The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-19

4
chants have assured him Of their desire
10 supply the government at this stage
! al no greater price than the actual cost
/ TO them of their commodities. MIR. Wash
I burn was gratified by the expression OF
/ this sentiment.
In case of hostilities the approach to
! the city by way of Warsaw will be pro-
| tected by a battery of rapid fire heavy
| guns and submarine mines. The war de-
partment has given positive assurance to
this effect. This is the result of a strong
| presentation of the situation to The war
| department. By Mayor Meldrim through
Senator A. o. Bacon.
It came to Mayor Meldrim's attention
| several days ago that there is twenty-one
feet of water on the bar at Warsaw It
at once occurred that this would be a
likely means of approach to the city by
an enemy. A careful examination of the
charts of the sound showed that he was
correct in this surmse and that channel
Of considerable depth led from Warsaw TO
within few miles of the city. While
heavy vessels could not undertake this
channel il would be easily navigable for
smaller-sized vessels, such as gunboats.
Mayor Meldrim a once wrote Senator Ba-
con- describing the situation and urging
him to lay the matter before the war de-
partment without delay.
The result was the following telegram
received yesterday by Mayor Meldr!m
from Senator Bacon:
Washington, d. c.. March IS. 1885,
Hon. Peter w. Meldrim: Have conferred
yesterday and to-day with the war de-
partment relative to defense of Savannah
from approach by Warsaw sound Cues
ton of fortifications has been referred to
board of engineers with instructions for
an early report Arrangements have been
made by which in case of hostilities ap-
proach can be defended by rapid fire
heavy guns and submarine mines These,
IN case of emergency, can be PROMPTLY
placed I'm position. A. o. Bacon 3"
Mayor Meldrim was very much pleased
with the successful efforts of Senator Ba-
con ana the prompt action of the war de-
partment.
I'm my letter to Senator Bacon" he said
to a Morning News reporter Il requested
tnat the matter not be made pubic. Con-
Sequentiy L was somewhat surprised to
see dispatch in the Morning News this
morning announcing that protection would
at once be provided for Warsaw sound as
the result of representations made by Sem
ator Bacon. 1 was pleased that my let
yer hao accomplished such immediate and
such good results"
Speaking further of the matter Mavor
Meldrim said that his Investigations show
ed MIN that a vessel drawing nine feet of
water could penetrate as far as Turner's
ROCKS, which, he said, are only four or
hVe miles from the city on an air line.
There is another feature of this mat
ter which impresses me, said Mayor Mel
drim Il have never believed until to-day
that we We're likely to have war The
prompt action of the war department In
this matter convinces me that there il a
well founded apprehension on its part that
trouble is In prospect. Otherwise there
would have been a different answer 70 SEN
ator Bacon's request He would have been
told that there was no reason TO appre-
bend any trouble with Spain. and conse
quently no necessity of making any inme-
diate preparation to resist attack. The
activity of the war department in this and
similar matters convinces me that we have
good reason to expect trouble at an early
date"
A government force is at work putting
submarine mines in place at the entrance
TO SaVannah's harbor. About thirty of
these mines were received two weeks ago
from the navy yards at New York. They
were consigned TO Capt. Gillette The tug
Atlas rs engaged in the work of planting
them.
The mines or torpedoes are being nIaced
near Fort Pulaski. from which connection
Is had by wires. A mining casemate was
completed at Fort Pulaski two or three
years ago, and 1t is from this that the
electric appliances are to be worked.
Capt. Gillette was asked as to the mines
''The secrets of the torpedo service are
lnyiolable," he replied and nothing more
would he say.
1t was thought when the mines arrived
from New York that there was something
significant in their being sent tust at thIs
time. An army officer said they had been
expected ever since the completion of the
mining casemate, and he saw no reason
why Significance should be attached 70 the
shipment. If they are being put out in the
channel there would seem to be something
after all in the idea of significance.
The protection of the harbor is made
much more certain by the use of the
mines Theyacan be put down at any time
within a few days at he most, the main
part of the work having been done when
the casemate was finished. From their
being put in place now it might be Judged
that the war department sees necessity for
Savannah's harbor TO be put in perfect
state of defense. Taken in connection
with the arrival of the batteries of artil-
lery It looks as If there may be something
in the mines being sunk.
The steamers Ethel, w. s Cook and
Santee have been placed at the disposal of
the war department in case they NAV he
needed. This was done by Capt w. T.
Gibson, who wrote ahe secretary in re-
Spouse 10 letter from the department
He assured him that his vessels are at his
command.
The letter received by Capt Gibson was
TO ascertain from him whether his steam
ers could be used by the government for
hospital service in case of war His pa-
trotism prompted the response that has
now been received at the war department.
placing the three boats at its command.
MISSILES FOLLOWED HOT WORDS.