The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-07
Interior Chain of Forts on
Angel Island, Alcatraz
and Fort Mason.
Batteries Will Command Raccoon
Straits TO Protect Mare
Island Navy.Yard.
Renewed Activity on Defensive Work.
Exterior Lines Extended to
Point Bonita.

Under direction of engineer officers
large force of men is now engaged in the
work of fortifying the harbor of San Fran
cisco. No greater activity has been mani
tested since the board of fertilization
adopted the general plan Of defense. The
most activity is displayed at Fort Point
where the 10-inch guns are to be placed in
position on disappearing carriages. En-
placements for other heavy rifles are be-
ing constructed there. 1t is understood
that additional 12-inch rifles will be
mounted still further out.
thine Point on the Marin side of the
channel, there are two Pinch riies-one
in position ana the otner on the ground.
The engineers have determined to build
two more forts near Point Bonita. The
plan adopted by the board of Notifications
is known only to the Secretary of War,
the general of the army and the engineers,
but the recent examination of the ground
near Point Bonita by General Forsyth aud
Major Davis and Lieutenant Potter OF the
Engineer Corps indicates that work will
soon begin in that vicinity.
Army officers familiar with the work
already done here, and the progress OF
similar work on the Atlantic coast, express
ter shape to resist attack from the ocean
than any other city on the continent. The
batteries on either side of the channel at
the entrance to the Golden Gate consist of
powerful guns of ten AMI twelve inch cal
iber. Added to these are the rihed mont
tors and dynamite guns.
1t is now known that the Board of Forti-
fications will render the harbor doubly
secure by certifying an interior line. The
heaviest riaed guns Will be placed in posi-
ton at Alcatraz Island, Angel Island and
Fort Mason. The scheme may also in
clude the building of fort on Goat Island.
1t is remotely possible. but not proba-
bic, that some resolute admiral of the
Farragut and Nelson type might, IN gen.
eral attack, get one ship through the
Golden Gate and into the harbor OF San
Francisco. To prevent hostile ship in
such position from doing incalcuable
damage the guns of the interior line of
forts would be used. Angel Island bat
teries should command Raccoon Straits
and stop raid on Mare Island Navy
Yard and Benicia Arsenal Heavy guns
at Alcatraz and Black Point should take
care of hostile ship on this side OF the
bay.
The heavy batteries of the Third Artil-
lery stationed at Angel Island, Elcatraz
and Fort Mason will drill at the 12-inch
rifles and the Pinch ri1ed mortars on
Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday
and Friday of this week. and on the same
days next week. The steamer General
Mcdowell will carry the troops from the
island posts to the Presidio and return.
The names of the sharpshootels in the
Department of California who qualified
during the past year are:
First Infantry-Fred Bjorke, Charles O.
Arland, Daniel L. Hood, Lawrence Nc
Carthey, Arthur M. Peck, James R.
II I ~
Fisher, Frank Decker, Charles g. Starr,
Marion P. Maus Joseph Havlicek, John
Mayfield, George Bayliss, Peter Meyer,
William c. Hendrix, Joseph Dresher, AL
bert Moore, Frank Gunnard, William
Howard.
Fourth Cavalry Paul Singer. James E.
Nolan, George l.. Tinker, Alvin Arndt,
James Lockett, Peter Landreth, George A.
Soyer Owen Davis Samuel Adams, Otto
Kuntke, William H Sadlier, Peter Ha ber-
kamm. James f. Kelly, John Cotter,
Axel Gilman, Joseph Mullen, William R.
Miller John Swift Jr., Robert d. Cooper
General Forsyth, department comman-
der, in circular No. IA commends the pro-
gramme of lyceum instruction at Alcatraz
Island during the ensuing season. The
programme is submitted by Captain Ches-
Ter, Third Artillery, commanding officer
of that post. Aside from the Rotations
embracing many problems, there will be
seven essays as follows:
March 2. 1S97-Captain Chester: "Plan for
the defense of the harbor and city of Pensa-
cola against an attack by eight arm ored yes
sells OF the class of II. NJ. S. Majestic, accom-
panied BIZ eight torpedo-boats and the usual
complement of torpedo-boat catchers and
other necessary vessels" general presenta-
ton of the subject
thoughts on practical education in the army"
March 16, IS97-Lieu tenant Randop phi:
1.-THE present stae of the fertilization ques-
ton
March %, 1S97-Lieutenant Ludlow: cThe
March 80, is97-Lieutenant Rumbough:
1.-The defense OF san Francisco Bay against a
naval attack"
April 5, 1s97-Lieutensns HAN: "Direct
and indirect fire with modern guns in time OF
war"
April 10, 1897-Lieutenaat Ames: "The use
of three arms in attack and defense"
Burroughs have been granted TO Fred G.
Friegel, Light Battery Z, Third Artillery,
and Jerry O'Leary, Company b. First
Infantry.
Troopers of the Fourth Cavalry are glad
enough to get home to the Presidio for the
winter. The bar at the Post Exchange has
been extended so that forty men can line
UP at one time. Now that there are twelve
COMPANIES at the post the exchange does
thriving business.
The Army and Navy Journal has this
paragraph: "Captain Frank Thorp and
Light Battery d, Fifth Artillery, fresh
from California, presented handsome
appearance in New York City on Novem-
Der 25, Evacuation day, when the battery
paraded with the Old Guard and fired
salute"