Evening star., 1902-09-04
THE JOINT MANEUVERS
Telegraphed Reports From
Gen. Macarthur.
ATTACK ON THE FORTS
REGARDS THE BATTLE SHIPS AS
DESTROYED.
Highly Praises the Brilliancy of the
Naval Operations-Lookso on Entire
Action as Of Great Value.

Acting Adjutant General Garter this aft
ernoon made public a series Of kilograms
from Gen. Macarthur at New London,
Conn.,, stating from a military standpoint
the progress Of the mimic war between the
army and navy in that vicinity from day
to day.
Capture of Block Island.
In the first dispatch, dated September l.
Gen. Macarthur says:
"Hostilities began at midnight last night,
first scout Of enemy sighted east Of Point
Judith at 1925 a.. m, fleet of seven vessels
stood in and headed east in column forma-
ton: 4:20 am. Brooklyn and Indiana
bombarded Block Island and collier entered
harbor there at 6:15 am. Brooklyn landed
troops. presumably to scout for and cap
ture signal stations there. Beacon Hill sta
ton on Block Island captured at a. m.
by landing party. All escaped except two.
Fleet has established base at Block Island.
Woods Hole signal station destroyed by
Olympia at 9:2a a. m.
Above is result of operation of enemy's
fleet up to noon today. VIII wire you
daily at noon result of preceding twenty
four hours operations. Posts in both dis
trictS are properly manned and all in ex
cellent condition of preparedness and ready
for any emergency. Mine fields all in op
GRAFTON, service of security and informa-
ton perfect and working admirably, includ
ing wireless tekegraphy All movements of
enemy's fleet under complete observation
and promptly reported since beginning of
hostilitites
Prepared for Attack.
Later on the same day General Mac
Arthur sent another dispatch follows:
conclusive information received that en-
tire fleet Of enemy is at Block Island ex-
cepting Olympia and boat Nina. which lat
ter are at anchor at Gayshead This af-
fords favorable position for concentrated
attack on any point Of line of defense for
winch we are prepared"
Movements of Fleet Observed.
This was followed about midnight by the
following dispatch
Result Of operations to 10 O'Clock tonight
is the loss of telegraph station on Block
Island, which was not defended under the
rules, Notwithstanding which flag signaling
was resumed with good results from secret
ed station. f,W oods Holl telegraph station
was destroyed and out of operation for
twelve hours. This was no material loss,
as movements Of vessels of fleet in that
vicinity were reported promptly from other
stations > n
Battle Ships Reported Destroyed.
On the I'd instant Gen. Macarthur report
ed as follows:
"At 8 last night Information was sent to
district comma nders by these headquarters
that the enemy sEfeet would divide, one
squadron attacking west end of line and
attempting to force race; other squadron
attacking Newport. At 1915 pm. enemy's
feet was sighted simultaneously by Forts
Wright, Niche, Terry and Gardeners
Point. Concentrated and welI-sustained
fire maintained son ships by Niche and
Terry for forty minutes, with result as re-
ported by fire acomnanders that Brooklyn
and Indiana were destroyed.
about am. enemy attempted to pass
through mine fields in Plum Gut Major
Murray, in charge of mines. reports de-
structfon of Alabama and Puritan by judg
ment firing and Massachusetts by contact
firing. Passage of ships through this mine
field apparently not preceded by explora-
ton or any attempt to remove mines.
Therefore, report accepted as conclusive.
Soon thereafter enemy retired.
AT midnight three ships Of the enemy
sighted off Brenton Reef. Mortar batter
les at Fort Adams Immediately opened and
ships retired. About / m. two small ships
Of enemy attempted to open Sugar Reef
Passage by removal of Instructions, dur
ing which they were under fire Of guns of
Fort Mansfield, and soon thereafter re-
tired"
Subsequent operations on the I'd and Sd
instants were described by General Mac
Arthur in another telegram as follows:
"Enemy's fleet inactive yesterday after
10 UdSe, as lUulCdleO IN my last
telegram. Movement and location of all
ships reported hourly. At $40 this morning
the Alabama, Kearsarge, Massa chusetts
and Indiana were sighted moving on Fort
Wright at sixty-fve hundred yards. At
once engaged by all guns, Niche assisting
"Ships passed through race along entire
front and returned same route in single
column within 1900 yards of forts under
concentrated and well-sustained fire of all
large and small caliber and rapid fire guns
of Wright and Pinch battery at Michie
Fire commander at Wright claims all ships
were put out of action Niche claims at
least one ship out.
'At 7:2O an. the Puritan, Brooklyn and
two unidentified ships were sighted in Buz-
zard bay, invicinity Of Rodman.
'"The action at Fort Wright above de-
scribed was, perhaps, as fine a practical
exemplification Of the art of war as is pos
sible in peace maneuver. Pretty nearly
every element of realism was present eX-
cepting the tragedy, the molding effect of
final results. In this instance the naval
tactical conception was bold and the execu-
ton brilliant. and If undertaken in actual
operations would have to be classed as an
example of splendid audacity or reckless
temerity, according to the result
The artillery defense was all that could
possibly be desired. All that the armament
was capable of was developed to the limit
Of possibility. The service of the guns and
the fire control system. without being alb
solutely perfect. enables fire commanders to
direct overwhelming fire on designated
ships, the useful effect of which II delivered
from shotted guns it would be difficult to
overestimate.
THE whole action was replete with sue-
gestive Incidents which will be described
later in extended memoirs, and which will
undoubtedly insure permanent results com
mensurate with the importance and extent
Of the opera3iOns.g
ATTACK ON MoNrAUK.
i