The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
ARMY AND NAVY.

A party Of prominent citi1ens OF Indiana in
New York this week presented silver service
and library to the United States battle sh p
Indiana, now lying off TnmpkinsviIie, Staten
Island, under the command OF Capt. RObey d.
Evans, better known by the cognomcn Of
Fighting Bob" The party consisted OF ex-
President and Mrs. Harrison, Gov. and Mrs.
Matthews, Miss Matthews, arid Miss NfcAIachan :;
Mayor Thomas Taggart, OF. indianapolis, and
Mrs. and Miss Taggart; Adj'l-Gen. aud Mrs.
Robbins, Brig. Cen and Mrs Mckee. Col JAS
u. Curtis Lieut. Col. and Mrs. J. II. Murphy
Capt. II. T. Condee aud others. The silver
service was formally presented by Gov. Mat
thews to Capt. Evans, bot it arll hc received by
Assistant Secretary of the Navy McAdoo.
The long expected transfer of troops has been
ordered by The War Department. The 18TH
Iuf, now at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, is ordered
to relieve tho 24ti, Irf., NOW at Fort Bayard
| aud other points in New Mexico and Arizona.
The Oath Inf will relieve tire 18th Inf, which
| is at Fort Douglass, Utah. The 10Th Inf sil
relieve the 18th Inf. which is scattered among
Forts Sherman. Idaho Spokane. Washington
and Boise barracks. Idaho. The 4il goes to
Chicago, taking the place of the 18th Inf. at
Fort Sheridan. The Sd Art, with headquarters
at ST. Francis barracks Florida, and scattered
along the Southern Atlantic Coast at Barrancas,
Fla, Fortress Monroe, Va. aud Washington
| barracks has been ordered 10 exchange places
with the 5ti Art, which is located in San
| Francisco Harbor. with headquarters at the
| PresidiO. and partly along the Northwest Coast
| and small portion at Fortress Monroe, Va.
The subject of coast dcfenses is receiving a
great deal Of attention just now from the scien-
| tific departments of the Army. Large con-
| tracts, involving the expenditure of fve or six
million dollars, TO be awarded soon for the
| furnishing OF gun forgings, the manufacture Of
number OF rifles under private contract and
| the purchase of material with which to begin
the preparation of the various sites for the bat
teries determined upon. Land for the EN-
! placements in the majority of cases has already
been purchased, and where it has not condcm-
natory proceedings are being taken to secure it.
| The entire plan for The defeDses OF the more
| important cities has been completed aud APP
| proved by the Department. but so careful is it
not to permit outsiders to learn Of the charac.
ter or strength Of the Notifications that it will
| not be until most of them are nearly completed
| that the cities they designed to protect will
| know the actual number of guns manned. The
! allotment Of SI2,000000 appropriated by the
last Congress has been made with view 10
| protecting the larger and more exposed cities
| from sea attack and to set aside 81 fcient money
| for the smaller towns for the purchase of land.
| 1t is quite certain that all the larger f0rti flea
| tions will include in their armament number
Of 16.inch rifles, by far the heaviest type OF
| gun ever attempted in this country and oil
| which there are but few abroad. Recently the
| War Department has purchased forgings to be-
/ gin trial gun Of this caliber and if it proves
| successful 20 will be manufactured for the
! larger cities.