New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-01
QUIET AT GOVERNORS ISLAND.
40 xrv ORDERS RrcEIvED-soME VIEWS OF
OFFICERS As TO THE PREPARA-
TIoNs FOR WAR

TIONs FOR WAR
No ordor. from, the War Department, were re-
cc,ved Yesterday Mt the headquarters OF uie -
nartment OF tho East. on Governors lslahu' "o"
in charge OF Colonel Merritt Barber, ana no new
attachments were detailed for duty III seapo
fortIncations The last assignment was at "a"''
Rosa Island. In Pensacola haroor' ." '"''''
told I'm Sundays Tribune.
Colonel Barber will probably attend 'he coui
martial Of CAPTAIN Carter in the Army Buildihs
to-day although he Is not n member OF the cou'
The case IS one OF much interest in Army circles
AT the headquarters Of Major-General Me''l't u
was said that he was in New-Orleans. where ne
arrived on Sunday and that he wouid pro""o'S
spend two or three days there. He is then ex-
rac,ad N visit Fort Thomas on the Kentucky side
~ the Ohio River near Cincinnati. and also the
Columbus Barracks. at the capital OF the buckeye
State Before returning 10 this city. General Mei-
rift will make a brief stop in Washington where
he will confer with General Miles
4 STAFF officer at headquarters said yesterday TO
a Tribune reporter: There arc many little detahs
now being looked after which are not ATTENDED
20 in a period of profound peace. While we cam
not be said 70 be preparing for war, you Kho"
that all Notifications and means or deiehce are
really preparations for war, and putting theH III
order Is making them ready for use when needed
II In time of peace do not prepare TOT WAT
there will be no time for preparation. The man
ming OF the guns the daily drill Of men In their
management the securing of additional supplies
of ammunition the hurried completion OF contracts
for row vessels guns. explosives and missiles an
nolnt TO one thing the putting III readiness loI
immediate use OF all the means ~ our Po~ci ~
fight n foreign foe. II Congress authorizes ,ne two
additional regiments Of artillery we sIali De apie
TO man our fortifcations properly ana 20 naiiiGi
the guns IN them when occasion arrives III VIII
not take three weeks to fill the ranks OF the Two
regiments whose officers are all waiting Tor as
signments TO duty. We could just as easily recruit
nfiy regiments with fifty thousand men, and have
them ready for duty The cost or arms ana equip
mont is the important thing, and TO provide that
Congress must act" ,
Tn. amount OF protection which the neghborlng
seaboard fortAcations will afford TO this city In
case OF attack by feet OF warships Is engrossing
much attention on the part Of the Board OF Ensi-
neers I'm charge OF the construction or dcfefNe5
and their equipment with armament before bong
formally turned to the artillery force or the
Army One Of the members OF the Board said
Yesterday 10 a reporter for The Tribune: THE
state OF dsfences Is vastly improved over what
IL was twenty years ago The contrast between
the armament at the forts then and now Is great
We have now a pretty full equipment Of rned can.
non and mortars. well protected and capable OF
within a few miles Of the shore. The forts Mt
Sandy Hook and Davids Island supplement, the
others and command greater distance from the
entrances 10 harbor. We need additional NOR
tar batteries near Coney Island. however. where
site has already been secured: 10 defent the east
ern entrance OF Long Island Sound Fishers
Island where property IS to be purchased. and on
Gull Island and Plum Island. where II has already
been secured"