The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-06
Terrific Cannonading and The Game
Of War Ends OF Newport in a
Scene Of Grandeur.

The war game. played with the navy
under Admiral Higgtnson as the attack
ing party and the army, under General
Macarthur. as the defence, came TO
spectacular end last night with thun-
der onslaught upon Newport. The week
of hard work being over. 1t is now up
to- the umpires to tell the country who
won out The army has been claiming
everything within sight and hearing: but,
inasmuch as the navy has been afoatand
consequently unable to tell anything
except to the marines-there may be an
other side to the story.
WAR GAME COMMENCED.
The war game began last Sunday night.
when Admiral Higginson put forth from
Newport at IL o'clock. He captured
Block Island as a base. and began often
sive operations by attempting early Mon
day morning to run the Race, opposite
New London, into Long Island Sound.
The army claimed to have put three bat
tleships out of business at that time.
Early Tuesday morning similar attack
was made. the ships coming through
Plum Gut Again the army footed its
horn valiantiy. Wednesday. from Gar
diners bay. Admiral Higginson made his
third trial of the forts.
In the meanwhile the lighter vessels.
under Admiral Coghlan had made ma
noeuvres around Buzzards bay Previous
TO this the Olympic had landed force
at Marthas Vineyard and destroyed tele-
graphic, cable. and telephone connections.
so that theoretically the fleet had full
sway in that vicinity. The Massachu-
setts "Heavies" at Fort Rodman awaited
/. impatiently for chance at the enemy,
and early Wednesday II came, the fort
being vehemently bombarded. Once more
the army said ''victory Is ours" More
over, the Brooklyn succeeded I'm finding
a very real obstruction In the bay. and In
sequence damaged herself $50, 900 worth
ATTACK ON NEWPORT.
II was, however. Admiral Higginson'
determined purpose to reduce the forts
around New London, and In that way
gain free entrance to the Sound. the cities
in southern Connecticut as well as New
York itself Thursday he made another
Aerce attack on Fort Wright. and wheth
er the assault or the defence was success
ful the umpires must decide
Friday afternoon, the last day or th'
war. the manoeuvres were quite theatri
cal with Narragansett Bay as the aren'
of action. One of the features was tn
efrecting OF landing at Prices Mech
Last night came the conclusion, CRANE
assault on Newport, and the theoretica
capture OF the Four Hundred.
Two cruisers and three battleships o
Admiral Higginson's fleet ran the gun
Of Forts Adams and Wetherill last night
eetting within broadslde range for a.
their guns before they were picked up b
the searchlights of the forts. Whe
finally afioat and ashore the cannonadin
was at It's height and the scene was on
of grandeur.
The racket woke up Newport as II wa
never aroused before. The gunners !
the forts after working the big guns 10
q few minutes quickly manned the sec
ondary batteries, for the ships were the
IN point blank range. The rapid flrin
guns made as great din as the big one
and n anything made the picture a live
Her one.
BRoADsIDEs FROM FORT ADAMS.
The ave vessels kept In almost und,
Fort Adams. until within short range
the torpedo station. and then they al
peared 20 anchor The firing stopped an
II was supposed the great battle wa
ended In half an hour the ships su,
denly steamed out OF the harbor, In u
same order as coming IN, the Brookly
leading. The ships did not fire gun, b'
Fort Adams gave them n few brosdside
we're abreast OF Beaver Tall Light. Fo
Creble opened for the first time. II
feet escaped II such was the idea, q
ward Block Island.
During the battle the smaller era
we're IN squadron formation 20 seawai
and did not attempt 20 enter tho harbo
The Puritan and Indiana were not see
As there was not time for communicate
between the shore and the ships a
uanoeuvre Of the feet was mystifyin
the army claims that not only would 1
guns have swept the ships. but its mln'
would have wrecked some OF them In n
narrow channel 80 that escape would ha,
ben impossible for any that reached n
oarbor.
DEFENDING NARRAGANsETT BAY
Nearly the entire feet under Rear A,
wirai Higginson's command made a
Uoustrafion yesterday afternoon again
the army defences on NarraEansett Ba
but d1d not attempt 10 come 10 clio,
quarters with any OF the forts. A Ian,
Ine was affected. however at Price
Week, where the searchIisht and rams