Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20
Squadron Of Naval Militia and
Torpedo Boats Defend Long
Island Sound.
MIMIC VAR Is IN PROGRESS
Attacking Fleet Of IT Battleships
and One Cruiser Will Try to
Slip Past Guardians
Of City.

New York. July 1.-THE city awoke
and went about Its business to-day I'M
terrified by the knowledge that a hostile
fleet was trying to steal or fight its way
past a squadron Of naval militia and a
flotins Of torpedo boats defending the
approach through Long Island sound
Until the naval officers in charge Of the
maneuvres make their report to the navy
department the movements of the oYpos-
Ing fleets will be largely a matter Of oon-
Jecure. Wireless messages are forbidden
and the 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 II
battleships and one cruiser put out to sea
yesterday with the intention of slipping
past the guardians Of the city. In
anticipation Of the success Of such a move
the guards at the forts along the sound
were doubled last night. II any OF tho
enemy" were sighted within range they
were theoretically blown to pieces for
under the rules Of the naval war game
a warship has no chance against the
stationary guns of shore battery.
SOUNDS OF FIRING.
Sounds of firing were heard about mid
night off Block island, but they soon
ceased and 1t is possible that they meant
only the discharge of signal guns.
The whole eastern end of Long Island
sound is picketed by torpedo boats, de-
stroyers and submarines. The little
ci aft were sighted during the night at
various points along the Connecticut and
Long Island shores, but nothing was
seen Of the majestic feet Of the enemy.
Block Island. r l., July 19.-Mimic
var broke out around this little island
few hours after dawn to-day. when
| rine battleships of the attacking blue
| fleet steamed in from the southeast and
| weere met by five torpedo boat destroyers
and half a dozen submarines.
Whether the battieshfps were theoreti-
| cally sunk or the defending craft Destroy
ed will not be known for some months.
The night had been unvexed by wars
| alarms. In fact most everyone on the
island went to bed disappointed at not
seeing the beams of some searchlight
shooting up from the horizon.
1t was felt that the island would be
the center of the conflict, and that Is
was probably surrounded by fleet OF
stealthy torpedo boat destroyers and
| prowling submarines.
| Dawn revealed a few of the defend :
ing fleet Over towards Montauk Point
could be seen a couple OF destroyers,
while to the eastward there were a
few ripples on the smooth surface OF
the sea. showing that the submarine 8
were on guard.
A couple of hours later. the defending 9
fleet began to assemble off Sandy Point
at the north end of the island, and at
seven o'clock the southeastern horison
became blackened with the smoke OF the
attacking battleships. An hour later nine
slate-colored fighting ships came steam
ing in from sea in line OF battle, passing 9
the eastern side of the island shortly
| after eight o'clock and, brushing aside
the defending fleet. steamed straight to
the northwest towards Newport.
The destroyers and submarines darted
out from their lair behind the northeast
light and the naval battle Of Block island
channel seemed about to begin.
Although the theoretical smoke of the
mornings powderless battle at sea had
hardly cleared away tonight and an
ether conflict was said to be impending.
the residents and summer visitors here
displayed no great interest In the move
ments of the red and blue fleets and as a
matter OF fact, the little that could be
seen from shore was meaningless to the
majority.
Even the men Of the fleets do not yet
lnow officially which was the victor in
the engagement early to-day and will!
not know for some months, until the
navy department shall have had an op-
portunity to examine the reports OF the
umpires
1t is generally understood both here and
~ Newport that there was to be night
attack tonight and that the attempt OF
tie so-called hostile fleet TO open 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 tho Connecticut
no vessels OF either Zee: wero visible from
here this evening,