The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-06-15
Guns in the Fort Monroe Fortif-
cations Trained on the Big
War Vessels.
REPLIED WITH 8 AND lO-INCH GUNS
The Ship Kept Up Terrific Fire the
Noise Shaking the Buildings at
Old Point.
The Vessels Were construetively Sunk
Q, a Combination Of Mines, Nor
tars Fire and Heavy Shells
From Main Batteries.

Fort Monroe, Va, June 1.-THE
feet steaming toward the Notifications
was discovered by the scout boat Re-
no. A wireless message was sent into
the fort and the range finders in a few
seconds sent word to the batteries that
the ships we're of shore $4,000 yards.
about eight miles. The guns and NOR
tars OF all the Notifications we're
trained on the ships and the range les
sened from time TO time as the ships
came in closer Ten minutes after
the vessels were sighted the Texas
commenced firing with her S-inch and
10Inch guns. Within a few minutes
the mortar batteries were turned loose
on the ships at 10000 yards and as the
vessels came In closer the 12inch dis
appearing guns opened on them. The
ships kept up continuous fire. the
noise being terrific. shaking the build.
ings al Old Point. After steaming up
the rip-raps the Texas sent signals to
cease firing and then turned about,
putting out to sea again.
Ships Put Out Of Action.
Tuesday afternoon at ~: 80 the Tex.
as and Hornet returned and attempt.
ed TO storm the forts during heavy
rainstorm The ships were put out OF
action before they had chance to fire
more than a shot or two, the mortars
being credited with the work. The
Texas kept on up the roads. however
and the batteries along the shores all
fired on her for practice
The exercises appear to demonstrate
that Il would be almost impossible for
a small fleet to run the batteries here
and get into Hampton Roads. The
morlars and searchlights have done
most Satisfactory work. Countermin
ing operations by the navy have not
been tried yet and it is expected that
II will be next on the program.
The Shore Searchliehts.
The shore searchlights picked up
the vessels when they were fully sew
en- miles off shore. The best that has
ever been claimed for the searchlights
is an effective range OF seven miles
on a perfect night for such work
Tuesday night there was a heavy mist
over the bay and out TO the capes
The ships were first sighted about 2:l5
O'Clock Wednesday morning when they
were about seven miles OF shore. The
Texas, flying Adm. Dickens flag, led
the procession with the Hartford and
Hornet in the order named The boats
came close to the Notifications and
were "constructively" sunk by a combi
nation of mines, mortars fire and
heavy shells from the main batteries
Of ali the forts, all OF which were con
centrated on the enemy for about 10
minutese. The mortars opened the
battle and II Is claimed that they put
the ships out of action almost immedi.
ately. although the vessels continued
to come toward the forts. They re
tired after half an hour of fighting and
passed out OF sight.
Attack on Baltimore.
Baltimore, June 14.-At l:45 Wed
nesday morning Baltimore's defending
forts were again attacked by part
OF the feet under RI Adm. Dickens.
The cruiser Atlanta was discovered in
the cut-off channel. between Bodkin
Point and Fort Smallwood. She was
followed by the Newark and the Syl
via. Fort Howard opened fire. Forts
Arimstead and Smallwood followed
the example and after brisk cannon.
ade the Atlanta sent ny a red rocket
which Is taken TO mean that she con-
fesses destruction or surrenders.
Constructively, all three Of the at.
lacking vessels were sent TO the bot
tom, as was also a four-masted schoon-
er which the war vessels used as a
partial screen TO their movements and
which was. therefore. In the line Of
fire from the forts The naval vessels
did not reply to the guns of the forts
and shortly turned and headed down