops
manning the defenses In this vicinity.
Working parties were out nearly all day
which the Massachusetts troops at Forts
Auams and Greble had a busy time
among the big guns and mortars. Com
pany by company they were taken up
to the numerous batteries where the de-
tails were explained to them by the
pains-tak regulars, but as admissions
to the forts were cut off the regulars
were unmolested by the crowds of ex-
cursionists which surged into the city.
The men at the signal stations scattered
along the shore were, however, not so
fortunate. The searchlights at Princes
Neck, although somewhat off the beaten
track of the ocean drive. had numerous
visitors, while the little telephone sta
tions at Bateman's Point and Castle
Rock were fairly besieged
The gunboat Gloucester arrived during
the day in order to get the last mail AS
she disappeared in the mist to the east
ward on her return. those on shore
caught the last glimpse that they will
probably have of any of Admiral Hig-
ginson's fleet until they make their an
p,arance threatening some point.