The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-06
RESIDENTS OF NEWPORT
AROUSED FROM SLUMBERS
Army Men Claim That Mines Would
Have Completely Wrecked the
Ships, as Well as the Fire
From the Forts.

newport Il. L. september os-lWo
cruisers and three battleships of Admiral
Higginson's fleet ran the guns Of Fort
Adams and Wetherill tonight. getting
within broadside range of all the gurH be-
fore they were picked up by the search
lights of the forts. The fact that tho
Brooklyn got to the mouth of the harbor
before it was picked up by the search
lights is considered by naval men here to
be victory for the fleet.
When afoat and ashore the cannonad-
ing was at its height. the scene was one
of grandeur. The racket woke up New
port as 1t was never aroused before. The
gunners in the forts after working the
big guns for few minutes, had TO desert
them, and quickly manned the secondary
batteries. The rapid-fring guns made as
great din as the big ones. and If any
thing made the picture a livelier one. The
five vessels kept in almost under Fort
Adams until within short range of the
torpedo station, and then hey appeared
to anchor. The firing stopped, and 1t was
supposed the great battle was ended. In
half an hour the ships suddenly steamed
out Of the narbor in the same order as
coming in, the Brooklyn leading. The
ships did not fire a gun, but Fort Adams
gave them few broadsides, and when
the Brooklyn and Olympia were abreast
of Beaver Tail light Fort Creble opened
for the first time tonight. The fleet es-
capped if such was the idea, toward Block
Island
During the battle the smaller craft
were in squadron formation to seaward
and did not attempt to enter the harbor.
The Puritan and Indiana were not seen.
AS there was no time for communication
between the shore and the ships the man.
I euver Of the fleet was mystifying. The
army claims that not only would its guns
have swept the ships but its mines would
have wrecked some of them in the mar
row channel so that escape would have
been impossible for any that reached the
harbor.
Attack Fort at Narragansett Bay.
Newport, September 5.-Nearly the en-
tire fleet under Rear Admiral Higginson's
command made demonstration this af-
ternoon against the army defenses on
Narragansett Bay. but did not attempt
to come into close quarters with any OF
the forts. A landing was effected how
ever, at Prices Neck. where the search
light and range station on which the
mortars at Fort Adams are sighted and
fired, were put out of action for an hour.
During that time the battleships Kears-
| large engaged Fort Wetherill, the eruis-
ers Olympia and Brooklyn hammered
| Fort Greble in the west channel while
the battleships Massachusetts Indiana.
and the Monitor Puritan destroyed sig
-
river. After two hours of fighting the
fleet drew off shore.
The main point of the afternoon attack
was at Prices Neck, the object being to
put that station out of action or before
the mortar batteries could be fired more
than once or twice. This would give the
larger vessels a chance to come up and
engage the regular batteries. The task
was hard one in any case. but today
1t was doubly so, for the air was like
crystal and the movement of the fleet
could be watched at a great distance on
shore. But under the rules Admiral
Higginson was obliged to engage the
Narragansett forts just as earnestly as
he had those of Long Island sound and
at New Bedford. The blue jackets held
Prices Neck for one hour and then re-
turned on board the Montgomery.
| The training ship Newport with a party
of congressman on board was in tho
| thick of the fight but took no part.
The Last Attack.
| New London, Conn, September Sin
the attack on Fort Adams closed the
warlike maneuvers in the game which
has been placed In the New London and
Narragansett districts. The grand finals
will be witnessed tomorrow afternoon,
when the ships win pass in review be-
fore the forts which have been attacked
beginning at Fort Rodman and ending
at Fort Terry.
Although hostilities do not cease until
noon tomorrow it is thought at the head
quarters of General Macarthur that the
war is over and the morning would be
utilized in getting rested and getting
ready for the review. The rules govern
ing the maneuvers have so changed that
there will be no exchange of salutes as
the ships pass by Forts Rodman, Wther-
i'll, Greble Mansard. Wright, Niche and
Terry. The review will end off New Lon
don harbor and 1t is quite likely that
most of the vessels will remain In This
vicinity several days.
General Macarthur and Admiral Hig-
ginson will probably exchange courtesies
either before or after the review and to-
night 1t was understood that this cere-
mony would take place at New London.