Evening journal., 1897-12-01
DEFENCES INSPECTED.
General Miles Visits Finn's
Point and Fort Delaware.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS MADE
ONE BATTERY FINISHED AND
TWO MORE BUILDING-FINN's
POINT CONSIDERED BY MANY
AOFFICERs ONE OF THE BEST
BATTERIES ON THE COAST.


BATTERIES ON THE COAST.
Major-General Nelson A. Miles, COM
mandlng the army Of the United States,
made his first visit yesterday to ahe de-
fences Of Philadelphia, at Fort Della
ware and vicinity. He was accompan-
led by Major Raymond, United States
engineer 10 charge Of the construction
OF the fortifcatlons, and by Lieutenant
Cosby, Major RdymOnd's assistant.
| Governor Hastings, who was expected
to accompany the party. was detained
at Harrisburg by the Illness Of his wife.
The three army officers took an early
/ train from Philadelphia for Delaware
City, arriving there about o'clock in
the morning. They boarded the ongi-
neor tug and after viewing the work
at the mortar battery below Delaware
City proceeded to Fort Delaware and
/ Finn's Point. on uhe New Jersey shore.
! General Miles visit was brief. and af-
ter inspecting the fortifcations he was
taken to Wilmington on the govern
ment tug in time to take the Limited
Express for Washington. Major Ray
mond and Lieutenant Cosby returned
to Philadelphia.
THREE BIG GUNS COMPLETED.
About 81 100000 has been spent thus
far on the fortifcations at Fort Della
ware and vicinity and the statement
has been made that $1,000 600 more will
complete them in accordance with the
present plans of the War Department.
From 800 to 500 men have been en-
ployed upon the work since cOnstruc-
ton OF the new batteries was begun
about three years ago, and the progress
has been very rapid, though work has
been carried on in the usual quiet man
ner A battery of three ten-inch guns
on disappearing carriages has been
completed In every part at Finn's Point
and a detail Of twenty-five artillerymen
has heen ordered from the Washing on
barracks to garrison the new battery
Barracks have been constructed and Il
is expected that the artillerymen viii
arrive within a short time.
There has also been constructed al
Firms Point concrete empiacements for
three twelve-inch guns, and two Of the
guns have been received, but they
have not been mounted because OF the
carriages not having been received. IL
is expected that cne carraige will be
shipped to Finn's Point very soon. In
addition to the three ten-inch guns and
the emplacements for the three twelve
inch guns, emplacements have been
constructed for two five-inch rapid-flr-
ing guns, making in all battery Of the
most formidable character.
Ii has only been quite recently that q
satisfactory disappearing carriage fol
the immense twelve-inch guns has beer
constructed. II Is said that the design
/ which Is now being made is particular
ly efficient, and works fully as well as
the carriages for the ten-inch guns and
perhaps a little better.
FORT DELAWARE'S CHANGES IN
SIDE.
During the last year the construction
Of emplacements for the big gums
which are to be placed at Fort Della
ware, has been going On. Owing to the
spongy nature Of the soil Il has been
Necessary toodrive hundreds ofpiles
but the concrete foundations fer tht
gums have been put in place and 1ht
remainder OF the work is going for.
Ward. There are to be three twelve
inch and three ten-inch guns at For
Delaware. On the Delaware shore. be.
low the entrance to the canal at Della
. ware City, a mortar battery is undel
construction.
The outward appearance OF Fort Del
aware has been little changed by ths
work OF constructing the emplacements
for the big modern guns. The cannon
which frOWned so long from the para.
pet have been taken down, but ths
changes are mostly inside the massive
walls Fort Delaware was regarded g.
the opening of the civil war as an al
most impremable fortress, but the de
velopmont OF modern rifed guns hai
r made il obsolete. From the river sd,
e the Finns Point battery looks like
, long gIass-cOvered bank, with it's con
crete crest glistening in the sun.
Nearly all the old guns at Fort Della
ware have been removed from thei,
original places on barbette and case
mate. The old mooth-bOres-three fif
| teen-inch and ten olght-lnch--hav'
been parked in the meadow adjoining
the fort. Fifteen or more old ten-incl
/ Parrot guns, transformed to eight-inci
! rifles, have been mounted in the lower
classmates, and would prove very effec
tive against an enemy's vessel at {
5 range of a mile CT farther
FINEST BATTERY OF THE COAST
The Finn's Point battery is consider
ed by many army officers the best plan
ned ami constructed battery On thl
coast. The disappearing carriages. cI
which the ten-inch guns there arr
mounted are the result Of years Of ex
pertinent and trial in the effort 70 fing
a carriage to meet the requirements q
coast defence, and which can be loade,
behind the parapet out Of the sight anC
direct fire OF the enemy's guns. WheI
ready TO be fired the guns are raiseC
automatically by a counterpoise unit
they are in a firing position with Uh'
muzzle projecting over the parapet
The recoil in firing sends the guns
down behind the parapet again to a Sc
cure position for loading. Most Of tn,
force OF the recoil is taken up by hy
Graulic cylinders.
! The guns at Films Point command
I the reach of the river from Fort Della
ware to ListOn's Point. a distance G.
about twelve miles. which is some
what farther than a projectile can b'