The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-07

1 agined. It was not a series of eXplo- l sions. It was like one explosion whose crescent violence would not dwtndle. : Men on vantage points along the sound that night saw the attacking lines from end to end plainly as if it were day. So continuous was their | fire that it painted their positions with broad, unwavering bands of flame. It needed not the star bombs and rockets that curved everywhere under the sky to fall glaring into the defenses. It needed not the magnesium lights that hoated from parachutes dropped by aeroplanes. On both sides of the sound the night was a red sea.
 Into the mortar pits and gun em- placements of the defenses, like red surf from that red sea. beat the un- ending fire. Shrapnel that walled like the bride of the storm and flew apart in the air flung bullets as if mines had burst inside of the defense! E1ev- en inch shells that hammered into con crete facing and split it apart with the irresistible agony of their expIosion! Five inch shell and solid projectile! Bombs from the air, and every agency that man had yetdeyised to wreck and destroy!
 As suddenly as it had begun the fire stopped The night became utterly still. The rockets ceased curving, But in all the defenses there shone white glares. from searchlights and magne- sium flares, Illuminating rushing mass es of men who clambered over the ruins of guns and mounds, and took the works. There was none left to op- pose them.
 When the dawn came the watchers
  lay apparently uaharmed, Their mounds and enbankments betrayed nothing of the ruin that the nights battle had worked within. But against the brightening sky there arose a visi- ble sign of what had been done. The flag of the coalition doated over them and greeted the American sun rise.
 Within few hours after dawn ar ,tiIlery 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- CT came a motley heet-s3und and river steamers captured at New Haven and Bridgeport. wall sided freighters and lighters, side wheeIers and screw propel1ers, and fiotilla of motorboats, the pick of the beautiful little navy of pleasure that filled all the sound hart bors.
 This fleet anchored in long line be low BIackweII's island, close under the Manhattan shore All the larger yes sels 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 capitulation. He de sired that the mayor send an escort to meet them at the Lenox avenue bridge . over the Harlem.
 Arrived in the city hail. the com naissfoners presented 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 ?' ask ed the mayor, pointing to a clause that called for the surrender of all fortiaeations with troops and muni- tions of war. We possess no fortifica- tions."
 'sIt means Forts Hamilton and Wads- worth, on the Narrows,' 7 answered the chief commissioner.
 'sBut those are United States prop erty," said the mayor. We have no authority over them.''
 s'Then should advise you to consult with the .commandant of these places at once,'' answered the commissioner. Their surrender is an indispensable condition 1n the terms of capitulation.' 7 The mayor reached for the telephone. Stop all other business, however inn portant,'' he said to the operator. Connect me with the commandant at Fort Hamilton
 His conversation with that officer was brief. He declines absolutely to surrender any part of the defenses or other government property" he re ported.
 "Then, sir,@ said the officer, rising, ''I 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 we shall order the firing to begin. call your atten- ton to the fact that our artillery as at 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 uabIe 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"
 CTo Be Continued.O