The San Francisco call., 1896-08-24
MILITARY AND
NAVAL hFF AIRS.
Army Circles Interested in
the Matter of Coast
Defense.
LARGE SUM NECESSARY
Reports of Generals Miles and
Craighill to Secretary
Lamont.
ovERHAULING OLD MONITORS.
Admiral Bunce's Squadron to Be Kept
in Fighting Trim for
Emergencies
ovERHAULING OLD MONITORS.


interest is felt in army circles in the ex-
pected recommendations to Congress at
its next session in the matter of coast de-
tense. Major-General Miles recently
made an inspection OF northeastern points
where batteries are needed, and has SUBJ
mitted his recommendations to Secretary
Lamont. Brigadier-G General CraighiIl,
chief of the corps of engineers, has re-
turned from an inspection of the New
England coast and OF Fort Montgomery
on Lake Champlain. Both of these Of
ficials will make strong recommendations
for pressing the work of coast defense.
General Miles has practically outlined
this feature of his report and will urge
the necessity of sufficient appropriations.
His lamentations will cover not only
the Atlantic coast, but the Pacific coast as
we'll. General Craighii will submit his
estimates for the work, and ii is certain
that he will not ask for q small sum.
Under the terms of the last fortifications
act he was allowed about $4,000, 600, a
minor portion of which was Immediately
available, the remainder to be spent under
the continuing contract system.
In, his estimate for next years work
General Craighili will ask for S., ,0OO, 600, to
be Immediately available upon the passage
of the act. 1t is poi lted out that with
such small appropriations as much as fif-
teen years will be required to get the
coasts in a proper condition of defense.
General Craighills tour, just completed,
included Fort Knox, on the Penobscot
river, not now occupied. but which In his
opinion should be supplied with a garri-
son; Fort Popham, at the mouth of the
Kennebec River, and most of the harbors
along the New England coast, including
Boston, Newport, Narragansett Bay. etc.
He also visited Fort Montgomery. While
on his tour, General Craighill also in
spected some river and harbor work. He
is satisfied with the progress the work is
making with the present limited appropri.
alton, but feels that 1t should be pushed
more rapidly.
Brigadier-General Flasler chief of ord
nance, did net intimate before his de-
parture how much he would want from
the next Congress. 1t IS roughly esti-
mated that as much as $4,000, 900 will be
asked for at the next session.
There is strong probability that an at
tempt will be made during the coming
crea. ting the grade of lieutenaut-coIonel in
the Signal Corps. This will be done for the
benefit OF Major H. q. Dunwoody. The pro-
posed measure will not increase the mum.
ber OF officers in the corps, but will reduce
the number of lieutenants to three. Of
ficers OF the corps say this action Isl Nneces-
sary because OF the small chance of
any retirements In senior grades.
Brigadier-General Greedy, chief signal
officer, will not retire until 1906,
and in the interim number
of officers older than he will be rele-
gated to the retired list. There has been
talk for some years that General Greedy
would retire on bis own application, but
this gossip has proved to be without
foundation, and the probabilities are now
that he will remain in active service.
1t is understood that the forthcoming
animal reports oil bureau chiefs will con-
tain little that is new In the way of recon-
mendations. Major-General Miles. COM
manding the army, will have an interest
ing report, and will make number OF
provement OF the condition of officers and
men, He will forcibly urge upon Con-
gress the necessity of passing the reorgani-
zation bill proposed by the War Depart
ment during last session.
In accordance with resolutions of Con-
gress the United States steamship Alba
tross has been detailed by the President
to t. assist com mission appointed by the
Executive to make scientific investiga-
tion of fur seals on the PrbYlof, Com
mander and Kurile islands. The COM
mission is com posed of DIR. David Starr
Jordan, president of Leland Stanford Jr.
University; ieutenant-Commander JEFF
ferson F. Nose, q, s. n, commanding the
Albatross; DIR. Leon Hard Stejneger ofthe
II H. n
National Museum and Charles H. Town
send of the Fish Commission. The Alba
tross arrived at Unalaska July and will
proceed at once on the work. She carried
both the American and British Commits
sioners.
The Carnegie Steel Company is pushing
its work on the armor il is manufacturing
tucky. 1t has informed the Navy Depart
ment that it has all the easement plates
from 10 to II inches in thickness and the
plates for the forward 13-inch barbettes,
from Is to IL inches in thickness, ready
for machining, and asks that it be fur
nished with final plans. These are now
being prepared at the Navy Department.
its material for the purpose of showing
that II is bic to keep pace with if not
ahead of the hull construction.
While Cuba is in state of insurrection
Secretary Herbert will not create the n avail
reserve he has In contem plation. This is
the opinion of the officers of the Navy
Department, Notwithstanding the Secre-
tary's action In ordering the board to
make recommendations governing the
creation of such reserve. Instead of lay
ing up ships in ordinary 1t is the intention
OF the Navy Department to place addi-
tional ships in commission.
The monitor Puritan, which is to be
completed by orders If the Secretary this
fall, Will be at one ordered into active
service. The cruiser Brooklyn. upon the
completion of her preliminary acceptance
trial the latter part of this month. will
have the finishing touches placed upon
her, and in October next will receive her
officers and crew. It was the intention of
the Secretary to place the torpedo boat
Ericsson in commission, but the uniortu-
nate accident OF a few days ago at the New
York nayy-yard. prevents this for some
time to come. The Brooklyn and Puritan
when commissioned will be attached to
the North Atlantic squadron.
1t is possible that after the naval ma
neuvers one or two vessels may be laid up
at the navy-yards for several months re-
ceivlng necessary repairs. particularly the
No Tba Ixrr, ho,n