The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
which Lifted i'm the Nick of Time to
Expos a Hostile Fleet Headed
for Winter Harbor.
OLYMPIA TAKEN BY ENEMY
But SENT A WIRELESS MESSAGE TO
BATTLEsHIP KEARsARGE,
And the DefendfuR Fleet Hurried to
the Scene and Forced sands's
Squadron to Surrender.

BAR HARBOR, Me-, Aug. S.-The naval
search problem which began last Wednes-
day noon. when Rear Admiral Bar
ker took up the plan of defend
ing the Maine coast from a hos
tile fleet which put to sea Monday
under Rear Admiral Sands. ended early to-
day when the Olympia. the flagship Of the
defending fleet, discovered and intercepted
the white squadron of the enemy headed
ut full speed for Winter harbor. The hos
tile vessels were running in close order
formation. and had not the fog lifted at a
favorable moment ii is thought the enemy
wouId save eluded those on guard.
The Olympia was the furthest TO the east
ward OF the defending ships. and had been
occupying a position twenty-five miles out
side Bakers harbor for the greater part
of three days. On board of her every man
and officer was keenly alive to the fact that
this morning of all since the search problem
commenced was the most favorable to the
plans Of the attacking forces. A thick fog
bank which rolled in from the sea after
midnight made IL impossible to cover the
ordinary cruising radius OF the Olympia,
and all that the men on Admiral Dewey's
old flagship had TO do was to depend on
their ears and wait
In al instant after the enemy" was
sighted bugle notes rang out on the olym-
pia. men rushed to quarters and the OPP
orator in the wireless telegraph room was
signaling for the Kearsarge to announce
the discovery OF the fleet to Rear Admiral
Barker. The flagship. twenty-five miles
away. Off Mount Desert Rock. caught the
sound waves and answered. In a few mo-
-.-<- .;-,I~-- a.. A.
Kearsarge was on her way to aid the
Olympia.
THE OLYMPIA CAPTURED.
Meanwhile the latter vessel had found
herself in a p-redicament. The fog which
had been of advantage to the enemy proved
a disadvantage TO the Olympia, for when
It lifted and Admiral Sands's vessels were
seen they were too close to the defending
vessel for her to escape. Under the rules
Of the maneuvers she was ov~erpowered by
the superior force and could do nothing but
run up the white flag and consider herself
captured by the hostile squadron.
The conditions at this point, had 1t not
been for the Olympia's wireless telegraph
equipment. indicated that Rear Admiral
Sands might have reached an anchorage in
Winter harbor. 1t was $40 O'Clock when
t0e Oiympld 3 wireless message was re-
ceived on the Kearsarge. General quarters
was sounded and in a remarkably short
time the Kearsarge was under way. fol-
lowed in turn by the Alabama and Illinois.
"A number of torpedo boat destroyers and
tugs fell in behind the battleships as they
rushed on to meet the hostile vessels. In
an hour the Kearsarge and her consorts
were In sight of the enemy.
As soon as she was within range the
kearsarge opened fire with her secondary
battery. The other two battleships in turn
4nIfnUrad this rio A1f-. - a.
ship, the Texas. made no response with
her guns. Instead, "a white flag was run
up on the Texas. Then followed an inter-
change of signals and the invading and the
defending squadrons headed for Bar har-
Dor.
sANDS's MOVEMENTS.
Admiral Sands sailed from Bar Harbor
Monday. He ran 300 miles south of Nova
Scotia and on Wednesday noon turned back
towards the coast. For two DAYS the feet
sailed at half speed so that it would not
reach the coast of Maine. Admiral Sands
kept his squadron together all the time
and In about the same order. A quarter of
a mile in advance was one of the torpedo
boat destroyers. acting as advance guard.
Then came the flagship Texas, fanked on
either side by torpedo boat destroyers dis
tant a quarter OF a mile. Behind the Texas
IN close order came the Indiana and Massa-
chusetts. in this order the fleet approached
the coast. Early Friday night a thick fog
rolled In from the sea and Admiral Sands
ordered the fleet to race at full speed for
Winter Harbor, the ~easterly entrance 10
FrenchmaD's bay. 1t was the intention of
Admiral Sands 10 enter Winter Harbor and
If discovered to run into Bar Harbor. or nos
eibly keep along the coast and effect an
entrance somewhere else. but the Olympia
prevented this. The wireless message of the
Olympia summoned the Kearsarge and the
othsr reserve battleships in time to bring
the enemy into action when he was still six
miles from his proposed anchorage.
In this search problem the value of the
wireless telegraph in the navy has been
demonstrated 10 the satisfaction of the
naval officers Under ordinary conditions IN
would have been several hours before the
Olympia could have communicated her dis
covery of the enemy TO any other ships of
the squadron, even though she could have
made a run for IL, which the rules pro-
hibited. But by aid of wireless service not
onfy was she able TO inform the admiral of
the approach of the enemy, but Admiral
Barker's flagship. the Eearsarge. trans
nitted the message sent by the OIympia
from ship 10 ship along the whole length of
the coast from Mount Desert rock to Cape
Tending squadron was informed of the fact
that the enemy was In sight and reinforce
ments TO Admiral Barker were coming from
miles along the coast.
All of these ships are together here for
two days, preparatory TO sailing for Oyster
Bay. where the entire fleet is 10 be re-
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