New-York tribune., 1908-06-19
ENEMY IS REPULSED.
Soldiers in the Var Game Still
Hold the Forts.


over Coney Island boats and outgoing steamers
the order of the day yesterday in the mimic
game. Forts Wadsworth and Hamilton. down
the Narrows, renewed work with the big guns and
kept up the target practice despite the numerous
vessels which plying across the range 1t
goes to the credit of the gunners that not &C
cdent occurred.
The target for Fort Hamilton down near
swfnburne Island. $500 yards from the fort-5O0
yards further away than the used the preced-
ing day. That used by Fort wadsworth over
in the direction of Coney Island. The first shot
yesterday came from of the big guns of Bat
terry Richmond 1t whistled toward a number OF
ocean liners going down the bay, falling between
the Cedric and the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria,
though not near enough to either to any
great degree of alarm. All the afternoon the tar
get work was Kept up. and there much sub
calibre firing. Residences around Fort Wadsworth
were reported damaged to some extent by the dis
charge OF the heavy guns.
Early in the morning. following report that
Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook. had been taken by
the enemy Iookouts at Fort Wadsworth and Fort
Hamilton saw the invading feet steaming up the
channel The battleships were ranged in two
soradro -ir1lagtnary-Of four each The forts
onened fire Immediately, and the first squadron
was sunk After an hours hot firing at long
range-too long. practically Tor any uecisl'e result
the enemy drew off
At $50 last night eight searchlights playing on
the water from Forts WadswOrth and Hamilton
discovered the invading feet creeping up along
tho coast at Sea Gate. AS the guns of the forts
onened fire the fleet made for the Captains fler
ar Bath Beach and landed its men Meanwhlie
the guns were trained on the boats, which headeo
out again but were finally sunk The troops that
had been landed made attack from the rear On
the 9th Regiment, stationed at Fort Hamilton
hut here the defence was also impresnaole ana
succeeded in driving back the assailants. with
heavy losses At $50 the skyrOckets from Fort
Hamilton flashed forth to three thousand people
along the shore at Fort Hamilton and on an equdl
number at Bath Beach the news thaF 'he ihFaoi'is
force had suffered a complete rout
The attacking warships got another sWashlng III
irving TO pass Fort TOtten and FCrt Schuyl-I Iae'
night Scarcely had the 6o-inch searchlsht AT or'
scbnvler discovered their presence than the guns
Of tho batteries were brought into play lhree
bo++1asbins were destroyed and four cruisers sunk
in short order by the rapid fire Finding attempt
AZ a landing impossible. the crippled enemy WIKI
drew to safe distance -
While the fight lasted the din was terrinc- me
,igbt was of Just the sort for non-combatants 10
. 49,, s,so+ac1s although too clear to give much
comfort to the attacking force.
The men at Fort Schuyler were drilled hard yes
+ardav hut in the intervals OF their Work had
+tr,e to go swimming and attend numerous In
FORMAL Iuncheons and entertainments given ny the
-,s All were i'm high spirits because of the
.,,ccassf1l encounter with the enemy the night
before and even the hard drilling under h'1
Gun IN extended order, picket duty ana the Ike
did not seem like great hardshlps- NeVer'heiesS'
49,, or,, r,robaby was more rigorous than at any
- tce the sth and list have been detailed
,bsra soldiers were told off TO watch all the
tnlats and approaches to the rear OF the fort ana
were kept there for hours against a possio'e at
tack of the enemy.
rbare were many visitors at evening parade last
ih+ but because Of the enemy supposed to be
g., tho or1ng the evening gun was not fired nor
the colors lowered The buglers blew retreat and
the parade formed. was reviewed ana dismissed
IT,, aoa4 artillery formed the first battalion
- tba right with the second battalion OF the list,
,,rder Major Edward B. Bruch. in the centre. with
th co,ors The first battalion Of the sth Regiment.
Major Henry Wilson commanding. made up the
- Colonel Blunt and Captain NJ. 5. Crissey acted
as most commander and post adtutant for the pro-
visional regiment.