Evening star., 1902-09-03
FLEET WAS PUT OUT
Shore Batteries Destroy Hig-
ginson's Best Ships.
GEN. DAVIS REPORT
SAYS THREE BATTLE SHIPS
WERE EASILY SUNK.
Another Part Of the Naval Contingent
Makes an Attack on New
Bedford

| FORT TRUMBULL, New London, Conn
! September 3.-The first dispatches following
this mornings engagement off Fort Wright
was received by Major General Macarthur
shortly after o'clock, as follows:
| PROSPECT HILL,
| September g. 1902, 9:1o am
Chief of Staff, Fort Trumbull, Conn:
| Fire commander Fort H. G. Wright re-
| ports first ship, Kearsarge, put out of ac-
tion at $40 am. The second ship, Massa-
| shusetts, put out of action at $50 am.
Third ship, Alabama, put out of action al
| 5:35 am. All the ships were afterwards
repeatedly fred upon by all the guns at
short range, 5000 to 1900 yards, and could
| have been declared out of action several
times over. Indiana also put out of action
at 6;37 am. by the fire from Fort Niche.
tSlgned) DAVIS,
Commanding District"
| Inc excellent signal service of the army
| was again well demonstrated this morning,
/ as headquarters had at all times knowledge
OF the whereabouts of the enemy.
Firing on Fort Rodman.
| COTTYHUNk, via Pasque Island Mass,
september IA fleet of eight warships was
slghted this morning moving from the west
ward toward New Bedford. Among them
were the Olympia, the Gloucester, the
Brooklyn, a cruiser not identified, the Nav
flower and the tugs Leyden and Nina. The
fleet was west of Cuttyhunk at 8 O'Clock
and the Puritan had 3oined the other yes
! sells. The fleet worked It's way up toward
Buzzard's bay, and when off the eastern
approach to New Bedford opened fire This
was about S:15 o'clock The guns from the
fortltications responded promptly.
| NEW BEDFORD, Mass, September 3, Q
! a.m-Four warshps, which could not be
identified from the shore owing to the haze,
appeared off Fort #Rodrnan early this
| morning, and at once opened fire The
| fortifcations speedily replied to the bonn
bardment.
The firing became desultory after about
| an hour and then cea sed. The warships
did not retire, however, and a pitched bat
| tie was expected to follow, as the fleet be-
| low the city in the direction Of the Eliza
| beth group apparently was forming for q
decisive encounter. 81.
At $50 o'clock the war vessels were Off
pun Dumping light in Bazzards bay. and the
| next move was problematical. Whether
Rodman was simply feint to test the
strength of the batteries is not entirely
clear to those on shore.
First Story Of the Attack.
FORT TRUMBULL, NEW LONDON
Conn. September 3 Headquarters Of army
| of defense).-Early this morning the naval
| enemy made its third attack on the forts Of
| the New London district. 1t is said to
| have been the most effective as we'll as
| the most spectacular move that has taken
| place since the maneuvers began. The
! 1ir1ng began at 4:50 O'Clock and continued
almost incessantly for two hours, being
directed at Fort Wright, Fishers Island
| Ihe attacking squadron was composed
OF the battle ships Kearsarge, Alabama
Massachusetts, and Indiana.
Ihe sun was well up when the four ships
We're seen coming from the direction Of
Garolner's bay, where they were at anchor
| last night. Just as soon as the first ship
was within firing distance she was fired
| upon from Fort Niche. but no attention
! was paid to this warning, for the ships
| came right along, heading in the direction
! OF Fort Wright, it seemingly being the pur-
pose to capture that strongly fortified place.
| Niche and Terry, of coping with the
! strongest fleet afioat The ships kept pretty
wei! out In passing Race Rock light, but
made no attempt to enter into an engage
ment with either Niche or Terry very few
| guns being fired from these forts during
| the two hours Of fighting. 1t was a deter
mined attack on Fort Wright, and the firing
from the guns and mortars Of the fort was
Kept up incessant1y> as the four ships
formed in line of battle and sailed slowly
by the fort. exchanging shot for shot, as
far a. possible.
Detour Before Attack.
Before attacking the fort the ships made
| detour and then swung well in toward
Fishers Island and commenced the bonn
bardment after two ships each had taken
position at the front and rear of Fort
Wright. Shots were directed at the signal
station on Prospect Mount, which is said to
have been put out of action. Col. Davis,
commanding the district, was at the signal
station. The firing was kept up for about
hair an hour, when the ships sailed well
fhn IN, thn Io<a
believing that the ships were to retreat in
the direction whence they came. Suddenly
the ships turned and again made vigorous
attack on Fort Wright this time attempting
to make landing One of the big ships
drew In pretty close to the fort, and with
rapld-hre guns covered the landing party
put in opposition to this movement the Cat
ing guns at the fort were brought into
requls1tion and the landing party was evil
oently repelled, or rntfrer that particular
phase Of this attack was not considered
successful
After the conclusions OF this second at
tack the ships steamed out into the Race
ana back In the direction Of Block Island.
Both on the passage to and from Fort
Mansfield at Napatree Point, and it is quite
likely that Mansffed Will be considered as
having been reduced by the enemy and
perhaps the enemy wilt claim Fort Wright,
LOT the ships certainly did put up the fierc-
est KIND OF naval attack.
Ships skillfuIly handled.
They were handled sHiIfufly and their fire
was very effective. Still. army officers claim
that Fort Wright was competent to cope
with four battle ships, even without assist
ance from Forts Niche and Terry The
| latter forts did not take "a very active part
In the maneuvers this morning, perhaps not
over twenty shots being fired from both
these forts at the battle ships engaging with
Fort Wright
The result Of this mornings conflict will
not be known until after the umpires report
and perhaps it will be the occasion of much
discussion on the part of the board of arbi-
tratlon 1t was most nagnificent,attaek
and an able defense, from the strategists'
standpoint.
Fatal Explosion OF Dynamite.
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