Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-20
Both Of Fleets
Claim a Victory
EBERLE DECLARES BATTEEsH!Ps
ARE DESTROYED.
WON A TEN MINUTE ATTACK
Osterhaus Claims This Honor for In
vaders-5attIeship Connecticut Qsits
Fight Because Of Actual DissbIemsnt

Block Island, r. T.. July 19.-Aithough
the theoretical smoke of the mornings
powderless battle at sea had hardy
cleared away tonight and another con-
fi1ct was said to be impending, the res
1dents and summer visitors here dig
played no great interest in the move
ments of the red and blue fleets. and
as matter of fact the little that
could be seen from shore was mean
ingless. to the majority.
Result of First Engagement Not
Known.
Even the men of the fleets do not
yet know officially which was the vic
tor in the engagement early today. and
viii not know for some months hence,
when the navy department has had an
opportunity to examine the reports Of
the umpires who are in charge Of the
game of<war.
BattIeships Seek to Control Entrance.
What the people on shore saw this
morning was. series Of manoeuvres
by. two fleets, one composed Of battle
ships seeking to gain control Of the
entrance to Long Island Sound and
the naval base in Nara gansett Bay.
and an opposing fleet composed Of
second class cruisers, destroyers AMI
submarines.
Submarines and Destroyers PatroIina.
At dawn today the submarines were
apparently pdtTOllnS LNe ocean ne
tween the eaSterly side of Block ISL
and AID No Mans Land, with the de-
stroyeis along a secondary line be-
tween GARDENERS Bay and Newport,
and Thy. cruisers on guard at Newport.
Pointl Judith and GARDENERS Bay.
BattIeship Fleet destroyed
just as the sun was peedins over
the horizon, according to Commander
E. w. Eberle of the defenders. the hat
tleship fleet approached from sea, en-
gagged the enemy and were apparently
theoretically destroyed.
Manoeuvres Lasted Several Hours.
Observers at Block Island saw the
battleships approach go through a Sc
ries of manoeuvres consuming several
hours and finally stop three or four
miles northeast of Block Island. De-
stroyers and d few submarines were
sighted between the battleships and
the shore.
Attackers Claim a Victory.
At 10 a. m. three cruisers, the WASH
ington, Salem and Chester, part Of the
attacking feet came in from sea vsry
rapidly and passed between the battle
ships and the north end of Block 1si-
and, and then headed in the direction
of Gardeners Bay. This movement.
which was designated as ten minute
attack by Rear Admiral Osterhaus, IN
command of the invaders, and he
claimed to have won victory by one
and one-ha1f minutes
The Connecticut Out Of Commission.
Tonight the invading fleet viii bs
weakened by the loss Of the Connecff-
cut Rear Admiral Osterhaus flagship,
for she is actually out of commission
for the time being by the cracking ~
crank shaft. After a day Of resting
about Block Island, the boats OF the
attacking fleet put to sea late todag
but left the Connecticut behind shs
will remain at this port until ire
war" is over, taking no further part,
and will then proceed to New York
for repairs.
Defending Fleet in Narragansett Bay.
While the invaders were resting I'D
at Block Island, the torpedo boat de-
stroyers and others of the feet Of
defense spent the day in Narragansett
Bay, in the vicinity Of Newport. They
left at dusk.
A Night Attack Expected.
AT about the same hour the battle
ships headed out to sea from Block
Island. 1t is generally understood both
here and at Newport that there was TO
be a night attack tonight and that ths
attempt of the so-called hostile feet
to open a way through the defending
fleet to reach New York through Long
Island Sound would be made IN the
vicinity of Montauk Point. With the
exception Of the Connecticut. no ves-
sells of either fleet were visible from
here this evening.