BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4119, 24 August 1882, Page 2

BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

PREPARING FOR ACTION.

AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.

The scene of preparing the fleet for action was impressive to a high degree, Slowly all the foreign steamers moved from their berths and steamed out of harbour. The merchant steamers followed in no regular order, but the warships of the various nations steamed out in squadrons, saluting in passing the Admiral's flag, while the bands played the national airs. Scarce a breath of wind was blowing, and the various ensigns drooped against the masts. The bright Eastern sky overhead, the deep blue of the sea, the white-clothed crews clustering on the rigging, and the knowledge of the change which would soon take place, rendered the stately procession of war* ships extremely impressive. The merchant steamers were all crowded with refugees — those who had held on to the last in hopes that matters would not come to an extremity. PROGRESS OF THE ACTION. The great power of the naval guns, and the skilful waj those guns were worked, soon took effect. The Alexandra, Sultan, and Superb were continuously engaged with the forts along the northern front of the town from Fort Pharos to the lighthouse, but the first Egyptian disaster occurred at the other end of the line of operations, Fort Marsa El Kanat being destroyed by the fire of the Monarch and Invincible about half-past eight in the morning, and blowing up with a tremendous explosion. The gunboats were able to silence the Marabout Forts soon after eleven o'clock. It was evident that great damage was being done to all the attacked positions, and when the Temeraire anchored in the central pass and aided in the direct cannonade upon Fort Mcx, at a distance of one and three-quarter miles, the fate of that defensive work was sealed. The Temeraire did great execution; while the Inflexible, from a longer range, kept up a good fire, assisting the closer bombardment by the batteries of the Monarch, Invincible, and Penelope. .. On the other hand, the reply from the forts was feeble and ill-directed, the missiles either falling short of the ships or flying above their mastheads. Fort Mcx was unable to withstand the combined attack, for the gunboats, after silencing the Marabout guns, ran close in, and shelled Fort Mcx which was captured by a landing party, and thrown into ruins. On the west the fleet had thus completely succeeded, and on the east the force assaulting Fort Ada was now strengthened by the Inflexible. This vessel brought her heavy guns to bear upon the fort, the whole face of which was blown away by the shot from the 81-tonners, About a quarter past one the magazine of Fort Ada blew up, and no further danger was to be apprehended from that part of the defences. Fort Pharos and the adjacent batteries, however, still held out, so the Inflexible and Temeraire, the most powerful vessels in the fleet, turned the full force of their fire upon these positions, ami by \ -ar in the afternoon the fort and batteries were silent ruins.

Of the positions attacked and still Capable of fighting there only remained the harbour forts, and upon these the Monarch and other vessels of the fleet directed their batteries, until, at halfpast five in the afternoon, the firing ceased for the day. The Admiralty telegram conveying this last intimation says the forts were silenced.

DESCRIPTIVE TELEGRAITS.

A Times correspondent, telegraphing off Alexandria, gives a description of the bombardment, in the course of which he states that the enemy appear to have been waiting in readiness for our first shot, for they replied at once. Concerning the details of the engagement, he says — The Invincible signalled "Well done, Condor," and immediately afterwards "Well done, Inflexible." It was no unmerited praise. The manner in which the little Condor steamed out to a large fort, and pounded away unsupported, elicited general admiration. It is invidious to particularize ; but the Inflexible's firing was certainly second to none. The Bittern did good service, and materially assisted in silencing the Marabout Port. The damage which has been iuflicted on the forts is tremendous. In some places nothing but a heap of ruins is to be seen. The obstinacy and pluck with which the enemy's forts kept up their fire surprised everybody. Had their guns been equal to our own, the action would have been certain to have caused us considerable loss. The Standard publishes a descriptive telegram two columns and a quarter in length, which says the great artillery ca. %t has ended in a complete succes^of the ships engaged with the fort works. The Penelope was struck five times, and had eight men wounded and one gun disabled. The Invincible was struck many times, but only six shots penetrated. Her foreyard was struck, and the foreroyal braces cut away. The Monarch was not hit once, probably owing to her ability to shift her ground. Upon the other hand, being in movement, the practice of her guns was inferior to that of the Invincible. One wing of the palace is in ruins. This was inevitable, since the palace lies behind Fort Pharos and Fort Ada. Portions of the town in the line of fire must also have suffered. The Egyptian gunners fought their guns exceedingly well, sticking to them until the forts were crumbling ruins. The party who landed to destroy the guns at Fort Mcx saw several dead lying inside, and the total loss of the enemy must have been heavy. The Superb was struck several times, and her armour was penetrated. In the evening the whole fleet drew off the shore and approached each other. Their first day's work was complete, and the whole of the batteries outside the harbour of Alexandria were destroyed. To-day the ships go in to engage the forts within the harbour. Outside are the merchant ships and foreign versels of war, most of whom will re-enter the harbour when we have destroyed the last of the threatening forts. No message of news has reached the fleet from the town. The Egyptians fought their guns to the last, but they appeared to possess no shells, which was as well for us. The Daily Telegraph's Alexandria correspondent describes the bombardment as a tremendous a3tion, and says the Egyptians fought splendidly. Casualties in the fleet as follows :—: — Killed. — Inflexible — William Shannon, carpenter. Alexandra — Walter Fisher, A.B. Superb — George McClaine, Gunner B.M.A. Sultan — Chas. Collins, A.8.; Robert Marshall, A.B. Wounded severely. — Inflexible — Lieut. Jackson. Alexaadra — John Myers, A.B. Sultan — Jas. Dexter, boy. Invincible — Redmond McGnire, boy. Penelope — John Whedon, leading: eeaman ; Wrn. Wood, ouptain of the mast. Wounded Dangerously. — Penelope— Henry Dawson, leading seaman : Levi Holly, boy ; Alfred Jackson, boy. Wounded Slightly. — Inflexible — Wm. Houghton, Private E.M. ; T. Palmer, captain of the forecastle ; George Talbot, Private R.M. Sultan — Albert Jutson, Jas. McCarthy, Robt. Pacey, Jas. Tassel, and Thos. "Poigndestre, able seamen ; Joseph Bojes, boatswain's mate ; and Fuller, leading seamen. Superb — Geo. Webb, ship's corporal. Invincible — Mr. William Lumsden, midshipman ; Jas. Chaseira, stoker ; John Yolland, A.8. ; John Gill, ordinary seaman ; J. W. Toore, Private R.M. Penelope — Lieut. Davies ; William Lee, A.B. ; and Wm. McCannalley, A.B.