The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-13
DICKINS'S FLEET SHATTERED
FORT ROWARDS GUNS DO HIM
UP BROWN lON PAPER.

Admiral Retires From His Attack on nal
Theoretically Behtnd--FOPt Monroe
Looks for Him in vain--A Wet Night.
BALTIMORE, Md, June l2--Under cover
Of heavy mist and a downpour Of rain
Admiral Dickins's fleet attacked" Balti-
moro at 1888 O'Clock this morning, but
was repulsed. Four destroyers Of the feet
were theoretically sunk by the fire Of Fort
Howard; the converted yachts Sylvia
and Siren were theoretically blown up by
dummy" mines and a monitor, supposed
to be the Florida. Is aground, blocking the
channel.
For about three hours the fight was
waged, but about $50 A. NJ. after the Florida
went aground, Admiral Dickins withdrew
the remainder Of his shattered feet.
The feet, which during the past week.
was anchored of Solomon's Island, left
it's base Saturday with the supposed in
tention Of passing out the Virginia Capes.
But by clever piece Of strategy Admiral
Dickins managed to conceal his feet in
the coves along the Chesapeake, and as
soon as hostilities opened, he attempted
to run his torpedo boats past Fort Howard.
After the torpedo boats we're sunk" by
the fire OF the forts, several Of his monitors
attempted passa &c, but the Florida went
aground blocking the channel, and the two
monitors which accompanied the Florida
were forced to surrender.
The Sylvia and the Siren, which were the
Maryland naval reserves, STRUCK" mines
early in the fight and we're sunk
FORT MONROE. Va. June 12-With rain
falling in torrents and the night SO thick
that the effective range of ever its most
powerful searchlights were materially
reduced. Fort Monroe at a late hour to-
night had not been attacked by Admiral
Dickins's fleet. From the standpoint of
the enemy conditions were almost ideal
for offensive operations on his part, and
the fact that there was no evidence OF the
presence Of any Of his units in these waters
during the first part OF the night was gen.
orally accepted as indicating the sound
ness of pinto that the defenses Of Washing
ton. consisting Of Fort Washington and
Fort Hunt, will be engaged before Col.
Potts is given an opportunity To show
what the batteries here can dc.
All this was purely speculative. however.
for the most reliable information obtain
able was that the whereabouts Of the feet
was Unknown to any Of the forts in the three
artillery districts involved in the exercises,
and it is therefore quite possible that an
early morning attack will be made here.
There is reason to believe that the land
forces knew where the feet was up to noon
to-day, or an hour or two thereafter. and
that since that time no information Of any
kind concerning its movements has been
received.
When the bad weather came on, about
o'clock this afternoon, Col. Potts took
additional steps toward disposing his
forces 40 as to enable them to put up the
best defense possible under the circum
stances. Scout boats are out in the bay
ready to give warning of the coming of the
fleet, and three Of the searchlights at Fort
Monroe proper as well as the two at Fort
Wool and Camp Humphrey were In constant
action.
The men on the scout boats. having been
commercial vessels which they nlistook for
some Of the smaller boats Of Admiral
Dickinss force. are disposed to be un-
usually vigilant tonight, but with the
weather as it is they are working under
marked disadvantage 1t is possible that
covered by either the scout boats or the
searchlights. but by contact Of some of the
vessels with the mines with which the bay
and roads are sprinked.
These mines are arranged 80 that the
land forces will be instantly apprise If
they are struck but as they are just "a
liable to be touched by commercial boats
as by the enemy's vessels, the fort has still
another unfavorable feature to contend
with.
News of the theoretical repulse Of the
fleet by the forts in the Maryland artillery
district. below Baltimore, was received
at Fort Monroe. II is realized, however,
that the navy will have a better chance
to do effective work here than in the upper
waters of the bay especially II it attacks
TONIGHT