Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-26
GUARDING DELAWARE
Are Like an Excellent Watch
Without a handspring.
NEED TROOPS TO MAN THE GUNS
Also, Infantry to Cooperate
With Artillery.
Reason 10 Relieve That Our Defences Are
Exceedingly Weak on This Account
Work OF Recruiting the batteries Under
Way, But Not Progressing Rapidly,

the forte guarding the Delaware would.
under present conditions, if called upon
to repol hostile attempt to reach the
important interests above them on the
river, be wholly unequal to the emer-
gsncy. The great need of the fortifica-
tions Mt the present time is for men.
Without men the forts are in much the
same condition as an excellent watch
without a handspring. They are in
good condition, except that they arc
sadly in need Of troops tn man the guns
and, it is held, of infantry to cooperate
With the artillery. Philadelphia has
been literally treated in the matter of
defensive works. Guarding the river,
GO miles from the Gapes, is a formida-
BILE line of defence that would, If thor
oughly provided with men and guns,
render the river almost impossible to
an enemy. In the centre of this line of
defence is Fort Delaware, on Pea Patch
Island; to the west of it is the battery
at Delaware City, and directly in line
with these two, guarding the east bank
of the river, is Fort Mott In the
vicinity of these Notifications mines
have been sown, 30 that, but for the
lack of men. the river would be fully
prepared for any exigaDcy, no matter
how near the prospect of invasion.
The government has recognized the
Importance of guarding thoroughly the
large and varied interests along the
river. 1t shold be unnecessary to point
out that, 10 case the enemy should as
sumo offensive warfare, such interests
as those along tine Delaware would be
among those that would be highly at
tractire. II would be worth while for
hostile fleet TO lose some of its vessels
il it could reach and capture or destroy
works that at this time are peculiarly
valuable TO the government.
Not only by Notifications, but by
natural conditions, the Delaware is woll
| protected. Only at high tide would it
be safe for battleships to come up the
river, 30 that, with tho forts in shape
for resistance, it would be we'll nigh
impossible tn pass them. In this, too,
rests the need of more men, for at pres
emit the fosts might easily be turned to
the enemy's advantage.
| Though war has been in progress
more than month tho forts are still
on peace footing. There are two bat.
teries of artillery, of about 70 men each,
one Mt Fort Delaware and the other at
Fort Mott. There is detachment of
eight men at the Delaware City hat
| terry. This number is not nearly suffi-
Gent to man the guns many of which
would, in case OF need, be- useless
Until December, there had been no gar
rison at the forts since 20 or III. De-
cember 18th, % men were ordered to
Fort Mott, and in March another bat
terry was ordered to Fort Delaware. In
time Of peace those forts that have been
garrisoned have had only enough men
to serve the guns. But to man the guns
now in the forts ON the Delaware the
batteries of artillery should be recruited
up 10 more than twice their present
strength.
The forts have been furnished with
the guns customarily placed in suct
forts, that is, eight, ten and twelve
inch, or high service guns, also rapil
fire gunH and sea coast mortRrs. Al
present the equipment is excellent, Sc
far as guns are concerned. This worl
was begun promptly when war broke
out, and go far as guns are concernad
tns Notifications are we'll oil.
But it is asserted that il would bt
possible, at the present time, for few
hostile ships to land 400 or 500 met
and capture the forts easily. 1t is bu
, little more than 90 miles from tn
capes to the forts, and il would hl
absolutely impossible to dispatcn ad
ditions to the gurrison in the few
hours that it would take to sail III
, from the entrance. A storming part.
, of the snemy's, attacking the furts il
the rear, would probably meet will
little resistance, as matters now are.
, Tho forts do not need artillery mol
! alone. 1t is believed that, in addition
J to the force actually needed to man tn
guns, a force OF infantry is needed a
the forts TO repel possible lanein
parties. judging from the experience
. Of the past few weeks, it would be in,
D possible, should hostile demonstratio
D be made. to move a regiment or NOR
i Of infantry in time to be of service
Q II has bean shown that it takes tim
r to move volunteer troops; orders mus
. be sent, trains for transportation IN us
= be furnished, and tho work OF embark
g ing the men ia not slight. II is con
tended that, il there is tho possibilit
Q that infantry will he nesded. the
b should at once be located at Fort Della
r ware Fort Mott and the Delaware Cit
battery.
1t is OF Significance, too, that with
out the forts the mines sown in tn
n river would be Of absolutely no pre-
: faction. The mines must lie operate
d from the shore. Then, too, with th
# forta in hostile hands, there is nothin
! TO prevent hostile ships from destroy
d ing the mineH.
9 The work of sowing the mines is no
k complete, one that exploded the otbi
# day having been replaced; but. thong
If tine field is in good order, the forts al
J. absolutely needed to protect il.
6 There is feeling that the War d.
partment should dispatch one regimen
of infantry to each OF tho forts. 1t
urged that to do this would entail vel
Z. littls expense to the government, |
u regiments that are now preparing fl
1t the field in places whore they coul
10 not possibly meet an emergency couI
+ as we'll be drilled in the vicinity of II
!, Notifications. The regiment that b;
q besn stationed nearest the forts vi
10 one at Middletown, which, il is unde
e stood, will be moved to Fort Hamiitc
:. to take the place of artillery that nj
L been ordered south.
J. The work of recruiting the batteri
along the coast ia under way, but il
not going on rapidly. 1t is held
those who understand the present col
~ dition Of the forts that only when the
Notifications are fully manned can Il
y city be in absolute security.