Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1892-04-23 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE SHAM FIGHT AT DOVER.  The Dover operations passed off in beautiful weather, without accident, and in the presence of many thousands of spectators. The general idea was that a landing had taken place early in the morning at Deal, and that the Dover Field Force, mobilised at Shorncliffe, was ordered to Dover to oppose it. The foe, having completed the landing of one division at Deal and Walmer, was presumed to have the intention of making a reconnaissance in force towards Dover, and to drive in, and, if possible, cut off from the fortress any field force he might encounter. The Dover Field Force, on the other hand, was ordered to proceed in the direction of Deal and Weimer, with the object of checking the enemy's advance upon Dover Fortress. Should he be met by a superior force of the enemy, he was ordered to hold St. Margaret's as long as possible, and then to fall back towards Dover, covered in his retirement by the guns of Fort Burgoyne. Colonel Russell for the attack, had a very strong force. His mounted infantry were supplied by the men of the 13th and 14th Middlesex, his artillery by six guns of the 52nd Field Battery, and his main body, the Beall Tondon Brigade of Colonel Gescoigne. con attack on Shoinemesa Fort at 11 a.m.:and that upon Tilbury at 11.33. The forts then replied to the fire of the steamers, tiring lieveral rounds, and, Cliffe Fort having been aestroyed, the let London Artillery and the Honorable Artillery Company were advanced at twelve o'clock to represent an enemy attacking Shornemead Fort, This movement was promptly carried out, when the garrison at Shornemead made a sortie to reeist the attack, but were driven back and re-entered the fort, the gates being closed, and a message was dispatched to Gravesend for assistance. At a few minutes after noon the let Middlesex, let London, and Tower Hamlets Engineers marched from Gravesend Barracks, under the command of Colonel Whetherly, and it was coneidered that if thin force arrived before one o'clock and attacked the enemy, the fort at (Thornemead could be saved. At 12.35 the Engineer Brigade advanced in splendid style and commenced a vigorous attack upon the invader, who after a stubborn resistance was driven back both on the sest and west of the forts, and the garrison was saved from falling into the hands of the enemy. During the operations two mines were exploded in the neighbourhood of Shornemead Fort. An immense amount of ammunition wits expended, and a murderous fire was carried on just before the "cease fire" sounded, of such a character that very few of the invading force would have survived, as Colonel Athorpe subsequently pointed out, if bullets had been in the rifles. At the conclusion of the operations the force formed up in a meadow adjacent to the fort, and all the officers were called to the front and addreesed by Colonel Plunkett, R.E., who was in command, in complimentary terms. Then Colonel Athorpe, as umpire-in-chief, delivered a long address, and explained how the plan of operations had been carried out. He said the attack was developed in a highly satisfactory manner, and the work on both sides was well conducted. In these maneeuvres a good deal had to be taken for granted, bat he considered the men engaged had increased their knowledge of military matters, and the ready manner in which order, had been obeyed reflected great credit upon all ranks. The force then formed into quarter column, arid marched past in very steady manner, the Ist London Engineers being particularly smart, and the Tower Hamlets men were not far behind in the matter of steadiness. Subsequently there was s parade and march past of the Engineers In the paddock near Milton Barracks before Colonel Athorpe, commanding the Royal Engineers in the Home District. Colonel Plunkett, RE., in chief command, Colonel Athorpe, Major Bridge, and Major Newington, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, were umpires. The lit Middlesex Engineers were under the command of Colonel Joeselyn, the lit London under Major Jenner, and the Tower Hamlets under Lieutenant-Colonel Whetherly, while the infantry of the Honourable Artillery Company were under Major Stohwasser, the lit London Artillery under Colonel Hope, and the lit Rent Artillery under Major Walker.