The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-23
PORTLAND'S DEFENCES.
Uncle Sam Is Losing No Time
Here.
A GREAT TEN-INCH GUN is
COMING.

The, Ninety-Ton Carriage is Expected
Along Soon-Seven Sister Guns Pro-
vided For-Big Battery for Great
Diamond.
While there has been considerable talk
about the coast defences Of other sea-
board cities like New York, New Or
leans, Boston and Por tsmouth, this city
has by no means been neglected. Col
oneI Donnell, the United States engineer
officer in charge of the fort ifications
here has not issued any proclamations
about what is being done, but those who
have been interested in the work at
Portland Head, who have noted that the
government has been buying land at
Fort Preblo, and have seen other indi-
cations of activity, know that the Rov-
ernment has actually been making great
haste and that Portland will very soon
have some of the greatest guns of mod
ern> manufacture in plac for her de-
fence. For several years the governments
has peen working on extensive el:place-
ments for heavy guns at Portland Head.
This work has gone ahead rapidly of
late, and very soon everything will be
ready for the eight great ten-inoh guns
which are to constitute this powerful
battery. The carriage of the first gun
will arrive in short time. 1t will be-
one of the great disappearing carriages.
and will weigh about ninety TONS 1t
will como from New Jersey, and while
it can be taken to pieces, yet some of the
parts are SO heavy that its transportation
will,be matter Of some difficulty.
These disappearing guns have already
been described at length. AT the Cape
at Portland Head where the eight guns
are to be placed, great an bankment of
earth and concrete is built up, behind
pletely out of sight. A vessel coming
in from the sea would know nothing of
its presence, unless from the outlines of
the grassy hill formed by the embank-
ment the outlines of military work could
be discerned. Suddenly a great ten
inch gun rises over this mound, pours
forth a deadly discharge, and Instantly
sinks back out of sight. The recoil of
the gun sets in motion the mechanism
which carries the gun back, and oylin-
ders full of oil on each sids of the gun
keep the operation within safe limits of
speed By the action of pistons, which
force the oil out slowly. Formerly pneu-
matte cylinders were used, but oil is
found to work better.
At Fort Preblc, an extension mortar
get exact details of this. treat secrecy
marks all the government operations.
When General Craighill appeared before
the appropriations committees of Con-
gress to urge the large appropriations
which were made last winter, he held
allow what he said to be printed. 1t is
generally understood that the war de.
partment mas enjoined similar secrecy
upon all its engineer officers at all
places. In Portland these injunctions
seem to have been kept very carefully;
but the actual work which Is done can
not be concealed wholly.
The plan Of defence of Portland con-
templates an outer line of batteries,
stationed at Portland Head. Cushing's
Island, Great Diamond and Cow
Islands, with torpedo classmates for min
ing the main ship channel by Fort
Profile, the roads between Great Diamond
and Peaks and between Great Diamond
and Falmouth Foreside. These torpedo
classmates were put in some time ago
but they are SO Jealousy guarded that
little definite information Is attainable
about them.
The next battery to bs put in after
Portland Heal, win be on Great Dia.
mond where work will probably be
begun ut once on the emplacementssfor
two huge twelve-inch guns. This will
be magnificent battery when COM
pleted; and will make Hussey IS Sound an
undesirable place for hostile craft.
The construction of great battery on
Cushing's Island will probably be mex!
in order, although the hitch over the
purchase of the Ottawa House seem S to
be delaying matters.