The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
Flagship Olympia, Overcome by
Force Of Numbers by Invaders,
Telegraphs for Aid.
REscUERs COME IN A HURRY.
Entire Atlantic Squadron Will
Proceed to Oyster Bay, the
Presidents Summer Home,
to Be Reviewed.

Bar Harbor. Me-, Aug. s.-The nava
search problem. which began last wednes
day when Rear Admiral Barker took up tbs
plan of defending the Maine coast f7o-n a
hostile" fleet which put TO sea on MoEda,
under Read Admiral Sands. ended early to-
day when the Olympia. the flagship of thC
defending fleet. discovered apd intercepted
the white squadron OF the cnemy. headed
at full speed for Winter Harbor.
The hostile vessels We're running in close
order formation. and had not the fog lifted
at favorable moment il is thought the
enemy would have eluded these on guard
As it turned out, before her Censor could
reach the scene, in answer to her signals,
the Olympia had been forced to fly tie
white flag and consider hsrsslf captured or
destroyed by the hostile commander.
The Olympia was the furtherest to the
eastward of the defending ships and had
been occupying position twenty-five miles
outside Baker Island for the greater part
OF three days. A thick fog bank. which
rolled 10 from the sea after midnight. made
II Impossible 10 cover the ordinary cruising
o Hs Of ahe and all ha ca n
FOG ROLLS OUT.
Shortly after o'clock the fog bank began
to roll out to sea, and as the atmosphere
cleared every man and officer of the battle
snip searched the constantly charging field
VI Nisiou Will ouGCeIlN there was
cry repeated simultaneously from various
PARTS OF the Olympia's superstructure:
There they are. sir"
In an instant the operator in the wireless
telegraph room was signaling for the Kear-
sarge 10 announce the discovery of the fleet
TO Rear Admiral Barker; The flagship.
rock, caught the sound waves and an
swered. In a few moments word came by
the wireless that the Kearsarge was on her
way to aid the Olympia.
Meanwhile. the latter vessel had found
herself in a predicament. The fog which
had been of advantage to the enemy, proved
when 1t lifted and Admiral Sands's vessels
were seen. they were too close to the de-
Tending vessel for her to escape. Under the
rules Of the maneuvers she was overpowered
~ the superior force and could do nothing
but run. up the white flag and consider her.
sell captured by the hostile squadron.
The conditions at this point. had it not
been for the Olympia's wireless telegraph
equipment. indicate that Admiral Sands
might have reached an anchorage in Winter
SHIPS UNDER WAY.
1t was about 4:30 when the Olympia's
wireless message was received on the Kear-
sarge. General quarters were sounded. and
In remarkably short time the Kearsarge
was under way. followed in turn by the
Alabama and the Illinois.
sTorpedo-boat destroyers and tugs fell In
behind the battelships az they rushed en-
te meet the hostile vessel. In an hour
sight of the enemy. When she was within
range. the kearsarge opened fire with her
second battery. The other two battlesl,i,,s
followed this action. Admiral San ISIS flag
snip. the Texas, made no response with her
guns Instead, white flag was run up on
the Texas. Then an interchange. of Signals
andthe lnvadiBe-and the defending s1rar-s
r9ns headed for Bar Harbor.
In this search problem the value of the
wireless telegraph In the navy has been
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ma
val officers. Under ordinary conditions II
would have been several hours before the
olympia could have communicated her dis
covery Of the enemy to any other ships of
the squadron. even though she could have
MADE a run for it. which the rules pro-
But by aid Of wireless service not only
was she able to inform the Admiral of the
approach OF the enemy, but Admiral Bar-
kers flagship. the Kearsnree transmit tod
70 ship along the whole length OF the coast
from Mount Desert Rock to Cape Ann 90
that In short time all of the defandino
squedron was informed Of the fact that th1.
enemy was In sight, and e-enforcernents 10
along the coast Ai'ieS
All OF these ships are to gather here for
Two DAYS, preparatory to sailing for oyster
Bay, where the entire fleet is TO he re-
viewed By the President next Saturday