The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-26
STORM THE HARBOR.
Attacking Naval Squadron Line
Up in Front of Portland.

Portland, Me, Aug. 26=Through
smoke and amid the tumult of continu-
Gus cannon fire the battleships Kear-
sarge, Illinois and Alabama entered this
port early today, having stormed the
main entrance to the harbor, in connec-
ton with the great war maneuver which
IS going on in this vicinity The night
was sleeoless one not only for those
engaged in the maneuver but for those
In the city. 1t was scarcely midnight
when the searchlights of the forts dis
closed two torpedo boat destroyers in the
outer harbor. Firing began at once and
then ceased. An hour later the presence
OF a battleship was revealed by the
searchlights and several of the forts OPP
ened fire on her. This vessel returned the
fire and after that the cannonading be-
came general A cutter and launch con-
tanning landing parties were captured
and at 2:25 a. m. all the other forts
were in action.
All the outer forts were engaged in
action with the three big vessels, which
afterward were recognized as the Kear-
sarge, Illinois and Alabama
While two torpedo boat destroyers and
other small craft had been detailed to
the duty of threatening the various pas
sages of the harbor. the movement
against the main channel had been re-
served for the little ships. For more
than an hour the big vessels stood off
the main entrance to the harbor. At 4
o'clock they began the advance With
the Kearsarge leading and the Illinois
and Alabama close behind, each belch-
ing broadsideS at the forts, they sailed
slowly toward the city. Forts Williams,
Preble and Levett poured interrupted
fire toward the ships. In turn each ship
seemed to concentrate fire on one fort
after another until the vessels had
reached the inner harbor. AS the ships
erept on the forts ceased firing and by
Z o'clock the echo of guns. at the eastern
side of the bay where a minor engage
ment was going on was all that could
be heard.
The battieships then unanswered for
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 ac-
ton shifted to the passage into Hus-
sey's sound between Peaks and Long
Islands. From this vicinity great clouds
of smoke arose and the roar of many
guns was heard. The fleet, led by the
Olympia, was moving against FIT. Nc
Kinley. The Olympia was closely fol-
lowed by the Baltimore. There were
four other vessels in this fleet. the prin-
cipal one being the training ship New
port The others were the converted
yacht Vixen and two torpedo boat de-
stroyers. Worden and Stewart. For
a time the firing was as violent as tnat
marking the passage of the battleshlps.
Then the action ceased suddenly
Fort Lovett, Cushing's Island, Aug:
26.-The army under the command of
Col 5. NJ. Mills. it is believed. gained
a victory over a portion of the fleet
commanded by Admiral Barker, in an
engagement which lasted for three
hours this morning. Two phases of the
rnaneuvers were worked out, and IN
both the army umpires claimed the
victory. The first, the attempt to
land a force. was begun shortly after
/ o'clock. and was repulsed with heavy
loss. The second phase was the at
tempt to run the batteries, and was
begun in the grey of dawn. The army
claims that the vessels in this attempt
were destroyed by gun fire and the
mines A discovery was made that the
powerful searchlights were about to
penetrate the fog, and the vessels OF
the attacking feet were picked up al
a distance of 10000 yards.