The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-08-19

the works There was none left to OPP
pose them.
When the dawn came the watchers
rubbed their eyes. The great defenses
lay apparently unharmed. Their
mounds and entertainments betrayed
nothing Of the ruin that the nights
battle had worked within But against
the Frightening sky there arose a visi-
BILE sign of what had been done. The
flag OF the coalition hoated over
them and greeted the American sun
rise.
Within few hours after dawn ar
t1llery began to move through Long
Islands boulevards toward Brooklyn.
North of the city the army began
marching through the borough of the
Bronx toward the Harlem river. Be
fore noon guns were posted along the
Harlem heights, on University heights,
at High Bridge and down past the
mouth of the Harlem river,
Through Hell Gate into the East riv-
er came a motley heet-sound and
river steamers captured at New Haven
and Bridgeport, wall sided freighters
and lighters, side wheelers and screw
propellers, and a fotiIla OF motorboats,
the pick of the beautiful little navy of
pleasure that filed ali s0undrhar-
bors.
This feet anchored In long line be-
low Blackwell's island, close under the
Manhattan shore. All the larger YES
sells had guns on their forward and up
per decks. As soon as the craft had
swung to the tide the weapons were
pointed at the city.
Then the telephone bell In the city
hall called the mayor again. The corps
commander, speaking from temporary
quarters in the University of New
York buildings, announced that he
wished to send commissioners into
the city to treat with the authorities
for the terms of capttulaton. He de-
sired that the mayor send an escort to
meet them at the Lenox avenue bridge
over the Harlem.
Arrived in the city hall, the CON-
missioners presented a demand signed
by the commander for unconditional
surrender of the city. The. mayor and
his advisers read it and turned to the
soldiers. What does this mean r. ask
ed the mayor, pointing to- a. clause
that called for the surrender Of all
Notifications with troops and mnni-
tons OF war. I'VE possess no forti1ea-
tons"
'sIt means Forts Hamilton and Wads-
worth, on the NaTows," answered the
chief commissioner.
But those are United States prop
erty," said the mayor. I'VE have no
authority over them:
Then / should advise you to consult
with the commandment Of these places
at once" answered the coInmissfoner.
Their surrender is an Indispensable
condition in the terms Of capitalization"
The mayor reached for the telephone.
stop all other business, however inn
portant," he said to the operator
Connect me with the comInandant at
Fort Hamilton"
His conversation with that officer
was brief. He declines absolutely to
surrender any part of the dsfenses OF
other government property" he re-
ported
Then, sir" said the Offices, rising, \
regret to inform you that we shall
shell the city. We are authorized to
| give you twenty-four hours. Precisely
at the end of that time we7shaH order
the firing to begin. call, your atten-
| ton to the fact that our artillery assat
| present placed commands the borough
| Of Manhattan to about Fifty ninth
street and that our guns In Brooklyn
command a great part of the most val
liable sections of that borough You
will take note also that guns on the
vessels anchored in the river can sweep
both the New York and Brooklyn
| streets"
But" exclaimed an old Judge who
was on the citizens committee 1--WE
! are willing to surrender the city with
out opposition. AS a matter OF fact, It
+! lies wide open to your entrance. You
cannot possibly mean to lombard an
undefended and unfortihed town.
without hesitation the officer drew
paper from his pocket and presented
it 1t read: 1.-THE city of New York,
/ having Forts Hamilton and Wads-
worth not only within its. harbor lin
its, but actually within its municipal
limits, is plainly fortified place under
all accepted definitions Also while
troops occupy these forts the town
clearly falls under the definition of
defended place under the clause. that
"a place that is occupied by aamilitary
force is a defended place." ..r
With bow he handed the paper to
| the mayor.
I'VE shall lombard the city within
twenty-four hours" be repeated