The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13

spectacular peTlOIHhnCe iof tHe EeCIit vi
Portland. as many supposed, or TO furnish
the basis for the assertion that the forts
had been put out Of business. but merely
to give the feet and the shore batteries a
chance to test their range and position
finders. Each commander OF u vessel
plotted his own course and kept a record
of distances from the forts during the period
OF the engagement, and these data will
be compared with the records kept in the
forts, based on actual measurements Of
positions in their vicinity and thorough
knowledge of the locality. 1t is expected
that much valuable information will be
obtained from this comparison,
Az TO THE MINES.
II has been declared by the army that
If the feet was not put out of action by the
guns of the forts in the first engagement.
most of the vessels we're constructively
sunk by observation and contact mines.
This conclusion is based partly on the BELIEF
that the navy did not successfully counter
mine.
The statement Of the army may be correct,
although that is for the Board of Arbitra-
ton to say; but 1t is fact worth recording
division out of the main ship channel after
the engagement, struck with her propellers
and brought to the surface nine cases TO
which were attached wooden barrels that
had been placed there by the navy's men
TO show that countermining had been ac-
complished
II il also fact that in entering the main
ship channel to engage the forts the Hi
nois, at least did not strike any mine cases.
Contact mines are exploded, as the name
indicates, by being struck by a vessel.
Observation mines are exploded through
an electric current operated ashore by
observers. who turn the lever when they
think that an enemy's ship is over mine.
As there was no way in which those in the
feet could tell when an observation mine
was exploded how the ships Jared from
these will have to be determined by COM
parison of the statements Of the operator
ashore and the commanders of the vessels
that performed the countermining.
TWO EXPEDITIONS ASHORE.
While the feet was taking it easy at it's
base in Middle Bay, Admiral Barker fur
nished diversion and instruction to large
part of his personnel by ending two landing
parties TO attack the troops on Long Island
and in the vicinity of Two Lights Station on
Cape Elizabeth. The battle Of Long Island
was apparently naval victory, from both
an actual and a figurative standpoint.
Actually the engagement on Cape Eliza
beth was won by the navy, but construct
lively the umpires blew the bluejackets
and marines all to pieces, and unless the
Board of Arbitration changes its settled
habit and removes the veil Of secrecy from
its conclusions the outcome Of that lively
affair will ever remain mystery
There is no occasion to go into details
concerning the military technicalities Of
these act ions, but il might as wellbe accepted
as a fact that whether they did it in accord
ance with rules and regulations and the
Fl iquette of the war game, the men from
the ships simply overran and put out OF
business in a physical sense their com
petitors of the army and the militia,
And how these big. brawny jackies en-
loved their outing ashore! 1t was worth
going miles to see them on that beautiful
August morning. as they tumbled out of
their boats into the water and waded to the
beach, where. forming in companies and
battalions, they waited impatiently for the
word TO advance.
SIGHT WORTH SEEING.
The marines were in khaki and fine
looking body they were-neat. soldierly
and full of vim The sailormen wore blue
and the litrle knit stocking watch
APPS that gave no protection from the sun.
They wore leggings, too. Every officer and
man had hamsack with meal in it and !
A canteen filed with coffee or water.
The boats in which the expedition had |
left the ships had been towed down to Long |
Island by the Scorpion and the Peoria, and !
the long lin, of launches and other |
small craft. each filled to overlooking with |
armed men, was another thing that was |
worth seeing. Capt Swinburne of the |
flagship Texas commanded the expedi- |
ion. 1900 men in all
While the Scorpion and Peoria were
shelling the shore, assisted by the little |
spittire one Founders in the bows of the |
steam launches. he got his battalions into |
line and started them off to find the enemy, |
There was a camp of Maine militiamen !
On Long Island and an important signal |
ana teleRTdpn sldtlOl, anu IL Was swirl |
Durnes duty to capture these. Unfor |
unatey, the expedition had been so hastily |
decided upon that little time had been given !
20 Capt. dwinburne to consult his battalion |
and there was practically no
at hand as to the exact loca-
ion Of tho foe SO something had to be |
r,isted to luck and much to the discretion |
Of subordinate officers.
BLUEI AcKETs RoUr MILITIA.
Each battalion operated practically alone !
in the first part Of the campaign. That
rom the Illinois. under Lieut. Field, got in |
ouch with the Maine militamen shortly |
after landing and a hot engagement ensued ,
Fields first company was commanded by |
Lieut. jackson, and it became known as |
he Stonewall Brigade
1t was composed Of husky lot of blue
Jackets. who We're full of enthusiasm and
he Joy of being ashore. The Stonewall |
Brigade found itself in deep thicket at
close quarters with the enemy almost be-
ore it knew it, Then the air was filled
with the noise Of musketry.
1t was not pleasant in the thcket, and
men couldn't see the enemy very
veil. So they decided to get out, and out
hey came, yelling and making straight
or the militiamen, who were firing vollevs
n the most approved school-of-the- soldier
l.I, hrn,. -