New-York tribune., 1909-06-18
" adszcOrth and Hamilton 4Hnlhlidte
Enemy's Fleet IN NnrrO7rS.

The CITY of New Ycrk Wa saved from terrible
destruction and pillage by the invading fleet last
night. when the gallant land forces, consisting Of
the 18th Regiment y. G. y Y. repulsed every bat
tlesbip conveying the enemy to these shores. and
did not rest each hostile vessel had been sent
to the bottom the Lower Bay.
Il was shortly after o'clock, just when the
heavy sea fog was rolling in and shrouding every
thing in mystery. that the first of the invading
feet was discovered. Two lighters represented as
many grim hatteships while two government
launches played the part of hostile cruisers. The
great. sweeping searchlShts installed on the bat
1eries Of Fort wadsworth were the first to make
distinct in the peryading gloom the approach OF
the enemy Rounding the northern end Of SWIM
nurne Island. the huge hulk of the steel monster
could he seen plauehing It's way through the black
waters Of the Narrows. Behind the hrSt or the
flying squadron could be dimly made out the forms
of the rest Of the they crept swiftly up
beneath the froNning fortress.
As soon as Colonel Davis. in charge Of the 18th,
was informed OF the enemy's proximity, he gave
orders that Fort Hamilton across the Narrows.
should 70 Warned by telephone. As with one voice
the great 10 and inch guns of the two fortresses
beched forth their defiance and the battle was on
For few moments the militiamep stationed at the
forts found 1t difficult to discover the advancing
squadron but once they got the range they flooded
the waters about the Lower BAY with stream OF
light and began to pour in IA death-deains hail OF
shot and shell upon the hapless war vessels.
Stu. the desperate enemy continued to advance
in the face uf this warm reception and 1t was not
until ,hey reached d point within mile of the
shore that they gave signs of having had enough
- SickcunE urrch To- Starboard, shook with a
mighty qujyer and disappeared beneath the churn-
inE waters 4 loud EsH OF victory resoun;ed from
both forts add the firing rcdouhed- Through
the dcnsy blanket ot fog and binding sheets oI
rain The artillcrymen stood % their guns ana
awaited the al aDce ~ the rest of the squadron
At tI- END Of hours Of bloody hChtnE the
enemy hal been reduced To solitary cruiSef-
which staggered and lurcEed Ike n drunken
creature : she made her up the bay N
srite the fact that every gun trained on IN"
successful ul cyadinC the final desperate wound
which shouru send her To the bottom. and 'merEeh
trigrphAnt beneath ihe very noses "i the beeiHhE
guns Riding easily at anchor in the Sn!lhuIouS
canopy that hung over the surface Of the hay. She
dispat.hod landing parties in small boats ana
these r7.dr frantic efforts scale the heights 81
IN, forts only bo ropulsed with fearful loss 81
when n truce had been declared. II was learned
fr,u, The commander II the hostile Meet lha' ff
Hancock Sandy Hook. had been demolished tH
Tho guns of the fleet earlier in IN" evening
Th. srenps which followed the great victory ~
-. land forces characteristic of yl'i"TN u!
real warfare Al along the ramparts ot Inc t"|
the riItiamen making merry over theli sI''"SSl,II
haIlzirg of III, plans Of the enemy forces ''ui"
o heard up TO q late boHr- ~, D., r,-
To-day, II il announced. the enemy VII ne -!
resented bv q larger force, consisting '' 'lNr -
,Iesrrs arI three cruisers. aided bN S'lfIa' 'uN-
boats and they promise bloody struggle l"i '''