The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-09-06
.A Rafting GOOD FIGHT.
Third Attack By the Navy On the
Forts of the New London,
Conn.,, District.
HEAVY COMMANDMENT OF FORT WRIGHT
Fort Mansfield Also Attack ed-The
Land Forces Made n Spirited De-
fense-Tbe Technical Result Will
Not Be Known Until the Umpire
Makes Report.

IOll IIulllDuli, EtN hOilbph, 1'hh'
Sept. headquarters of Army of
Defense-Early Wednesday morning
the naval academy made it's third at
tack on the forts of New London dis
trict. 1t is said to have been the
most effective as wei. as most spec
tacular move that has taken place
since the maneuvers Logan. The mr.
ing began at 4:50, and continued al
most necessarily for two hours, being
directed at Fort Wright, Fishers is
land. The attacking squadron was
composed of the battleships kear-
sarge, Alabama, Massachusetts and
Indiana.
Four Ships Seen Coming.
The sun was well up when the four
ships were seen coming from the di-
rection of GARDENERS bay, where
they were at anchor Tuesday night.
Just as soon as the first ship was
within firing distance she was fired
upon from Fl. Niche, but no atten-
ton was paid to this warning, for
the ships came right along, heading
in the direction of Fort Wright, it
seemingly being the purpose to cap
ture that strongly-fortifed place, be-
lieved to be capable, with the aid OF
rorts Niche and Terry, of coping
with the strongest fleet aioat. The
ships kept pretty well out in passing
Race Rock light, but made no attempt
to enter into an engagement with
either Niche or Terry, very few
guns being fired from these forts dur
ing the two hours of fighting. 1t was
a determined attack on Fort Wright
and the firing from the guns anc
mortars of the fort was kept up in
cessantly as the four ships formed il
line of battle and sa4led slowly b,
the fort, exchanging sho , lor shot a
far as possible.
swung In to Island.
After passing the fort, the ship
made a detour. and then swung wei
in toward Fishers island, and com
. menced the bombardment after tw'
ships each had taken position at tn
front and rear of Forft Wright. Th
firing vas kept up for about half a
hour, when the ships sailed well on
toward the Race Rock again, the de
tenders believing the ships were t
retreat in the direction whence the
came. Suddenly the ships turned an
again made n vigorous attack on f
Wright, this time attempting to mab
a landing.
. The R~apid-Fre Guns mt Work.
{ One of the big ships drew in prett
close to the fort, and with rapid fiji
covered the landing party, but in OF
, position to this movement the Gatlin
guns at the fort were brought int
requisition, and the landing part
f was repealed or, rather, that parti
: ular phase of this attack was not col
4 sidered successful. After the concl,
sion of this second attack, the shiI
r steamed out into the race and bao
in the direction of Block island.
Fort Mansfield Also Attacked.
Both on the passage to and fro
f Fit. Wright, the ships made attacks {
Il Fort Mansfield, at Napatree poin
and it is quite likely that Mansfie
4 as been reduced by the enemy, al
4 perhaps the enemy wi claim +
Il Wright for the ships certainly d
put up the fiercest kind of a a
h attack, They were handled skilfull
and their fire vas very effective
Still, army officers claim that 4
Wright was competen, to confer
with four battleshlps without assis
ance from Forts Niche and Teri
The latter forts did not take 4 We
active part in the maneuvers, pc
haps not over 20 shots being fir
:, from both these forts at the battl
- ships engaging with FIT. Wright.
Awaiting Umpire's Report.
u The result of the mornings confi
81 will not be known until the umpir,
Il report, and perhaps it will be I
N occasion of much discussion on t
part of the board of arbitration.
was a most magnificent attack, a
N an able defense, from the strategis.
standpoint.