The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-22
FL0RIDA'S NEW DEFENCES.
STRONG FORTIFICATIONS UNDER
VIZ 1T CUR PORTS

stops TO Mako Key west T,orbor sec,r. in Gas,
or W"r-rcnuncola'. New military works
earring s"mpletion-An Impression That
'p"'" would Mako Florida n Point or Attack
JACKSONVILLE Fla. Oct. II There is an i'm.
preston mere that in case OF war with Spain
Iioriua would 10 especially subject to attack.
inns expectation l. founded on tho fact that so
many liibustoring expeditions have been sent
iorth successfully from Florida ports, as we'll 40
on thr geographical 20 itton of this state and
IT'S proximity to hlranH, tho natural Spanish
Ie"'oSEous OF ships and soldiers. Great interest
ms therefore, been aroused in the preparations
Tor the defence OF Florida.
1t Is believed that tho rendozvoua of tho
Ohited states tor gulf naval operations would
DO Key West, This opinion is borne out by a
recent question sent Ivy the War Department to
AuJt''hHn. Houston Of this state, and also by
ohe iaoi mat modern batteries OF great disap-
fe"'UIg guns are in process of construction at
nc! est. some weeks ago the Government
condemned the lands at Key West belonging to
f. Ii. Cato on the south beach, facing the en-
frances OF The harbor. whore n fertilization was
punt In 1873 during the Virsinius excitement.
mere og guns will be placed to protect the har.
DOT. mere are four channels to enter the harbor
OF Key West. one to the east Of tho island, one
to The north, ono to the south and one to the
' ~ hNitpN . "hltI Is SlAlGtu ltCI uCCp
ana tho deepest forty feet.
About four years ago the members Of tho
Board of Fortilcations accompanied by Con. o.
". Howard. made n visit to Pensacola, and dur
ing their stay made n thorough inspection Of the
haroor and Its defonces. 1t was then deter
mined that Pensacola should be more strongly
fortified. and soon after an appropriation was
CUBAN war s ster, paar .bst work ri WAS was b mot nnt pIt tns
nave heen adopted for the emplacement OF
our heavy disappearing guns. The %emplace-
ncnts are located on Santa Rosa Island, about
onequarter Of q mile east OF old Fort PiCkens,
which IS now unfit for modern warfare. Several
visits were maze by the chief OF Engineers. and
last year the work Of building the em~placoments
was begun dndcr the supervision o. Lieut.. Jer-
ney. For many months last year a force OF 200
men was employed on the works, and when the
Government thought 1t nece Ssary to hasten the
work AN additional force of 200 was put on. and
Tor several months the work was pushed day
and u,ght until the em~placements were COM
gleted: More than 10000 tons of gravel and
Fort Pickens and u railroad was constructed be.
s T6i the batteries for conveying the material,
rms road Is now being used to transport the
heavy carriages. and in a few weeks the heavy
guns now on their way Will be carried over it.
Two lo.lnch and two s.inch disappearing guns
Will be mounted Mt this point, and surveys have
been made for the location of another battery of
disappearing guns in the vicinity OF the ruins OF
Fort Mcltne. across the channel. 1t is probable
that work on this battery will be begun during
the coming autumn.
AhA oiAlOVi VI tuo
new improved seaconst mortars has been
located about one mile east or Fort Pickens. on
santa Rosa Island. A railroad is now being
built to that point for conveying material and
as soon as it is completed work will be begun.
When all these dofenccs have been completed
strongly fortified in the country. The guns on
Santa Rosa Island with those nj Fort Barrancas
and the new battery near Fort McRae will
sweep the Gulf in every direction. and 1t will he
almost impossible FOR any vessel to approach
near enough to the city to do any damage.
Should n vessel succeed in passing the fire of
these heavy guns and attempt 70 enter tho
harbOr she would be met with a new danger in
the shape Of the torpedoes which would be fired
by electricity from a easement.
No accurate description OF the new defeuces
can be given, as the officers have prohibited the
making Of pictures or sketches OF them. but 1t is
known that they are intended TO wi hstand the
attack OF any fleet OF warships that may be
brought against them.
sacola so strongly lies In the Fact that 1t Is tho
great deep water harhor of the Gulf. 1t is land
naval vessels operating in the Gulf In time OF
war. II Is the gateway to the great coal fields
or Alabama and Tennessee.
Fort BarrancaS is 20 be remodel I'd and great
improvements are being made to The barracks,
where the troops Of the First Artillery are now
stationed. Tho Government is also preparing
70 increase the accommodations for troops so
that the harrison can at any time he largely in
creased. A new hospital and reading room have
been completed, and a new ordnance storehouse
Is nearing completion. and other improvements
arc in progress.
The work OF certifying st. Augustine will be
begun soon. Fort Jefferson at Key West will
be enlarged for barrack accommodations also,
and it is stated that improvements are being
made there to accommodate n much larger naval
force. The dock facilities are to be enlarged
nlso. Fort George Island. at the mouth OF the
81. Johns River. is to 30 fortified with a battery
OF disappearing guns, while a torpedo station
will be placed there also. it Is stated. On ac-
count, OF the shallowness on the river only light
tack Jacksonville. and it is thought that a small
battery OF heavy guns can hold the entrance.