The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1864, Page 1

5 By the Fieet Under | Soene of Operations of the Porter-Butler Exg >. Admiral Porter. EXPLOSION OF THE TORPEDO BOAT, the B Uixperiment of Destroy- “ving Werte by This Means RRA RNR ca wn HE 25a 08 AXEMAT YORK HERALD. NEW: YORK, FRIDAY, THE BOMBARDMENT OF: FORT’ FISHER. ta TACIA4 DECEMBER 30, 1864. ition=--The Rebel Battle---The Monster Torpedo. ey WEITZEL SKIRMISHERS OCCUP, 4 Works---Phe Line of “e ond Hapgood’s brigades, had been sent from the lines defore Richmond on Tuesday last, arriving at Wilmiog ton-Friday wight, General Weitvel advardsi his ekirmish Mue withia fifty yards of the fort, while tbe garridon were kept /m. their Dombproofs by thé fire of the navy, and go closely that three or four men of the picket line ventured upom the parapet and through the anllyport of the works, eap- turing @ horse, which they brougnt off, Willing tho or- derly, who wos'the boarer of a despatch from the chiet Of artillery Of General Whiting, to bring m light battery” within the (ort, and also brought away from the para) the of the fort. This was'done while the atiells of th Y wore fallivg about the heats of the daring men who entered the work; ant it was evident, a8 soon. as the fire of the navy o@ased beciune of the dark. | ness, that'the’ fort was fully mthnod “agaiv, aud opeued™ enutes ae with grape and caniater upon our picket lige, Winding'that nothing but the operations of a regular siege, which did not domo within my instructions, would redo 'the fort, and in view of tho’ threatening aspect of we Proves a Pailere. ‘ ; . \ Py 4 fare oauner \be'troops, with bet aiehegg -. Sherine Fire of the Irensides Lom, saway & 2A ‘ int fon: Tal ore a top ll he a SS SON FORT - Ww SHE Ks of 2 a8Goon as the transport fleet can be got im Order.” -My'ehgineers dod oMoers report ‘Fort Fisher to ws ap substddtially untajored asa bee Rage Thave the honor to Be, vory ily, your obe- dient servant, BENJAMIN FF. ee ‘ ‘To Rear Admire: Pomras: ricardo Soto erayga AvuiRAY POATEA TO GENERAL, BUTLEN,, Nota Aruastig | 5 ‘Unrp Braree 5 Orr New Intar, N. Q,° Des. 20; 1864. Communicated to me by Gen. Weitsel: last’ night. ordered the largest vessels to proceed off ‘Beauiert Oil ap with ammunition to be ready for anetherattseh te case it is decided to proceed with thipymatter making other arravgements, We have net menced firing rapidly yet; amd could Beep any rebels inside from showltg’ thelr: beads wu an pesaulting column wes within twenty yards of | followed the officer who took the fag from the parspet,, ‘and the brave fellow who brought the horse out ‘rom the fort. I think they would have found it an easier eonqaes®!’ | than je.supposed, 1 do: Ret, however, pretend to''pisce | My opinion is. epposition to General Weitzel; whow I ' know to be an accomplished soldier and engineer; and amt A: Gebers! Batler had arrived at the rendezvous before ee, ad I Raptened matters all that I could, #0 that no un- ,Abnay might be lald.to my charge. Gading the Louisiana Gisguised as a blockade ruener, for fhe Pendervous, twenty miles coat of New Inlet, N.C, end found all the larger vesee!s and transporte assembied Gere, the wind plowing Hght from the northeast, Owtne 20the heavy gale set in from the southwest, ed, not Migy cack dept cpipabaganed Geattoring all ao 1 to ride it out, which I did with- eat accident of any ‘Kind, except the loss of a few an- orGfthe Monitors’ all behaving dDeautifully. Only two ‘vessels went to sea in order to avoid the gale, and fared (we Detter than those at anchor. The transports, being @ortef water, put into Beaufort, N.C,, and were not Patadle for riding out at anchor such heavy weather. After the southwester the wind chopped around to the Weewerd, ood gave us & beautiful spell of weather, ‘Wha 1 Could not afford to lose; and, the transports with @rtioops not making thelr appearaace, I determined to tal advantage of it and attack Fort Fishor and its om On ba 384 I directed Commander Rhind to proceed and Cxpled® ne vessel right under the walls of Fort Fisher, Me. Bredipq,of tho Coast Garvey, having gone in at Bight WU soortained that we could place @ vessel of @even feet dyaght right on the edge sf the beach. Lieu. tena R. hi. » Coftimanding the Gettyaburx, vo- Benteored to Cy the Wilderness, Acting Master Henry Arey a and tow tte Louisiana ‘into position, Ab Raif-paat'ten Py, tho Powter verse! started ob to, ‘Wards tho bar, and \as towed \y the Wilderness until the embregmes of Fort Yisher 7% piaibly in sight The eeeo then cast off, and ty Touisians proceeded ‘Steam until within two bydrod yards of the Bench adé adout ve hundred from ty fort, Commander ana her securely tbereiynd coolly net to work ail bie arrangements to Diy her up. This fhe was enabled. to do owing to a blockNe ronne going fn right ‘shead of bin the Fors ‘matin, the bloceade Wenner signals,.which they also did to te Loulsian me party, after eoslly making ef tByr arracge- conte exploaion, Jaf the veebel—the wea thing then, tatiag to thele beste, \tBey made tdelr esas to fe yess, lying olese by... The Wilderness thea rt off shore with cog, speed to avoid aay ili elects thes ‘Might bappen from tH exptosion. At Gortg-five minates past one on the morning of the 4th the explosion took piace, and the shock was nothing We 00 severe as was expected, 1} shook the vossele tene abd broke ove oF two glasses, but DoLhioE more. BR a oe the 94m the dest get under way and to te line Of battle, At bait-pasv oleven 4. M. the @qpal Was made-ve engege the forts, the Ironaides leading (@94 ihe Monednook, Casonices and Mehopec following. {$B Jreusiden took hor position ja the moet vesat ifn! and Q@hamaniixe manner, and opened a éelibexate Gre on the art, whied was fring of hor with ail ite guns (which 4i¢ Get neem aumercus) fo the merihenst feck, though we Granted what appeared to be seventeen guage,’ But four @e Ave of these Were fired from that direction, were sileneed almost a8 soon as tho Ironaiies opened her thay did being to vet her qm fire under the enin—and | Dad they | Meckionw bad’hor beter whose opinion has great weight with me. T wilblook out that the troops are all eff ja enfety. We, will bave a weet wind preseuily aa@ 6) smooth beach about three o’clock, when suMcient will be sent forthem. The prisoners sow en Bantiago de Cuba will be delivered to the Provost pba) at Fortress Monroe, unless you wish te tebe them pp board ove of the traneperis, which wealt be tseeeh Yeuient just now. Lremain, Genera), respectfully, yeur obedient servant, ¢ : DANID .D. PORTER, Reap Aéeeiral. ‘Be’ Majer General B. F. Bur nn, Commanding, &e., ho. | THE HERALD DESPATCHES, ¢" j oh ot ; sn eo he Ob? Wagnegon, My 6, De0us 100% ‘The rebels ay, 004 dpadiiens wily shueko maad; wa themeetves Lor a Betet spell with the have badieu the genius and oki!) of ine Yaokeo mira) and drives our mmense fleet away from this contd ‘They will find tab they have yet to learm Adenizal. Por ter, If the rebels are satisfiod with the werk that ham Deen acoomplished thas far, we certainly bave mo reneom te be,diseasiaged, Whoever had any correct iden of int Character of the defencened ibe mows of Gape Fear rived will net be aiesppeimted at the announeement new ined ‘Wese whrks still hold out againas the truly formidabig- expedition that bas beem drought egeings them. The GUYprisw Would beve heen nateral had they been or their garrieon sorced to capitulate before thie time. Twn etrvATION te practically unchanged from that given in my despatc of last eveving. Thie bas been adark and stormy dayy dense fog prevailing the greater portion of the time, and wholly unsdited for operctions ou water. The tremendous fre that was kept up upon the rebel works throvgbout Saturday and Sunday well nigh exhausted the magazines of the fleet, and it was deterniued, as the most speedy metbod of replenishing to withdraw entiraly Bod from the atta k, Fup to a certain point on 'he -oaes where ther stores mo to — = Ip parsui of tbigor rel'n ae Besides the Vessels Ramed om the Diagram the f WithdraPn during Ave wiahty it cob Deing d ‘Liltaa, Ticonderaga, Montgomery, Nansemond, Fort Jackson Citmatia, Cherokee, Weus to eave shem on tue thud without the protection io, Pawtoxet, R. R, Cuyler, Keyatone State, Bantiago do Cube, Bowyqus, Fort Douelson, " , TH Bares ioe, ma, Pete 4 Gane “Cay. a “Georgia, Tacony, Vi ‘ u Wild . aflorded by the navy, and this mo: oing they were safely rw, Mi. Vernon donb; ome D Osceoin, re-embarked on their transports. But the fog wat 50 A fernon, Bignoola, ” Toso, jettysburg, > dense throughout the carly part of the day that maviga- style, and er guns, after getting the range, were fired ‘with rapidity, while the Mohican, the Colorado and the large vessols got to thelr stations, all firing to cover themeelves while anchoring, By the time the last of the large veesele anchored and got the batteries into play, Dus one oF to guns of the enemy were fired, this few @enfer driving them all te the bomb proofs. ‘The email gunboats Kansas, Unadilla, Pequot, Seneca, Pontooswo, Yentio and Huren took ® position on the morttiward and eastward of the Monitors, and enfiladiag the works. The @henapdoah, Ticondorogs, Mackinaw, ‘Twoony and Vanderbilt took effec ive positions, as marked on the chart, and added thoir ‘ire to that already be, The Santiago de Cuba, Fort Jackson, Osceola, Chippewa, Sassacus, Rhode Island, Monticello, Quaker City and Tos0o drepped into position acqording to order, and the dattie beeame general. In one hour and fifteen minutes after the first shot was fired not aehot camo from the fort. Two magazines had been blown up by our shells, and the fort set on fire in several places, and such @ torrent of missiles were falling into and bursting over {t, that it was impossible for any- thing human to stana it, Finding that the batteries were silenced completely I rected the ships tokeep up « moderate fire in the hopes iracting the attention of the transports and bringing them in. At muneet General Butler came in in hie fiagsbip with a few transports, the rest not having arrived from Beau. forg. Beiog too late to do anything more, I signalled to the fleet to retire for the night to a safe anchorage, which they did without being molested by the enemy. There were some mistakes made tho day when the vessels went in to take position, My plan of battie being based on accurate caleulations and made from isforma- tion to be relied was placed in the hands of each commander, and it seomed impossible to go astray if it ‘was strictly followed. I required those vessels (hat bad pot followed |t closely to got under way and assume their pro- Per positions, which was done promptly and without con. fusion. The vessels were placed somewhat nearer to the works and were able to throw In their smolis, which were Defore falling in the water, One or two leading vessels, ‘Raving made the mistake ef anchoring too far off, caused those coming after them to com like error; but when they ail got into piace and commenced work to ear. nest, the shower of shell (one buodred and fifteen per minut®) waa irresistible, Se quickly were the enemy's ‘wns sileoced ibat not an eMeer or man was injured. Grow 84 wounding seven others; anoiner barst on beard the Yao. iting one efcer and two men; snother oo tbe Juniat yji1ing two oMoers and killing and wounding Ven others; \otner on the Mackisaw, Rilling ene oMcer And wOUDdIO aye other men; another on the CHY, WOURdING 5 Helieve, two oF three; Besquebanns, Bome of the vessels Were ince onge or twice The | » See Minneoets inen took ber ponition in handeome 66 Sma im 9 ale sontiiens nao paiaean am tg Glose after her, All (be venseln followed according to mander stopped up the leak, while the Mackinaw fought out the battle, notwithstanding the damage she received, ‘The Yantic was the only voesel which loft the line to re- port damages. Commander John Guest, at the east end of the line, showed unusus! intelligence.in selecting the position and directing his fire. Twice bis guns cut down the flag- staf onthe Mound battery, and he silenced the guns there in a very short time, the Keystone State and Quaker City co-operating effectively. Lieutenant Commander J. R. Davis, with both rudders disabled, got his vessel, the Sassacus, into close action, and assisted materially in silencing the works, and the Santiago de Cuba and the Fort Jackeon toox such posl- tions ag they could get, owing to other vessels not form. ing proper lines and throwing them out of place, and oght their guns wel) ‘The taking of & new position while under fire by the Brooklyn and Colorado was a beautiful aig when they got into place both sbips delivered « fire that noth- ing could withstand, The Brooklyn well sustained her Droud name under her present commander, Captain Jas. Alden; and the Colorado gave evidence that her com- mander, Commodore Hi, K, Thatcher, well understood the duties of bie position, The Susquehanna was most effeo- tive in her fire, and was fortunate epough to obtain the Tight position, though much bothered by ® veese) pear her that bad not found ber right place, ‘the Mobioan went into battle gallantly, and fired rapidly and with effect; and when tbe Powhatan, Ticon- Geroga and Showandoah got into their positions they did good service, The Pawtuxes fell bandsomely into line, and 414 good service with the rest; and the Vanderbilt took position pear the Miunesota, and threw in @ splendid fre ‘The Gring of the Monttore wan excellent, and where Weir shells struck great damage done, and the jitte gun doate which covered (hem kept ap a fre sufficient te digconcert (he epemy’s aim. ‘The rebels Bred no more after the vessels a!) opened upon them, except @ few shots from ihe Mound sad upper batteries, which tbe losco end her coneorts soon srenoed Our men were ot work at the guns five boure, and gid to gota little rest, They csme out of the action with rather a contempt for the rebel, batiertes, and anxious te renew the battle In the morving. On the 261d all the treneperts bed arrived, and General Butler Gens Genera! Weitzel 10 eee me and arrange the programme for the day. It wae decided that we should attack the fort again, while the army Innded and as. Gavited them, if poselbie, ander our heavy fire. | sent seventeen gunbosis, ander (he command of Captain 0, A. Glassen, bo cover the troops and agsied with their boats Im landing the soldiers. Finding the emailer vessels kept too far from the beach, which wae quite deld, 1 sent tn the Brooktys to set (hem on example, which that veasel id, relying, a8 every commander ebould, on ihe infor. mation I gave him tp reletion to the esuedings, To thie Dumber was added a!) the email vessels that were cover. (ng the const along, end floaty | cent come eight oF nine vemete that were actieg ender Commander (nest Ip en. Geavoring 0 fied e way scroes the bar, This gave one hundred email beete to land the troope with, besides (eee the army were aiready provided with, about tweaty more. Al seven A. M.o@ the 26th I made signal to get under way and form in line of battio, wateh wae qnickly done, ‘The orJer to ajtack wan given, and the fronsides took po- tition fn her usae! banésome style, the Monitors follow. orders, and took position without @ shet being fired at ) thom, excepting a few shots fired at the four last vessels that got into line, The firing this day was slow, only sufielent 10 amuse the evemy while the army landed, which they were doing, five miles to the east of the fest, Tsuppose about three thovsand men had landed, when I was notified that they wore reembarkiog, I could see our soldiers near the fort reconooltering and sharpaboot- fog, and was in hopes an assault was deemed practicable. General Weitzel in person was making obtorvations about six huodred yards off, and the troops were im and Bfound the works, One gallant officer, whose name I do Dot know, went on the parapet and brought eway the rebel flag we bad knocked down. A soldier went into the works and led out « horee, killing the orderly mounted on him and taxing bie despatches from the body. Ano. ther soldier fired bis muaket into the bombproof among the rebels;and eight or ten othern who had ventured m @ fort were wounded by our eholla, As the ammupition gave out the vessel retired from Action, aod the iron clade and Minnesota, Oolvrade and | Susquehanna were ordered to open rapidiy, which they | did with such effect that it seemed to tear the works to | pieces, We drow off at sunset, leaving the tron-clads to | fire through tho night, expecting the troops would attack In the morning, when we would commence again. I re. Celved word from General Weitrel that t was tmpracti- cable to assault, and herewith encione a letter from Gen ral Butler acsigning bis rearons for withdrawing the troops, Taleo eneloe my answer. To the bombardment of the 25th the men were engaged firing slowly for seven hours. The rebele kept « couple Of gans on the upper batteries firing on the versols, hit- | ting gome of them several times, without doing much damage, The Wadarh and Powhatan being within thoir Page, the object xeemed ly ty Aisable them; buts Tapid fire soon closed them up. Everything wae coolly and systematically dons throughout the day, and wit- Reseed some benutifal practice, ‘The army commenced landing about twe o'clock, Cape tain Gleason, in the Santiago deCuba, having shelied Flag Popa battery to insure a safe landing, and they com- menced toreembark about five o'clock. The weather ¢oming on thick and rainy about a brigade were left on the besob daring the night, covered by the gunboats. Af our troops landed sixty five rebel soldiers hoisted the white fag and delivered themaclves up, and were taken prisoners by the seamen landing the troops and conveyed to the Santiago de Cada, and two hundred and eighteen more gave themecives up to the recennoitering party, all Being desirons to quit the war. 1 40m’) pretend to put my opinion in opposition to General Weltes!, who fe 8 thorough soldier and an able @ngineer, and whose business jt te to know more of as- oaalting thamT do; but I oan’t help thinking that it was ‘Worth while to make ibe attempt after coming #0 far, About twelve o'clock T sent in a detachment of double- endorse, under Commander Joba Guest, to gee If I could effect an entrance through the ebannel, The great num- ber of wreeke tn and about the Dar have changed the whole formation, and where the original channel was wd found a shallow ber, 1 sent Licutenant W, B. Cushing in te cound and beoy out © channel if he could find one, with erdeve te Commander neat to drag for torpedoes aad be ready to ren in by the bueys when ordered. One boat, Belonging to the Taceny, wee sink by a shel), anda man bad hie leg cut off; still they etack to their ‘Work wott! ordered to withdraw for other duty. In conehasion, allew me to draw your attention to the conduct of Commander Rhint and Lieutenant Preston, ‘They engaged Im the most perilous adventure that was perhaps ever undertaken; and though no material resuite Dave take place from the effects of the explosion that we Know of, still it was not their fault, As aa incentive to others, I beg leave to recommend them for promotion; also that of Lientenast R. H. Lamson, who piloted them {a and breught them of. No one in the squadron copsid- ered that their ves would be saved, and Captain Rhind and Lieutenant Preston rade an arrangement to sacrifice themselves in cage the vessel was boarded—s thing likely to bappen. J enclose herewith the report of Commasder Rbind, with the mames of the gallant fellows who volun. toored for tho desperate service. = Ablow mo to mention, also, the naroe of Mr, Bradrord, of tho Coast Survey, who bas alwoya patiently performed every duty be bas been called oo to carry out, My thanks are due to Lieutenant Commander K. R. Breese, Fleet Captain, for carrying about my orders to the feet during the action, and for kis goveral usefuluess; to Lieutenant Commander H, A. Adame, for promptned® tw sopplying the feet with ammunition; to Lieutenant M. W, Sanders, Signal Officer, whose whole time was vocu- pied to making signals, and who performed his duty welt, and to my aids, Lieutenant & W, Terry and Lievtonans 8. W. Preston, who afforded me valuable sevtstance, Toostved & llat of (he carmaltion, bat be- killed aod wounded sbout forty. ye persoos by the bureting Of the Parrott guns. I must pot omit to pay & tribute to the officers and crews of the Monitors riding out ihe heavy gales, on au open const, without murmuring or complaining of tho want of comfort, which must have beep very serious. They have shown a degree of fortitude aud perseveracce seldom witnessed, Kyualiy brave in battle, they take the closest work with pleasure and the efiect of their shells is terrific. The following are the names of the commanders, and 1 hope | shall ever keep ther uncer my command:»—Commanders £. G. Parrott, of the Monodnock, and K R. Calhoun, of the Saugus, Lieutenant Commanders George L. Belknap, of the Canomtous, and B E. Potter, of the Mahopac. ‘There are about one thousand men left on shore by the army, who have not got of yet on accouns of the surf | tet. It carries not lose on the bexod, ‘These will be cot off te the morning, and | the soldiers will then be sent home, I enclose the geveral order for the attack. I em, sir, very respectfully, yout bbedient servant, DAVID, PORTER, Rear Admiral. | from th Hon. Gintou Waiae, Beoretary of the Navy, Washing- ton, D. ©. Correspondence between Gem, Butler anda Ad Porter. @UNERAL BUTLER TO ADMIRAL PORTER, * Heapqcantans, Daranranet or Vincona axp Nontm Canouina, Deo, 25, 1864, ADwmnit—Upon landing the troopsyjand maxing & reconnetssance of Fort Fisher, both Geversl we and myself are fully of the opinion that the piace Ould not be carried by seenult, as is was left substen- tially uninjured see defensive work by the navy fire, ‘We found seventeen guse, protected by traverses, two only of whieh were dismonsted, bearing up the desct end covering & strip of land—the only practicable route, ot wide enough for thousand men in line of battie, Having captured Fiag Pond battery, the garrison of ‘whieh—eixty-Cve men and two ocommiasioned officers— were taken off \by navy, we also captured Half Moon wattery and omcers and two hundred and eight mon of the Third Norih Caroline Junior Re terver, including its commander, from whom I learved that a portion of Hoke's division, consisting of Kirkland’s | neath which are Bombdproot tion was wholly imprac'icable, aud ine feet lay abauehe! until peop waiting its rising. When it dit riso 4awo Strange vessels appeared ia the oillog, whem proved © be laden with ammuuition, /or ied Dy come thongnt- fal official, They quickly reported, snd their arrival served to change the satire programme, Wib thie B® | forward a diagram diusirating the positon here and ine actions of the 244n and 26h pat, PADRAAL POINT, upon which therebel works are conptzncted, aa very Barrow and Jow poiot of land, caused by the convergence of Cape Fear river with the aca. The river formerly rag ivto the gem only at a point still farther down the now known as Folly Juliet. Subsequently it cut through io the sea at this shorter polos, form ng what is pow known aa New Inlet, which ia separated from Fully Inlet by @ ciaster of island, the principal of which ie Smitha, Zeek's Isiand, directly epposiio Federal Point, is bat @ mero cand bar, a few feet out of water. ‘The entrance (rom the sea by Folly Inlet is very diffe cult and hazardous, and affords lees water thao throug® New Inlet, whied renders the jatter preferable for bicck. ade runners. The former is, however, fortified and hel@ by the rebels, But they have devoted the mott labom aod core in fortifying New Inlet, koowing thatJt thas should fall the other would be useless to them, ore PIER, the main work apon Federal Point, is an extensive fortit> cation, aud, as bes been shown, very formide» bm ona All vessels attempting se entrane® jnvo Cape Fear river are compelled to pass around throe siden of this work, sud epcoupterthe Bre af ‘ail (te sides, It ls Copported by @ system of detached works, isolated batteries, rifle pity, &e,, ravnieg dows ve the extremity of the polot, My diagram of theto work je made (roms Views Laken at the masinead of the steamer Vanderbilt white ip action, The easterly front carr the main battery of tbe fort aud covers (he approech the channel from seaward. It forme a straight ling across the polat, Ita farther angle resting seemingly om, the river, ‘The main wall w about eight fect Bigh, WH & diteb i fromt, and je very thick and weil rivet, then nin@ Brook's rifed Ure ges, of geven and eight incd bore. peop thick traverses of . ose, are Lory, eeee ooroot quarters fet (be gee surely provect the gata as well ue sienetc apcept io. caw ot direct Oriod, aud Wa chat quow are run far Dack, the gaeners ret) jeco#, Aad @ COMLIMYOUSs CanBOBAding of Doers does m. On ah ward angle of the fort was a bration cover! the dited in (root of the easterly wal), and also carry in eavy barbette cuss. Tae bas received potiest of our fire during the first day's s@— tion, and wal eifectuaiiy demolished. Ite were diamounted and buried ip the sand, add the who! erially levelled away by the powerf@l explosions fisoo job shells (rom the Monitors. The seaward frout of the jort is of very peculiar come struction. The main wall appears to be frum ex to eig feat bigher than the rest of the work. In (rout of raneing Net with it and fenking ite right eed in outer wall, or cover, casomated at its eastern end govered ratiroad fron. This cover aiso protects formidabie Dattery facing towards the extremity of point. The mam wall of she fort bebiod this Ties an eecarpment corer battery an well as several gu. + im 'At the very extremity of the point is # clrowlar + ebout thirty foot in height —_ if aban ange” Sixty deqrese, and pinted with ravirond troo. + summit of the are planted two rery heavy om barbele, Petween the mound and tne mato fort extends & ayatem of detached batteries, wih tra versen pro’ect ing there flanks and Anzles, #4 vc 1! foroiahing subterrimern quarters for thei men. | fre consented by & range Of rrie pits, bebid whey ® Other sand mounds, suppored to be bomdproot qua (er CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGER