Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-27
A SIGNAL VICTORY
Claimed by the Army Defence Over
Naval Attacking Forces.

Portland, Me-, Aug. 26.-Division
Headquarters. Fort Levett, Cushing's
Island, Aug. 26.-The army under the
command of Col. S. M. Mills it is be-
licved, gained signal victory over a
portion of the fleet commanded by Ad
miral Barker in an engagement which
lasted for three hours, this morning.
Two phases of the maneuvres We're
worked out and in both the army
umpires claimed victory.
The first, the attempt to land force.
was begun shortly after 1 o'clock and
was repulsed with heavy loss. The
second phase was the attempt to run
the batteries and was begun in the
gray of the dawn. The army claims
that the vessels in this attempt We're
destroyed by gun fire and the mines.
y discovery was made that the power
full searchlights We're able to pene-
trate the fog, and the vessels of the
attacking fleet We're picked up at
distance of 10000 yards.
Gen. Chaffee, who arrived at head
quarters shortly after 4 A. NJ, COM
mended both the regulars and militia
forces.
At o'clock, the battleship Kearsarge,
flying the pennant of Admiral Barker,
was laying in the harbor off Fort
Preble, and the Illinois, on board which
was the list Division Maine Naval Re-
serves. under command of Lieut.. Blge
low, and the battleship Alabama, were
anchored off Fort Gorges. tow boat
and two torpedo boat destrOyers were
anchored in the bay off Diamond
island and the Olympia further down
the bay. At I o'clock. the battleshlps
raised their anchors and steamed to
the eastward and went into Broad
sound, where they anchored, presum-
| ably to clear ships for further action
At 8 O'Clock, the Panther tried to
land several boat loads of marines ana
tackles Oh Long island under fire
from her rifles, but the boats were
repulsed by a fire from a field bat
| terry. we'll masked on shore and by
| heavy gun fire from Fort Mckinley.
| Fort Preble tried one shot from
mortar at the Panther and the boats
were recalled to the ship.
At 5 o'clock tonight, the situation in
| the war game was practically the same
| as ut noon. Iht titlt',hiiiSo iiSS' wen
| the exception of one converted cruiser,
was laying at anchor off Long Island.
The cruiser left the fleet at about
2.45, and steamed up the harbor short
distance. possibly looking for cables at
tached to mines. She fired several
rounds and was answered by Fort Nc
Kinlev. She anchored off Lttlejohn's
| island.
Passengers on the Harpswell steamer
| that arrived here about 3 o'clock, stat
| ed that several of the fleet were OBJ
served about noon off Whaleboat is
land in upper Harpsweh bay, evidently
! trying to land parties.
AS the last of the modern ships of
war were passing the forts, this morn
ing. the historic Hartford came into the
| harbor. cleared for action. Col. Mills
ordered his batteries to withhold their
fire i'm honor OF the record of the grand
old ship. and she continued. on her
| course unmOlested.~
lust before noon, a fleet, of seven
TROOPER boats was made out on the ho-
r'zon moving slowly in an easterly di-
rection. 1t is believed they were join
ing the battleships which participated
in the morning attack. Whether it is
this apparent concentration of the fleet
or other information which led the Off
oars to believe some sort of hoStilities