The San Francisco call., 1897-10-14
Special Artillery Board Has
Come Here to Inspect
Locations.
Government Contemplates Great
Additions to Harbor
Defenses.
Two New Artillery Regiments to Be
Created and San Francisco
May Get One.

San Francisco harbor is to have many
more big modern guns and mortars and,
on the Marin Counlv lie, probably an
other fortified position commanding and
protecting the bay and Is immediate ap-
proache-.
A special artillery Il oa i of experienced
men, com mlssiOned t. inspect and report
on coast defenses, needed Improvements,
and positions for contemplated additional
,maments. arrived here yesterday morn
ing. Colonel John l. Rodgers of Washing
ton. D. c., Fifth United States Artillery,
is al its head, and with him are Lieuten-
ant-Coionel II. c. Hasbrouck of New York,
Captain and Quartermaster c. P. Miller OF
Washington. D. c., and Lieutenant C. P.
Townsley of Washington, D. Gall of the
Fourth Artillery. Lieutenant Townsley
is acting as recorder for the com mission,
which has already inspected the Atlantic
coast for;itications from Portland, Me, to
Savannah, Ga.
The board has Just come from an ex-
animation of coast defenses in the North
west and about Puget Sound. To-day the
mem bers will depart tor San Diego 10
conclude their work on this coast, after
VIII ch they will imme 1iately return TO
Washington to report.
LIE familiarity OF some OF these officers,
particularly Colonel Rod ;ers, with the
avail! able positions OF vantage about this
bay, made an extended inspection here
unnecessary, but The Commissioners Wis
lied the Lime Point reservation, across
the bay, and the Presidio and Fort win
field Scott during yesterday forenoon and
The early afternoon,
They will report their findings to the
Secretary of War, by whom they were de-
tailed for this work
The Government contemplates the ad-
dltlOu to the defenses of this harbor of
eighty-eight high power guns, varying
from eight to sixteen inches, and OF 12S
l2-lnch mortars. At present there are but
twelve modern high power guns in POSI-
ton about The bay. There are here now,
however, enough guns for a regiment 20
handle, and the visiting artillery officers
declare that San Francisco is already very
jormidably protected.
No appropriations have yet been made
Tor these new guns, nor is it likely that
they will be supplied except in Install
me1ts covering long period OF years, the
annual appropriations being divided as
hey are made among the Notifications on
the Atlantic and those on the Pacific.
Inc scheme of imp proVements also in
cludes the creation of two new artillery
regiments, making seven IN all for the
United States. Then one artillery regi-
lnent will be stationed near Puget Sound
anu NaAilOTHid Will GET dUOlHST, WnlIe the
remaining five will be distrib buted along
the Atlantic and gulf coasts.
This board is TO select sites for new
batteries, with view to the read iustment
OF the present artillery forces all over the
United States, and to suggest the most
advantageous locations for additional
guns and those that are to replace The
oil :-timers.
Rumor has it that when the change
comes the present unique state of affair
with artillery forces at Angel Island and
Infantry forces at the artillery station OF
tie Presidio Will be changed.