Newport daily independent., 1905-03-18
FEAR OF GERMAN INVASION FIRST or NAVAL BATTLES.
It Was Fought in Maryland Waters in the Early Colonial
 Days.

April 23 of this year was the two hundred and sixty-ninth anniversary of the first naval battle fought in American waters On that date two armed forces met at the mouth of the Pocomoke river, within the boundaries of the province of Maryland, and set- tied, at least temporarily. the authority of Lord Baltimore. The settlement at St. Mary's had been made but 13 months when this test of arms oc- cured, says the Chicago Chronicle.
 About three years before the land Ing of the Maryland pilgrims under Gov. Leonard Calvert, by virtue of the grant of the territory from Charles l., a trading post had been established by William Claibourne, of Virginia, on Kent island. It was not settlement Intended for permanent homes and the tilling of the soil. but merely a place fixed upon by Claibourne for conven- fence of trade with the Indians. Kent island was clearly within the jurisdic- ton of Lord Baltimore, but Claibourns very foolishly resisted his authority and refused to take out traders li- ;ense from the proprietary's govern ment at St. Mary's. This stubborn stand of Claibourne resulted in the capture early in the year by Capt. Thomas Cornwaleys, ono of the Nary land commissioners, of a vessel be-. longing to Claibourne for trading in the. waters of the Chesapeake without Maryland license.
 Claibourne realized now that he would either have to break down Lord Baltimore's authority by force of arms or be compelled to submit to that au- thority. He chose to fight and, accord ingly. he fitted out an armed boat, the Cockatrice, which was manned by 30 men and placed under the command of Lieut.. Radcliffe Warren, who was com- missioned by Claibourne "to seize and capture any pinnacles or other vessels belonging to the government of St. Mary's."
 This was a declaration of war and when the news of the rebellion reached Gov. Calvert he at once determined to put 1t down, as becomes a governor whose rights are denied and whose au- thority is defied. Knowing the strength of the insurgents, he wisely fitted out a superior force, with the full determina- tion to crush the spirit that was giv- Ing him no little trouble. So he manned and commissioned two vessels the St. Margaret and the St. Helena placed them in command of the gal- lant Capt. Cornwaleys, with orders to search out and destroy the enemy and reduce Kent island to submission
 The little squadron sailed out from St. Mary's with the Maryland colors dying from the flagship and animated by the same courageous spirit that two and half centuries later inspired an. other Maryland naval commander in his gloriously successful search for the Spanish fleet Tn the waters of the West Indies. Their course took them across the bay and soon they were rewarded by sighting the sails of the insurgent sh.- If the mouth of the Pocomoke. Curr wafeys skillfully maneuvered his little fleet so as to prevent the escape of the enemy and both sides cleared for action. The insurgents delivered the first fire, and so; true was the aim that William Ashmore, of the Mary landers, fell to the deck, the first American sailor whose life was sacri- feed while in action upon the altar of duty. The sight of their dead comrade inspired the Maryland men to greater determination, and, made more deadly their aim and threefold more terrible their revenge. Their first Ire killed the enemy,s commanding officer Lieut., Warren-and two of his crew. The insurgents having lost their leader and two of their comrades and seeing certain destruction staring them in the face, were brought to realize that dis cretion was the better part of valor and therefore they wisely struck their col ors and surrendered themselves and their vessel to the victorious aMry- tanderS
 Kent island was afterwards subdued and Claibourue stripped of his posses sion. But he did not cease to be source of great trouble to the settlers of St. Mary's and more than once snc- ceeding in destroying. for time, the government of Lord Baltimore. But that belongs to another story.
 Thefts from Hotels.
 A certain hOtelkeeper in Washineton