Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-08
EASILY REFUSED,
= N t...s*
Fort Preb|e Quickly Dis
poses Of. Hostile Fleet.
Attacking WaTships Declared
Blown Out Of Water.
Portland Again Saved from Capture
By The Land Forces.

Portland, Me. Aug. About 10. 81
last evening the call to arms was
sounded from the battle commanders
stationed at Fort Preble as the enemy
had been discovered trying to steal in
under cover of the darkness from the
direction of the Two Lights and had
been picked up by the big searchlights
OF the post. After firing few rounds
the enemy were declared to be blown
out of the water and they moved out
OF their course. presumably to attack
Fort Mckinley.
Several attacks made by the hostile
fleet under the command uf Lieut..
Malcolm Andrus We're repulsed last
night or early this morning by the
army forces under the command Of
Lieut.. Col. Warren P. Newcomb. so the
army forces have scored their first
victory during the mimic war. Lieut.
Andrus did not give up when one mode
of attack failed and as a result his
fleet was theoretically destroyed of
put out of action by the guns Of Fort
Williams. Fort Preble and Fort Nc
kinley From o'clock last night until
long after daybrcak this morning the
militiamen anG regulars in charge of
the Notifications were at their posts
in the pits, in the range finding sta
tons or in the plotting rooms. The
night was by far the most strenuous
of the mimic war, but the men were
well repaid for their efforts by even
ing things up with the commander of
the hostile fleet for the successful run
accomplished by the squadron Friday
when Portland was theoretically cap
tured
Shortly after I o'clock last night the
officers and men of the different militia
companies went to their assigned posts
for the night, for word had been received
that the hostile fleet would male de-
termined effort % gain another victory
over the army forces. Early in the even
ing the searchlights We're brought into
action and for hours the horizon was
searched for a glimpse of the assumed
feet of battleships, cruisers and torpedo
boat destroyers. 1t was not known just
what method of attack the commander OF
the fleet would adopt, so the interest was
intense until the rays of the searchlight
discovered the fleet advancing in col
umn. Lieut.. Andrus had made careful
plans, for he was determined to effect
an entrance to Portland harbor if posi-
bic and he sent one part of his squadron
towards the ship channel off Portland
Head and the other part towards Hus-
s"y's sound right under the guns of Fort
Mckinley.
When the hostile fleet made it's success
full run by the forts Friday and theoret-
ically captured Portland despite the eff
forts Of the mlitiamen to check theil
advance the defeat was keenly felt by the
men at Fort Williams, for the naval vic
tory had been made possible by the ina
bility of the volunteers to fire the guns
rapidly enough to put the entire fleet
out of commission. AS the men went tc
their posts last night for the all night
session they were determined to even
matters up, for they haid improved Won
derfully in their efficiency in handling the
guns and were confident that the tables
would be reversed and that the soldiers
would be the victors During the entire
night the men were constantly on duty
daybreak and shots were fired as quick.
ly by the miltiamen as they could have
been had the regulars been in the pits
The men were constantly at the guns fol
two hours and were then relieved fol
fours. so that they were able to catch q
few winks despite the theoretical boom
of the heavy guns.
Saturday was easily the easiest day OF
the mimic war for the men. as they were
given passes during the entire afternoon
The regular routine drills were held dur
ing the forenoon, but after 1 o'clock r
the aftern ION the men were allowed tt
roam at their own free will. AS it hat
been intimated that the night would bt
advantage of their time by sleeping Will,
others attended the ball game or wen
to the city Everyone in the camp is en-
thusiastic over the instructions work ant
the attacks of the hostile fleet are anx
iously awaited. for the attacks mean tina
the men will receive the practical side o
army life in the time of war. The off
GERS say that the discipline in the cam,
has been excellent and that when tn,
call to arms has sounded it has beef
found that every man was at his post
Lieut.. Col. Newcomb informed Maio
Palmer, the fire commander at Fort viii
liams, Saturday that the drills at tn,
guns had reached such a stage of eff
cheney as to warrant his getting read,
for full service target practice. 1t il
probable that the miltiamen will receiv
their first experience in actual firing tn
big guns next Tuesday or Wednesda,
and it will then be determined Just how
expert the volunteer soldiers really ar
as marksmen.
Saturday was a gala day for the mel
at Fort Prebe, for the men We're no
overworked as during the afternoon the,
had the pleasure of listening to the band
Early in the week the band was SEIZED
uled to come over from Mckinley OF
Thursday, but the rain resulted in a post
ponement until Friday. For some reason
the musicians did not appear Friday, blu
they did come Saturday afternoon an,
Camp Preble enjoyed their first concer
of the maneuvers
That was not the only feature of TIL
afternoon at Preble for the men ii
camp witnessed hall game between
the fast Fort PrebIe team and team
from Lewiston. There We're other scrui
games curing the afternoon so the da,
was one of the best for fun since tn,
men went into camp.
Tie men at Prebie We're on dut,