The Washington times., 1907-07-26
DISPUTE AT FORTS
STILL CONTINUES
Militiamen Maintain That
Participation of Regu-
lars Was Unfair.
Night Attack by Naval Force
Repelled and Boats
Theoretically Sunk.

FORT HUNT. Va, July PA differ
ence of opinion still exists between thS
officers of this post and those OF Fort
Washington. concerning the question OF
whether or not the men here violated
the agreements under which tneir attack
on the fortihcations across the river on
Wednesday night were lived UP TO.
A report leaked out this morning from
an authoritative source that Lieutenant
Colonel Coffin. commander OF both forts,
was displeased at the use OF the regular
troops in the land and naval attack on
Fort Washington by Captain Balentine,
who Is commandant Of this post, and
that he voiced his disapprOval OF the
action in no uncertain tones. Neither
Colonel Coffin nor Captain Ballentine
could be located this morning. but a
captain stationed at Fort Hunt says
that, while there may have been dis
agreement regarding the legitimacy ac-
cording TO previous arrangement as TO
the employment of the regulars In the
movement, 1t was entirely friendly, and
that 40 friction occurred between the
two. This is the genraI opinion OF all
those wno were aware that disagree
true version of the little affair.
Last night the officers and enlisted
men Of Fort Hunt entertained the OIL
GERS and non-coms Of the militia. re-
Epecuvely, and the compliment will be-
returned in kind by last nights guests
on Saturday night.
The naval demonstration which takes
place tonight. and in which both forts
VIII participate, will end the military
maneuvers here. Tomorrow will be
practically day Of rest. unless General
Harries, who arrived at noon today,
wishes the plan changed
Call to Arms at 4 A. NJ.
A call 10 arms at O'Clock this morn
ing awoke Washington's soldier BOYS.
and emptied the small dog-tents in
which the companies were sleeping
along the line of outposts, who had
been posted along the water front IN
expectation of en- attack from an imag-
mary foe.
The enemy made its first appearance
in numbers at the lower end of the
reservation on Piscataway creek, Just
of the Cossack post, in charge Of Lieu
tenant Bristol. The alarm was given,
and a messenger sent on the double
quick to ask that reserves be sent from
Old Fort which was in charge OF Lieu
tenant Bristol
Up 10 this time a desultory fire had
Kept up intermittently all night, at
It's appearance In small numbers for
the purpose Of recOnnoitering At first
II was thought that this was but an
other accommodating party, but before
II was too late il was realized that il
was a section Of the main attack, which
opened a heavy rife fire upon every post
simultaneously.
Although the men had been kept up
nearly al night, they responded TO the
leaden hail which met them, with
deadly accuracy. In the meantime the
big guns, located back in the woods, and
the machine rifles at the different posts
enemy wavered and fell back. Had
charge then been sounded II is prob
able that IL would have ended there.
but instead, the enemy was allowed 10
retire In some confusion, and in the
brief lull which followed, reform their
troops. This action nearly resulted IA
tally for the protectors or Forts Wash
ington and Hunt, for their foes came
back with redoubled fury, and It was
only after loss OF many Of the brave
men that the forces stationed here and
at Fort Hunt slaughtered or made pris-
oners the attacking forces.
Truce Declared at O'Clock.
At o'clock a truce was declared for
an hour that tbe men, dead and alive
alike, might recuperate their wasted
strength at the mess tables. The troops
Will be allowed to rest until o. clock this
evening. when General Harries will wit
ness a similar demonstration TO that
which occurred Last night and this
morning.
There was no chance today for a dis
cussiOn over the result of the naval
demonstration which took place against
this place and Fort Hunt last night,
when the Naval Battalion Of the Ma
honsl Guard on board a feet Of eight
or ten boats. were repulsed with great
loss Of life-theOretically The enemy's
feet was composed of the Oneida, two
small gasolene launches, and cOnsOrt
Of a half dozen or more rowboats.
The decided feature OF the evenings
engagement was the strategic manner
in which one Of the smaller launches,
in personal command Of Commander
Dempf, of the Naval Battalion. evaded
the four powerful searchlights and
steamed up unseen until Il reached the
wharf. The launch is one Of the ten
ders to the United States ship Puritan
and came down Wednesday with the
naval militia AS soon as Commander
Dempf had reported to Colonel Uren. at
headquarters, the fleet sailed on down
the river until they reached a point
eight or ten miles below here.
Clever Ruse Of Commander.
The signal to cast out the anchors was
given, and then Commander Dempf sent
a detachment ashore TO gather a large
quantity of thick foliage. While this
detail was carrying out his first orders
he painted the sides Of his launch black,
and by the time the men returned tn