Word: fleetingly
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That night Admiral Newton A. McCully, in command of the Black Fleet, sprang the first surprise. Some 1,000 or 1,500 marines in 50-foot motor boats carried by the Black Fleet traveled 17 miles from Porto Bello under cover of a smoke screen. Despite a very rough sea they effected a landing between 4 and 5am. A detachment of 400 attacked Fort Randolph and captured it from its defenders, who numbered 1 than half as many. Another detachment took the Coco Solo aviation field (defended by 70 mechanics) and submarine base, "destroying" submarine supplies and capturing all aeroplanes...
...daybreak the Black Fleet came into the attack. They were able to approach some 4,000 yards closer because the Fort Randolph batteries were silenced. It was decided that the damage done by the bombardment was not serious and could be repaired during the night. During the afternoon the first Blue battleship, the California, reached the Atlantic. Meanwhile the Black Fleet retired to Porto Bello replenish its ammunition...
During the night the transport Henderson of the Black Fleet ran the fire of the land batteries to the entrance of the canal and was "sunk," partly blocking the channel...
When morning came there were five first class battleships of the Blue Fleet in Cristobal Harbor at the north end of the Canal. Under cover of a smoke screen blowing in from the sea the Black Fleet advanced early to the attack. Admiral Robinson ordered destroyers and submarines to put to sea through the enemy's fire. Behind the breakwater the first line ships were manoeuvred in an attempt to get then into firing position. Only one or two were able to get broadside on to bring all their batteries into firing position. The great guns fired incessantly by proxy...
Admiral Robinson then ordered his battleships to sea and they steamed out of the harbor without waiting for the remainder of the fleet which was still in the Canal. But the umpires, Admiral Robert E. Coontz and Major General John L. Mines, ordered him back, declaring that his ships were disabled...