The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-17
MONROE ATTACKED
Biggest Ships of Squad
ron Formed Arc Circle.
Demonstration Was "Run BY" IN Day
Light to Develop Accuracy Of
Range Finding. Things Lively
atWashington and Hunt.
fBy the Assoclaled Press


Fort Monroe, Va, June 15.-The
first attack in force on Fort Monroe
took place this morning at I o'clock.
Eight of the biggest ships of Admiral
Dickins' suadron formed an arc OF
circle between Cape Henry and Cape
Charles. All of them headed for the
fort and advanced at slow speed. The
forming operation. although far out,
was plainly visible and everything
was ready in ample time to meet the
attack. The first gun was fired at
40 and for half hour a long range
bombardment continued. The ships
did not come closer than Bug Light,
which is ten miles from the fort. The
fleet consisted of the Texas and Hort
ford. four of the monitors and two
smaller ships. The monitor Puritan
was recognized in the fleet indicating
that she succeeded i'm getting off the
mud at Point Lookout, where she was
fast yesterday Because of the long
range and the use OF sub-calibre to in
dicatc the fire the demonstration was
robbed of the spectacular features
which have characterized tho night at
tacks.
After a half hour of firing during
which the ships were advancing, they
turned i'm a broad circle and proceeded
Ddck from tnclf lulIll anu
were soon out of view.
The demonstration is taken to COM
ply with that part of the exercises re-
quiring a run by in day light to de-
velop the capacity and accuracy of the
range finding and big gun and mortar
fire of batteries
While Admiral Dickins was gather
ing teh larger units of his fleet in the
lower Chesape last night he was
4. 4 Il
timore defenses. At tho forts Wash
ington and Hunt things were exceed
mgly lively. The Siren landed COM
pany of marines at Marshall Hall. Nd.
which Immediately proceeded to cap
ture the army signal station at that
place. Previous to this the Siren had
made several attempts to cut the cable,
the means of communication between
Forts Hunt and Washington. and ac-
cording TO the armies computation of
its artillery fire the ships had been
putout OF action several times. 1t WAS
for this reason that a lively protest
was made by the captured signal sta
ton personnel. and a case for future
settlement by the joint board has been
made. Besides landing at Marshall
Hall another landing was made from
the Siren on the Fort Hunt side of the
i'otomac at what is known as Nv hits
House" just below the fort.
At Baltimore the converted yacht
Sylvia showed considerable speed and
energy during the night in chasing
the scout boats of the forts. She made
no captures so far as reported.
admiral Dickins with his flagship,
the Texas. was in the vicinity of Fort
Monroe during the night and succeed
ed intercepting and breaking up the
wireless communication between the
fort and the army scouts. He allowed
the fort to intercept a message to the
Newark. which said that he would at
tack the fort at 2:30 o'clock this
morning. This was proved by the
failure to attack TO be a ruse. The
gunboat Hornet landed at Old Poin'
Comfort shortly after noon today and
Lieutenant Hussey at once proceeded
to the headuarters of General Wade,
bearing papers from Admiral Dickins.