Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-19
MIMIC WAR IS ON
Invading Fleets Aim at Boston
and New York.
DIVISION OF FORCES
Narragansett Bay and Long Island
Sound the 0bjectives.
SCENE FROM BLOCK ISLAND
Result of Naval Operations Nav Not
Be Known for Some
Months.

BLOCK ISLAND, r. l., July lo-Mimio
war broke out around this little island 4
Few hours after dawn today, when nine
oattieshps of the attacking blue fleet
steamed in from the southeast and were
met by five torpedo boat destroyers and a
haif dozen submarines
"nether the battieships were theoreti-
caiiy sunk or the defending craft de-
stroyed will not be known for some
months
Inc night had been unvexed by wars
alarms 1t was felt, however. thar the
isianu would be the center OF the con-
rounded by fleet OF torpedo boat de
stroyers and submarines Dawn revealed
a Few Of the defending meet. over
towards Montauk point could be seen a
eoup,e or des.royeis, wnie 10 the east
"aru there were a few ripples on the
smooth surface OF the sea- showing that
me submarines were on suaru A couple
OF hours later the defending feet began
20 assemble OF Sandy point at the north
end or the lsianu, ana at 1 oc,ocn the
southeastern horizon became blackened
with the smoke OF the attacking battle
ships.
Invading Ships Appear
An hour later nine fighting ships came
steaming in from sea In line of battle.
PuoSah6 khC c6SkcTu sue Oh The island
shortly after s o'clock, and, brushing
aside the defending fleet, steamed straight
to the northward toward Newport The
torpedo destroyers and submarines darted
out from their lair behind tn. Northeast
light, and at $3.50 am. the naval battle
or BLOCK Island channel seemed to begin.
Rear Admiral Osterhaus. commander
Of the attacking fleet, at II O'Clock had
niassed the greater portion of his hat
tieships to the eastward OF Block island.
Nine OF these battieships were lying Off
| there, cleared for action. as another di-
vision OF the attacking fleet. composed
OF the cruisers Washington, Chester and
Salem, came in from sea and, rounding
or,heast light, at the end Of SANDY,
point, headed over toward Gardeners bay i.
Fifteen or twenty miles to the eastward
| of Block Island and In the direction oc
! No Mans Land another neet of bat-
| tleshlps was apparently ready to co..
operate with the main squadron In stimuli
| taneOus attack upon both Newport and
the eastern entrance OF Long Island
sound
To the unofficial civilian board Of STRAIT
4 egy, composed of members OF the sum
| mer colony here, ss well AZ the Block
Island boatmen, II appeared a though
Commapder Eberle had split his defend
I Ing fleet in anticipation Of simultaneous
attacks BY the enemy on the entrances
| to Narragansett bay and Long Island
sound.
Two Cities at Stake.
Admiral osterhaus fighting squadron 10
| backed up. theoretically. by q large feet
of imaginary transports laden with In
visible troops. In the event OF q success.
| full movement on the part OF the invad-
ers against Newport the enemy would
have control Of the defenders base OF
| supplies and would also be In theoretical
| possession OF Boston. Should Admiral
Usterhaus successfully gam the eastern
entrance to Long Island sound New York
| city would be at the mercy or an IN
vading army.
The greater part Of the defending
fleet spent the night behind the break
water at Point judith. The fleet In
cluded the cruisers Chicago and Dix-e,
as well as q large number OF small
boats. and nine destroyers. The sub
marines lowered of shore and very
little could be seen OF them except
when they came to the surface.
Destroyer Knocked Out.
A report was received here from
Newport at 10 am stating that the
destroyer Reid OF the eth torpedo di-
vision had returned from the scene of
action and 1t was the opinion of the
officers at the naval training station
and the War College that the Reid
had been picked up by the attacking
fleet and theoretically destroyed. blown
up, sunk and otherwise put out of &C
ton.
The war game developed Interestingly
during the forenoon, and at IL O'Clock the
two forces were within sighting distance
Of each other.
Line Of Defense.
The defending fleet. under Commander
E. W. Eberle. was composed Of a cruiser
near Brentons Reef llghtship, of New
port, a string OF torpedo boat destroyers.
extending from Newport TO the south
west, nearly to Point Judith. apparently
defending the entrance to Narragansetr
bay, and several other cruisers In the
vicinity Of Point Judith. Cruising or
shore and discerned only at times wers
the submarines. while still farther to the
westward in Block Island sound and eX-
tending to GARDENERS bay We're the less
now werftl members of the line OF de-