The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-25
DELAV ARE
FOR2IFLCATIOUS
Major Raymond and Engi=
neers now at Work
laying Mines.

Major Raymond. United States en- ginesr
in charge of the Philadelphia district, has
received orders from Washn ston to plant
mines in the Delaware River, and this
work will begin at once. The entire sys-
tenn of mines has bean prepared for some
time, and the actual work of laying these
engines OF destruction will occupy but u
very short time.
AS the placing in position of the sub
marine mines will render ordinary navi.
CATION very dangerous, strict regulations
will at once go into effect in regard to
movements about the port and patrol
boats will be placed above and below tho
danger lines to conduct vessels through
the portion of tine channel lefG open. No
vessels whatever will be allowed to pass
after sunset.
The work Of laying the mines and max.
! lug the electrical connections with tho fir.
| ing poinGs on shore will bo done by the
electrical corps recently recruited, under
the immediate supervision Of Major Ray
lnond and his assistants. Lieutenant
Crosby and q force of divers reached Fort
Delaware yesterday. A large submarine
cable was sunk and tho location of the
mines chosen.
The exact location Of these mines will
of course, be known only to the engineer
officers and the commanding officers at the
forts but 1t Is safe to presume that they
will bo within a short distance of Fort
Delaware. They will cover every loot of
the channel, and will b, powerful enough
In themselves to destroy any feet which
could be brought TO attack Philadelphia.
A short time ago Major Raymond said
Of the defensive work in the Delaware:
"We are ready at q moments notice to es.
tablish the mining defense and the work
can be done before hostile fleet could
possibly ascend the river. The mines
would be dangerous to navigation If the
river traffic wera not placed under strict
regulations. No vessel could safely pas,
through our mine folds unless conducted
by confidential pilot Of tho Govern
ment."
According to a despatch received from
Madrid yesterday Spain intends to send
fleet to lombard our 60 ist cities, Philadel-
pha included. and, lest any misappre.
nension exists among residents of this
city as to the likelihood of such an attack
succeeding, the defences OF the city are
enumerated, to show that they arc capable
of resisting the most formidable squadrons
in existence. Moro than that, even a hos
tile fleet once engaging in an attompt to
run the gauntlet of the forts and defenceI
now in position, would stand little show
Of being abls to get away again to the open
sea.
On account of its nearness to the city,
Fort Mifflin, which is nine miles below
Market street, has been abandoned rs q
defense post, and is used only for the
storage Of ammunition and supplies
Tho main batteries arc at Fort Della
ware and Fort Mott (at Finn s PoinD
both being far enough down the river to
pro tect not only Philadelphia and Cam
den, but Delaware City, New Castle,
Salem, n j., and Wilmington.
At For5 Delaware a battery of modern
12 and 8-inch rifles, rs well us q number
of small calibre rapid-flre guns, have just
and 20 inch rifles of the old typo have
been placed at the strongest point of the
old works These older guns are very ef-
fective at short range, and could be de.
pended on for efficient work up to dis
tancs of two miles.
At Fort Mott on the Jersey side, there
are three 10-inch modern rifles mounted
on disappearing carriages, and two 12-inch
rifles, which are flanked by two 5.inch
rapid-fre guns.
Just below Delaware City. on the Della
ware side, there is large mortar battery,
16 12-inch rifed mortars, which
throw shells weighing 600 pounds q dis
tance of six miles. These mortarJ are
placed In groups OF four, below the surface
Of the ground. They have electrical con-
nections and can be fired singly In groups
Of four, or all at once.
The moruars ur, aimed by ran ge.f1nders
and throw their shells upward in an arc,
dropping on the decks of the hostile feet.
The fire of the whole battery can be con-
upon sin gle vessel and as their
penetrative capacity Is several inches Of |
steel, any vessels subjected to their fire
would very likely be destroyed.
The combined weight and force Of the
projecties thrown by The three batteries
xyDnl6 ha annrpn nnQ hut ammo spo 1not
could pass through the lines Of the forts,
1t would still have to encounter the sub.
marine mines, aud nothing afoat could
survive such an immense upheaval as could
be created by the firing of the several tons
IF gun cotton which are contained in
hem.
Owing to its location, nearly 100 miles
rom tho opsn sea, Philadelphia is pocu-
iarly we'll situated as regards defense, aud |
III the officers of the Army and Navy De-
)artments ridicule the idea that an attack |
" the port would be even aLtemped, much
ess successful.
The following official statement was
given out last evening regarding the plant
ng of the mines and the regulations to be |
observed in navigating the Delaware Esiv |
":
Submarine mines having been placed In
position in connection with the dofonsos Of
hu Delaware River, the following resula- |
ions for the safo navigation Of the river by l
riendly vessels and for the protection OF !
he defenses arc hereby established by au-
hority of the Secretary of War:
1. No vessel will be allowed to pass
through the channel on either side Of Fort
Delaware between the hours of sunset and
unrise. During this interval vessels must
lot approach within three miles Of tho
ort.
q Patrol boats will b, stationed air.so
nd below the dcfensas. These boats arc
to stop yessols to Inquire into
heir character, or to instruct them how
o pass the mine fields The orders Of tho
atrol boats must be strictly obeyed.
3. Sailing vessels and all small vessels
rawng :hree feet or less, can pass safely
Trough any part of the channels during
he day time.
4. Steam vessels must pass at SLOW speed
Trough special channel which will bo
marked by buoys.
5. No vessel will be allowed to anchor
within three miles of the fort without
pecial authority.
6. Vessels are warned that if they disle-
ard these regulations, they will expose
to serious damage, and will be
able to be fired on by the batteries.