Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1911 — EBERLE CLAIMS HIS FLEET WINS [ARTICLE]

EBERLE CLAIMS HIS FLEET WINS

Second Big Sham Battle Is Fought at Night. WEATHER CONDITIONS IDEAL Engagement Starts with Theoretical Destruction of Scout Cruiser— Main Fighting Occurs Off Gay Head. Newport, R. 1., July 21. Another claim of victory over the battleehip fleet Is made by Commander Edward W. Eberle, commanding officer of the defending fleet in the naval war game. Commander Eberle returned here on his flagship Dixie with the torpedo boats and submarines. The conditions for the battle were mueh better than on the night previous. There was no moon until very late, the sea was moderately rough, with a fresh breeze from the south. Commander Eberle had charge of the defense, and in view of the fact that the flagship Connecticut was out of the game Rear Admiral Aaron Ward directed the attacking fleet from the battleship Missouri. The hostilities opened shortly after 10 p. m., and the battle was not called off until 1 a. m. Commander Eberle had thrown out his defending line of ships along the coast and the first sign of attacking was when the destroyer Lamson, commanded by Lieutenant Commander John'* M. I.uby,! picked up one of the scout cruisers, and theoretically destroyed her about thirty-fivOThiles to the south of Block I Island.

The battle started in earnest off Gay Head, where the ilne of destroyers closed in on the battleships. The cruiser Dixie was about five miles in the lead es the “blue - ’ fleet, and is s prosed to have thrown overboard; naval contact mines. At a signal the destroyers Preston, Burrows and Smith advanced, and are supposed to have torpedoed three of the advancing battleships. The submarines were in the same vicinity and the Narwhal, Lieutenant Chester W. Nimitz commanding, is said to have sent a terpedo into the vital parts of the battleship Michigan. The Salmon was also close in, with Ensign Warden G. Child in command, and launched a torpedo into one of the big ships. It was now about 1 o’clock, and the battle was called off. The battleships threw on their searchlights, and took up an anchorage about ten miles to the west of Marthas Vineyard. Commander Eberle signalled his fleet and a start was made for Narragansett Bay a little later.