The Washington times., 1909-06-27
Boom of Guns in Mimic
Fight Sets City
Guessing.
COFFIN COMMANDS
DEFENSIVE FORCE
Drill Arranged on Request of Rep
resentative Hull, Chairman Com
mittee on Military Affairs.

Tired. and perhaps sleepy, a party of
half a hundred men and women, under
the protecting wing OF Representative
John A T Hull Of Iowa. chairman Of
the House Committee on Military At
fairs, arrived in Washington early this
morning on the mine planter General
Mills, after an eventful night at the
river forts, watching the repulse OF an
imaginary enemy, attacking Washing
ION
II was a clear night, and the nash
and boom OF the big guns and mortars
lent il a picturesdueaess that thorough
" enthused the party. men and women
alike. incidentally, the booming Of the
big guns shattered the dreams Of many
WashiLgtonians who were tossing rest
sessIy In their beds, trying TO obtain a
little sound asleep.
The drill last night was surprise. not
only to the men on duty, but to the
public. which mistook the reverberations
of the nortars for the rolling OF thunder
an the Virginia hills.
The imaginars feet trying &c sneak
Up the liver past the forts. was annihi-
lated before a single ship managed to
get in striking distance
Requested by Mr.. Hull
The drill was arranged on request Of
Mr.. Hull. chairman OF the House Com
s1ittee on Military Affairs. It was TO
represent an unexpected attack by an
enemy, a sudden call TO arms, and quick
manning OF the guns. It worked out
perfectly. Representative Huh and his
party left Washington early last even
ing on the new mine planting steamer
of the Coast Artillery Corps the Gen
eral Miles. which was ordered up for
the occasion IN the party were all the
members of the Military Committee
who were in town. the Iowa delegation
IN Congress. Senator Cummings, and
DR.. Foster. Of Illinois, and their families
and friends
Soon after their arrival al Fort Wash
sngton, an alarm was sounded, and a
signal rocket went high IN the air,
where it hing for a brief moment sus-
pended Immediately there was a scene
of activity. Searchlighss dashed from
hidden and unexpected places. and the
fire and battle command stations be-
came beehives of activity. Telescopes
and range finders swept the river. up
and down. and from shore TO shore. fol-
lowing the trail of the crossing and re-
rrOss1ng search lights.
Scan the River.
All OF this happened at about o'clock
Hundreds of eyes scanned the river for
the FIRST sight of the enemy's ships.
Suddenly from down on the point toward
Marshall Hall, there flashed silent sig
nal To Colonel Coffin, in command OF
the defenses, il meant that the enemy s
deet, two iDattieships and a cruiser, were
lower reaches Of the river past Mar
shall Hall He gave low incisive orders
that set things moving in the battle
command station. Telephone orders
went 10 the heavy batteries 10 load, and
the searehilghts moved more restlessly
drawing irreslstably 10 the point below
Marshall Hall No. light fingered in
Its long sweep across the river. halted
started on again. and suddenly stopped
Lieutenant Terrell gazing through 2
-ange-hnding telescope. exclaimed, 9TH.
enemy Colonel Coffin. IN the battle
command station adjoining, seemed Il
hear. Lieutenant Terrell read Of the
range figures from his instrument, witt
equal rspidity and precision the plotters
calculated on these hgures and sent tbs
result 10 ali the batteries All this hap.
pened in q second, and suddenly tht
command rang out: Battery Meigs
open fire."
Opens Fire.
From back IN the hills across a ravint
there came binding fash. A ire
xneBdous boom and roar rent the air
So Asigs. the big mortar battery. free
a volley. Then the battle was on il
earnest. Humphries with fits Pinch dis
appearing rifles spoke next. and she wa
quickly followed by all the others, a
the hostile feet, now all sighted, cams
in range. in an attempt to either ge
tn action themselves, or TO run tn
gantlet II Is estimated that everyone
OF them WIS destroyed before the
could have fred an effective shot.
The enemy consisted or Alonzo II
Gushing and another tug and the zach
Oneida. Of the District Of Columbia
Naval Reserve. They endeavored Z
easguise their appearance. hut II was ~
use. Fate was against them. Just a
the Oneida came around the point, tn
moon burst forth from behind a film,
cloud, ana silhouetted her white hull
II was then but & matter OF moment
before she was theoretically sent to tn
bottom.
II was an inspiring sigh. for the visi
tors on the battle command station an
the parapets OF the old fort. this mocl
battle on the river. and they cheered
men and women alike Many excursion
lists. too. enjoyed the spectacle. and sue
ceeded 81 injecting themselves in IN
battle as one Of the hostile ships sough
cover behind one OF the big excurslo
boats
Inspect Guns.
After the bioodless victory, colone
Conin invited all the Eaembers OF tn
visiting party TO make a round Of TIA
4 batteries on the dinky railroad. and IN
spect the guns. The big twelve-incher
and mortars were loaded with mocl
shells and swung into position for thel
benefit II was great fun for the young
er members Of the party. riding through
the dense woods On the dinkey train tina
makes the round OF the batteries.
The inspection completed. Colonel Cot
fin brought the party back TO his quar-
tiers. high on the promOntory overlook
ing the river. where they met Mrs. COT
I'm and paTtook Of the generals wsdel
known hospitality. The midnight hou