The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-07

guns that guard New York, there =
MT u single city on the A.lan,lc sea
board that is protected by even as much
as one big gun.
1t IS Furthermore quite certain .hat
England Is well aware of our weakness
IN coast deienscs, for the representa-
yves OF foreign powers in this country
spare no pains 10 secure the most ac-
curate Information In regard to these
matters Colonel Robert assured me
that the Board of Engineers have TO
take the most extreme precautions and
ahroud all their acts in the creates.
secrecy 10 Keep European spies from
learning OF each new measure for de-
tense, and from obtainiug maps or ha:-
Dor batteries. charts showing the loca-
ton OF sub mnrine mines. and of sta
tisiicS regarding the number uf torna-
does I'm readiness at Willets Point
where the central storchousc Is located
nj the Narrows and AT other strategic
points.
THE U. S. ENGINEER CORPS.
While there is reason for concern o,
alarm In this lack OF heavy suns TO;
our coast defence it is gratifying to
know that the organization Of the mill
tary engineers charged with the spryic.
OF torps does and submarine mines /.
most satisfactory. The officers and men
included in this engineer corps roceive
the most thorough and practical train
ing in the school at Willets Point am.
elsewhere i'll all the details of torrs7lc
warfare. In the planting of mines and
the operating of them by various cleo
trical contrivances on the shore. The
are thornushly drilled in all the secrets
of the loading, they learn how To charg,
the shells with Il hundred rounds o.
more Of high explosive. how 10 PIT in
the detonatinE CAPS ard make the clcr.
trio connection 50 that thee Will be nc
flaw in the Insulation. how to locate in
stanily any leak in the submarine cahir
ana how to use the switches and circui
breakers when they s;1Gd in the opcr
ating room with hands on the lcvcra
waiting the word TO fire.
~ busy scene there is in this operat-
ing room when the torpedo corps are
busy with the experiments. II Ually car
ried on In the summer months. NoltaiH
batteries are quickly set up, drums OF
cable are submerged. and fuses switch
es, and circuit regulators are issued to
the loading room where another detail
OF men are working Ike beavers charg-
ing the :orpedots. Meanwhile the men
in the boat service dttaN have prepared
the planting tug for action. y sergeant
on beard with a specially rugged telc-
gram apparatus working thrcugi one
core OF the cable communicates with an
operator in the casem2te and repor 5
each step in the work. One by one
the charged cases are lowered and the
submarine mincs are planted, each one
being connected electrically with the
dt: charging button on sh re. TIE proper
way To lay torpeioes tie various svs-
TENS of grouping ard connecting then,
and the endless details 10 be observed
so as to effect the discharge with most
deadly result. all these firm in them
selves n saecinl brarcn II Military
Knowledge to which many engineers de-
vote Their entire ensrgv.
In, ~ II IL.
are frequently fired 50 ms TO give tho
men opportunity to study tire height Of
the jet. the effec. of the ccncussicn on
neighboring mines and other attending