New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
FLEET IN BATTLE LINE.
PORTLAND SEES Il FIGHT.
Torpedo Boats Trick and Capture
of Long Island Macy Scores.
ley rELEcnAPH TO THE rnIBUNE.I

of white smoke and sending voleys from every
available gun. Rear Admiral Barkers entire fleet
sailed boldly into the clear range. and for an
hour just before sunset engaged the batteries
OF Forts Williams, Prable and Lcvett. The spec
tacle wonderfully beautiful. and the SEM
| blance OF war increased its impressiveness. Only
the tacticans tell whether the mighty bat
teries Of the fleet or those of The shore won the
victory. but the common landsmen could
appreciate the marvellous skill with which the
great fleet was manuuvred ana the recsion
with which an intricate and complex movement
was executed.
The engagement this afternoon was prescribed
by the rules of the war which called for day
attack After a busy night the feet disap-
peared. and for many hours the army was in
the dark as to it's whereabouts. But about
O'Clock the great squadron seen eight
miles away. threading its course through the
maze Of islands north of the forts. Presently
It went behind a pine topped headland, then
flashed again the sun shining brightly upon
the white warships. One by one the great yes
| sells headed toward TIE forts. Then they
slowed down. and for nearly hour lay
silently massing beyond extreme range, until
at last the army decided that they were not
coming.
Suddenly the flagship showed dark streak
of smoke from her funnel. and second later
hoisted her battle flag. THE Kearsarge is NOV
ing. sir reported the lockout from White
Head. and second later the glass showed the
warship picking UP great white bone under
her prov and forging ahead. One by one the
ships followed. heading straight for the White
Head passage and increasing speed 1t a
splendid spectacle. and even the army enemies
paused in their preparations for destruction tc
admire the picture.
In single column-the Kearsarge Illinois and
Alabama leading. and the Olympia, Baltimore
Chicago and Hartford followng-the attack was
begun. number of smaller ships behind
1t was 4:4J o'clock when the range officers re-
ported that the ships were within striking dis
tance. Then the message flashed from the range
station to the forts, and there came the quick
sharp voice of the 12-inch guns at Fort Levitt
Then the turtlelke mortars over at Preble
Joined followed by Williams At ; o'clock the
whole shore line alive with smoking bat
teries. Great thick clouds of smoke drfted
over the pine trees and settled in a murky haze
on the harbor
ATTACK BEGINS.
All this time the fleet had held it's pace 1t
was 5:05 o'clock and the Kearsarge was less
than mile from the shore, when her forward
| turret blazed forth and the fleet began its work
| In a few minutes fleet and shore alike were
| shrouded in smoke through which the red
| flashes of the guns could be clearly seen. Sud
denly, when the flagship had passed to point
less than half mile from shore. she sheered of,
turned slowly a broad circle and swept out
again One by the great fleet, in column
| formation. followed, reaching several miles along
the shore The Kearsarge continued on an arc
for several miles until she had made complete
circle and was once more headed for the forts.
Then she passed back, the fleet following, until
she was fnshore again--nearer, this time. Then
the flagship wheeled out again and hosted a
signal The ships that followed broke from the
circle and wheeled into fours on either side. All
this time the firing was rapid and heavy. The
/ flagship then headed seaward, and each ship
! completed the manpuvre. and followed, heading
+ first out TO sea- and then, i'm half circle. going
to the south. to a column formation
TORPEDO BOATS CAPTURE.
/ Meantime. the fotilla of six torpedo boats
! which had hung off to the north. seized their
opportunity. Ii growing dark. and the
/ smoke of the firing had made cloud over the
! sea out Of this a few minutes before q, half
/ a dozen fleet torpedo boat destroyers dashed
/ suddenly and made for the shore, their bows
( buried in white foam. Still in a broad circle
they swept in until they were within easy pistol
reach of the headquarters station at White
head. Then they TOO. turned a
/ and swept out 10 sea.
+ At C:15 the firing ha: ceased and the feet
/ now two miles from shore was once more in
I column formation, the line reaching along shore
/ for fve miles and headed south for Cape Eliza
beth Light The forts had long ago stopped
! shooting, convinced that their first had
! counted for the whole feet. At 6:3O the at
| tacking feet was beyond vision still steaming
/ south.
! When the technical account of this impress
/ sive if inconcIusive conflict is written, it is
rot unlikely that this apparently reckless at
tack may be shown be q victory for the
! 1avy. The tactical formation suggests that.
instead of an open dash. the attack was the re-
/ suit OF a carefully planned movement. The
direction of the fleet was such that the guns OF
Forts Mckinley and Williams were apparently
/ hlanketed by the islands. and only the mortars
/ and the big guns OF Fort Levett were availa-
! bic. Against this were the guns Of a huge fleet.
! and the result. although now claimed by the
/ army as an overwhelming victory. may be with
! he navy.
NAVY SCORES.
! But whatever the result the navy certainly
/ scored two distinct triumphs to-day. both
/ expected and one so daring as to draw frank
! admission OF defeat from the army. The boast
/ OF the shore defenders has steadily be- that
| TO vessel could enter the harbor undiscovered.
About O'Clock yesterday morning the OFF,
! Ger at Fort Preble signaled to headquarters
/ that one o: the searchghts of fort shin
/ ing in his face. A moment later. headquarters
| telephoning Fort GOrgas. old stone struct-
ure inside the harbor and near the mainland.
was surprised TO find the connection broken off.
! Then signal light started TO fash on the para
| pets and stopped abruptly. A little later the
| dawn showed a white flag dying from the fort.