Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
ATTACK ON PORTLAND
Battle Ships Invade Harbor
Under Fire.
FIERCE CANNONADING
EXPERIENCE SEEMED VERY
MUCH LIKE ACTUAL WAR.
Fort Batteries Made Strong Efforts to
Repel Hostile Fleet, but
in Vain.

PORTLAND, Me-, August 26.-ThrOugh
dense smoke and amid the tumult of con-
tinuous cannon fire. the battle ships Kear-
sarge. Illinois and Alabama entered this
port early today. having stormed the main
entrance to the harbor in connection with
the great war game which is going on this
week in this vicinity.
From midnight. when the scouts Of the
hostile fleet were discovered by the pickets
Of the army on shore. until daylight. when
the battle ships came up the channel, Port
land was treated to an experience very
much like actual war.
Entered the Inner Harbor.
This continued until after Z o'clock. the
battle ships entering the inner harbor in
spite Of the opposition of the fort batteries
and the guns behind the Notifications man.
ned by regulars in the vicinity of the city.
The warships apparently engaged in the
different defending points and after time
passed on. AS they did SO the forts one
after another ceased firing until only an
occasional gun was heard. The battle ships
sailed back and forth in the inner harbor.
At length they turned, and, passing toward
the entrance to the bay. began cruising
among the islands.
Where Victory Rests.
Where the victory. If any. rests is not ap-
parent. to shore observers.
The night was a sleepless one, not only
for all actually engaged in the maneuvers
but for many in the city. 1t was scarcely
midnight when the searchlights of the forts
disclosed two torpedo boat destroyers in the
outer harbor.
Firing began at once and then ceased
An hour later the presence Of a battle ship
was revealed by the searchlights and sew
eral Of the forts opened fire upon her.
Returned the Fire.
This vessel returned the fire, and after
that the cannonading became general. A
cutter and launch containing landing par
ties were captured and at 2:25 am. all the
outer forts were engaged in action with the
three big vessels, which afterward were
recognized as the Kearsarge. Illinois ard
Alabama.
While the torpedo boat destroyers and
other small craft had been detailed to the
duty of threatening the various passages
of the harbor. the movement against the
main channel had been reserved for the
battle ships.
Broadsides at Forts.
For more than an hour the big vessels
stood off the main entrance to the harbor.
At o'clock they began to advance.
With the Kearsarge leading and the Illi-
nois and Alabama close behind each pelch-
ing broadsides at the forts they sailed
slowly toward the city. Forts Williams,
Preble and Levett poured uninterrupted fire
toward the ships.
In turn each ship seemed to concentrate
fire on one fort after another until the yes
sells had reached the inner harbor. AS the
ships crept on past the forts the firing
ceased slowly, and by o'clock the echo
OF guns at the eastern side of the bay,
where minor WI
was all that could be heard
Maneuvered for a Time.
The battle ships then Unanswered for a
time, as IL making demonstration against
the city itself. but firing was not resumed.
Then they went back toward the outer har-
Dor. where they began cruising about
among the islands.
Early in the forenoon the scene of action
shifted to the passage into Hussey's sound,
between Peaks and Long Island. From this
vicinity great clouds of smoke were arising
and the roar of many guns was heard, and
the Olympia, Admiral Dewey's old flagship
appeared, leading fleet against the tire.
mendous strength of Fort Mckinley.
Came in Slowly.
AS at the main entrance, they came in
slowly. The Olympia was closely followed
by the famous Baltimore
There were four other vessels in this fleet,
the principal one being the training ship
Newport. The others were the converted
yacht Vixen. which has been seen in port
several times this summer, and two torpedo
boat destroyers, Werdon and Stewart.
For time the firing was as violent as
that marking the passage of the bottle
ships. Then the action ceased suddenly
and the Olympia and Baltimore came to
anchor just off Cow Island, in the direction
of Little Cheboague.
Hostilities Suspended
The Newport got further in back of Great
Diamond and we'll off Indian Cove; the
Vixen was anchored near at hand, only
little further in toward the city and the
two torpedo boat destroyers took positions
almost under Fort George.
Later the Kearsarge, Illinois and Ala
bama anchored not far from Fort George
and, for a time at least. hostilities were
suspended.