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 Block
Island Reported-Nct In Territory
to Ee Defended and Not Opposed
to Ee Attack ID.

Fort Trumbull. New LcniCn. Conn,
Headquarters Of Army o. Defense,
Sept. AT just 1920 last night the
big guns of Forts Wright, Terry and
Niche belched forth almost stimuli
.aneously and there was no longer
juubt 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-
ieging 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
tration.
All was quiet, when suddenly thc
reports Of the guns was heard and
General Macarthur listened atten.
lively. The attack was on, but il
came sooner than was expected by
the major general commanding.
Ill day yesterday the army officers
here were kept posted in regard te
he movements Of the enemy, evcl
after the signal stations had beeL
captured The detachment Of sigma
men at Block island was in charge
Of signal officer of the Connecticut
national guard, who escaped with all
lis men but two. He afterwards es
tablished a signal station and sent to
the defending force. Information was
received from Woods hole by line
other than that which was supposed
&c be destroyed by the enemy, thus
showing the efficiency of General
Greely's corps of signaT men and the
Ompleteness 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
Dombardment and capture Of Block
ISLAND. This was somewhat in the ma
ture OF 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 a strict
Interpretation of the rules governing
tie game. should have gone to sea
during the period OF preparation, to
make ready for the attack, instead
OF lying at anchor just to the east CT
the fighting territory until almost the
beginning of the fight. At headquar.
fers it was felt that the enemy. pow
erful though it be. would be put to It's
severest test in attempting to reach.
the entrance to Long Island Sound by
passing Forts Wright, Terry, Niche
and Mansfield, in the New London
district.
The opinion was held that tat
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
Block 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, Father and four other cruis-
CTS or battleships and dispatch boats.
4:37 p. m.-Olympia just came
through Vineyard sound, from the d.
rection of Woods Hole.