The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-23
SEC'Y. ELKINS' REPLY.
Target Practice at Fort Adams Is
Necessary for Efficiency.
HONEY IS NOT A FACTOR IN IT.
The Major General Commanding the
Armies OF the United States Gives HIS
Opinion-The Waters Are Under the
Jurisdiction Of the Governments.

A communication was received by Gov
Brown yesterday from the War Depart
ment In answer to His Excellency's letter
to Secretary Of War Elkins, enclosing
copy of the resolutions Of the city coun-
Gil Of Newport aud the petition of a
portion Of the citizens, regarding target
practice with the guns at Fort Adams.
1t practically states that the waters be-
long to the United States Government,
and that the practice is necessary to make
the fortress efficient in case of war. The
full text is here given:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1892.
Hon. ID. Russell Brown. Governor Of Rhode Island.
Providence. X. I.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter of the 7th inst,
inclosing a certified copy Of resolution
passed by the city council of Newport,
RHODE ISLAND, requesting that the De-
small arms firing at Fort Adams to be
confined within the limits of the Govern
ment reservation, and also inclosing a
copy OF G. II. Caswell and other citizens
of Newport, requesting that the order for
the target practice with great guns,
which Is to begin on the 10Th Of Septem'
ber to be countermanded.
In reply / beg to advise you that your
letter, having been referred to the major
general commanding the army, he reports
thereon as follows: THE waters which
nearly surround the site of Fort Adams
are navigable waters of the United States
and under the jurisdiction of the general
government. Hence Is derived it's right
TO send its ships of war to cruise in these
waters unrestricted by the rules which
govern vessels, and to establish it's prac-
tice station for the torpedo service. In
the exercise Of the right of navigation
with men-of-war accidents sometimes hap
pen, by collision and otherwise, to private
property.
But the government could never, for
such reason, consent to abro1 gate its right
to navigate these waters. although as q
matter of course, 1t requires of its naval
negligence which results in injury or loss
to private citizens. IL IL in the exercise
of the same general right that the war
department Of the government conducts
practice with heavy guns at its sea coast
fortifcations.
The Notifications at Newport have been
built by the general government at q
tect, not merely the lives and property of
the citizens, but all the interests of the
United States in these waters. 1t must
be presumed that the Notifications may
be used for all purposes for which origi-
nally designed. This involves such exer-
cises In times Of peace as will render them
of defensive value in war.
The target practice at Fort Adams ex-
tends over a very short period of each
year. The time Is carefully selected SO as
to cause least annoyance and apprehen-
sion to citizens and it is believed that in
view of these facts the patriotism OF yacht
owners and the great mass OF the citizens
of Newport will lead them to assist rather
than hamper the government in its efforts
to render effective the defences Of Maria
gansett Bay:
Very respectfully,
S. b. ELKINs, Secretary OF War.