The Van Buren press., 1903-08-29
THROUGH smoke
| AND AMID TUMULT
The Unfolding of the Mimic War
Programme In the Harbor
of Portland, Me.
BATTLESHIPS KEARSAUCE,
ILLINOIS and ALABAMA.
storm the Main Entrance to the
Harborand Sail Toward the City,
Reaching the Inner Harbor In
der the Fire of Forts Williams,
seble and Leyett.

Portland, Me, Aug. 27--Through
dense smoke and amid the tumult Of
continuous cannon fire. the battleships
Kearsarge, Illinois and Alabama en-
tered this port early Wednesday morn
ing, having stormed the main entrance
10 the harbor In connection with the
great war game which is going on this
week In this vicinity.
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 pres
enca of battleship was revealed by
the searchllghts and several Of the
fortS opened fire on her. This vessel
returned the fire and after that the
cannonading became general. A cutter
and launch containing landing parties
were captured and at 2;25 n. IN. all the
outer forts were in action
The outer Fort. Engaged.
All the outer forts were engaged In
action with three big vessels which
were afterward recognized as the Kear-
sarge, Illinois and Alabama.
While two torpedo boat destroyers
and other small craft had been de-
tailed to the duty of threatening the
various passages OF the harbor the
movement against the main channel
had been reserved for the little ships.
For more than an hour the big vessels
stood of the main entrance to the har-
Dor. At four o'clock they began the
advance. With the Kearsarge leading
and the Illinois and Alabama close be-
hind, each belching broadsides at the
forts, .hey sailed slowly toward the
city Forts Williams, Preble and Le-
vett poured uninterrupted fire toward
the ships. In turn each ship seemed
to concentrate fire on one fort after an.
other until the vessels had reached the
inner harbor As the ships crept on
the forts the firing ceased slowly, and
by seven o'clock the eco OF the guns
at the eastern side OF the bay. where
minor engagement was going on,
was all that could be heard
Against Fort Mckinley.
The battleships then maneuvered for
q time and then went back toward the
outer harbor. where they began cruis.
ing about among the islands.
Early In the forenoon the scene OF
action shifted to the passage into Hus-
sey's sound, between Peaks and Long
Island From this vicinity great clouds
Of smoke arose and the roar OF many
guns was heard. The feet. led by the
Olympia, was moving against f. Nc
Knley. The Olympia was closely fol-
lowed by the Baltimore. There were
four other vessels In this feet, the
principal one being the training ship
Newport The others were the con-
vorted yacht Vixen and two torpedo
boat destroyers, Worden and Stewart.
For a time the firing was es violent
M that marking the pa asage OF the bat
tleships. Then the action ceased sud
denly.
with the interval In the long-con-
tlnued action came a chance TO review
the entire movement from midnight &c
mIdforenoon 'rhe land forces claimed
that though the battleshjps had passed
the forts and catered he harbor, they
were not able 70 take The city and had
dropped back TO the outer harbor &c
signal for relnforcoments