The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09

next instant. smashed into its side
and made il reel.
The destroyer turned suddenly and
rushed at the land. Its steering gear
had been shot away. Almost instantly
II Strengthened out again but Little
Nahant was raving. Little NahaR
was flaming without pause. The
searchlight held the ship. II stag
gered like a stumbling animal. pitched
twice, each time a little more wildly,
and went dX~n bow first.
Have repulsed attack on search
light station and observers at this
point" went the word from Bailey's
Hill on Nahant TO the battle COM
mander in Fort Warren. No losses.
Destroyer and five ships boats with
crews completely eliminated"
They did not have time 10 cheer at
Fort Warren. From Nantasket Beach,
as far south as Nahant was north,
a landing was being attempted in
greater force and with the determined
assistance # a destroyer division that
was lying close to the beach.
Here there were three hundred men
of Massachusetts Naval Militia be-
hind barb wire and sand bag defences
with two pieces OF field artillery and
three machine guns. They We're being
swept by savage fire from the DESTROY
ers.
I'VE can hold the ships boats on.
Surf high and landing will be slow"
they reported to the battle commander
by field telegraph. But we must
have relief from naval fire or cam
not concentrate efforts on landing
parties"
Their officers sent the exact distance
OF the destroyers from the beach. In
Inc forts the fire commanders studied
their charts. plotted with diagrams OF
the shore in sections. They calculated
the range. dropping shot from a
men gun fell among the enemy ves-
seIs one minute later The next went
over. The third struck a destroyer.
beiore II disappeared shells We're fall
ing among the division too fast to
count Three guns were firing. They
were throwing twelve shells in one
minutes
Two destroyers were lowed away
crippled. Another escaped from the
hre zone but sank AT sea.
Cndeterred. the boat parties tried
TO run the surf and rush the defend
ers. But the sea was heavy, breaking
with sharp OVERALL. Unprotected
by fire from the sea, unable to work
their own machine guns in the rough
water, the sailors We're pounded in tho
breakers. The field artillery blew
their boats apart The machine guna
slashed them. Rifle fire hammered
them.
Attack beaten off," reported the
militiamen. In the surf there were
few drifting pieces Of wood, tossing
oars and bodies pitching to and fro
as the undertow played with them.
Destroyer division off this point"
II was report from Strawberry Hill,
south from Fort Revere
Point Afternoons searchlight swung
down the beach, the searchlight from
Strawberry Hill centred on them.
The reckless craft, the hussars of the
sea, dashed in To "A 400 yard range,
and steaming parallel with the beach
at full speed sent in heavy broad
side fire from all their guns. More
than three hundred shells were di-
rected against the strawberry Hill
light in those few minutes. They
swung and fled TO the sea as the bat
teries of the fort opened on them.s
=. actual records Of american hdrbor
batteries; three sir inch guns on dis
appearing carriages, fltc,n shots in !
minute - seconds.
Q, FRAN al actual mdHTarrc per
formed successfully Gy a destroyer d.
risiOn attempting 10 destroy base sta
ton during Il mock butte on the At
ldnic coast
Continued on Sirh rage