Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-20
NEW YORk|S
ASSAILEO BY
ENEMY'S FLEET
Naval Maneuvers Designed
to Test Atlantic Coast De-
fenses, However, Out Of
Range of Observers.

Block Island, July 19.-BOston ant
New York are safe for at least twelve
hours from all danger of invasion bJ
the theoretical enemy. In terrific
sham battle off Block Island at
o'clock this morning. the defending
fleet, commanded by Commander Ed
ward w. Erbe. theoretically annihilat
ed, according to the defending officer
nine battleships belonging to the In
vading squadron under command OF
Rear Admiral Hugo Osterhaus. The
news OF the battle was received here
from Newport shortly before noon to-
day, when the torpedo boats and torpe
do boats destroyers. comprising the
seventh, eighth and ninth torpedo di
visions. steamed into Newport and re
ported that the invaders had been re
pulsed.
According to Rear Admiral Oster
haus the fight between the two fleets
began at 7:30 .. M, and at 1890 the
battleships were given ten minutes
in which to penetrate to the defense
line. They accomplished 1t and won
the fight with minute and half to
spare, the admiral said.
The flagship Connecticut cracked her
ycrankshaft during the fight and went
out Of action. She will sail for New
York tomorrow and Rear Admiral Os.
terhaus will transfer his flag to anoth-
er vessel.
New York Can't see Maneuvers,
New York, July 19.-The city
awoke and went about It's business to.
day unterrified by the knowledge that
a hostile fleet was trying to steal or
fight its way past squadron Of naval
militia and flotilla Of torpedo boats,
defending the approach through Long
Island sound Until the naval officers
In charge Of the maneuvers make their
report to the navy department the gov.
srnments OF the opposing fleets will
be largely Z matter of conjecture
Wireless messages are forbidden, and
tho engagement probably will occur
beyond the range Of observers on land
1t is believed, however, that the first
encounter occurred last night. Aided
by the fog that hung over the eastern
end of the sound, the attacking fleet
of seventeen battleships and cruisers
set out to sea yesterday with the In
tention Of slipping past the guardians
of the city.
In anticipation Of the success Of such a
move the guards at the forts upon the
sound were doubled last night. II any
of the enemy" were sighted within
range they were theoretically blown to
pieces for under the rules of the naval
war game, warship has no chance
against the stationary guns Of shore
battery.
The whole eastern end Of Long Is.
land sound is picketed by torpedo,
boats, destroyers and submarines
The little crafts were sighted during
the night at various points along the
Connecticut and Long Island shores.
but nothing was seen of the majestic
fleet Of the enemy.
The battleships are to make two at
tacks one by night. the other by day,
and the war game must end by Friday.
The defensive line to be penetrated
extends from No Mans Land, six
miles off Gay Head. Mass, at the
southwest extremity of Martha's Vine
yard, through Block island to Montauk
Point
Mimic War at Block Island.
Block Island, r. l., July 19.-Mimic
war broke out around this island a
few hours after dawn today, when nine
battieships Of the attacking blue fleet
steamed in from the southeast and
were met by five torpedo boat destroy.
ers and half dozen submarines.
Whetherthe battleships were theoretic-
ally sunk or the defending craft de-
stroyed will not be known for some
months