New-York tribune., 1905-06-13
FORTS AHEADIN WAR GAME
The Teras. Cruiser and Four De.
strouers Sunk" in First attack.

baltimore June 1f-The first encounter between
~. varships and the forts resulted decidedly in
,evor Of the latter, batueship cruiser and four
aestroyers being sunk in early morning action
,.7-he American give. the following account of an
attack on Fort Howard:
MAKING an saT%y % 9T1lpg a5tse a on Fort & Howard
So 80. destroyers were theoretically blown out Of
re water by the srtillerymen stationed at Fort
HoWagow va worSen snd The Whippe While tbe tbipS
%ss either the McDonough. the steuart the Law
Promptly At midnight scout boats sent out
sasts sisnslled the artilleryrnen at Fort Howard
Rat the enemy were approaching. and ali the
raen at the fort were Immediately called the
Almost simultaneously the men were warned Of
fs point The searchlights Forts Howard. Small
zood Arnistead and Carroll headed Gcwn
the wordep vas detected steaming up the liver at
IN t.arnsis the men at Fort Howard opened fire on
ne approaching destroyer with rapid FIRE and
sbort range guns. While the worden was theo-
SSetioaIy blown up. she proceeded past Fort How
aTd and on up the river The other forts imme-
sarns s1rIsi in shooting at the sppToachng enemy
fist OF the enemys feet another destroyer, evil
6sntly the Whipple, was discovered This vessel
rtrcyer soon made its appearance, and. ike the
other Two. was sunk
suts without making any demonstration. but the
eas IN the lead was soon put out of commission
rnging OF bell in Fort Howard.
TIE third boat, though put out of business
opene6 fire on all four Of the forts and the sight
was most interesting and exciting one Broad
sides were fred by the third destroyer when II
reached point between Forts ArTnistead and
Carroll. No lights were used any OF the boats
and the fire from the guns made imposing sight
Il IS believed that the Gestroyers were sent on
ahead Of the est OF the feet get range Of
forts. draw the IRE and ascertain whether the men
were their guns.
Later i fourth destroyer was discovered and
sunk" Then the battleship Texas made g frontal
demonstration. and from Seyen-foot Knoll fred her
big and little guns at Fort Howard While the
Texas was making this demonstration q swift
cruiser made a flank movement and went up the
hay toward Poole's Island. II was discovered in
tie nick Of time by the at Fort Howard, who
fred on the ship The fire returned. and, after
g lively skirmish. the gunaers at the fort theo-
rsHcaly sent both the Texas and the cruiser to
the bottom
After the battle the cruiser sent up q rocket and
then up red and white light, and directed her
ssarchlights toward the forts.
After the Intellectual attack, the enemy
the attacking vessels known, withdrew and
Ttesmed down Chesapeake Bay to join the rest OF
The attack this morning will cause the local
gsrTisons 10 relax the vigor Of their watch,
there is nothing 10 prevent Admiral Dickns at
taeking the city again It is probable that he will
send boats against the local tortihcstions IN
DAYTIME. and IL is possible that he may try get
his smaller boats past every night
The garrison sleeps at the guns. one-third of the
troops being az the guns all the time. while the
remainder rest in tents that have been pitched
close the guns At the least alarm the call TO
arTns is sounded and everybody IN the post
rushes TO his post Colonel Frank Thorp, the
battle commander. and all the officers remain at the
guns. the same the men All meals are served
st the ennplacements OF the guns.