Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-24
ARMY AND NAVY.
Defense Preparations Being
Pushed With Great Energy.
MONITORS IN COMMISSION
Two of Old Style Boats Going
to Boston.
Government to Build Torpedo Boats and
Torpedo Boat Destroyers-Protec-
tIon for the Southern Coast.

eral members Of congress also called to
have a word with the secretary, among
them being Senators Lodge and Hoar
and Representative Marsh of Illinois
Abner Mckinley, the presidents broth
er, was also among those who called,
but his stay was very brief
Representative Marsh is chairman of
the house committee on the militia,
which has recently reported the bill
to reorganize that body of state sol
diers to raise It's efficiency, and to ap-
propriate million dollars for its sup
port The chairman said he had spolt-
en- to Speaker Reed recently in regard
to the bill, and he, hopes to be able to
call il up in the house for considera-
ton within a reasonable time. During
his interview with Secretary Alger,
Mr.. Marsh urged that in the event OF
hostilities the first recourse of the gov
ernment for soldiers be the state militia,
who should be invited to volunteer for
the country's defence.
Secretary Alger was very much inter-
ested in the arguments made by Mr..
Marsh, and seemed to regard the sug-
gestions made by him as practicable.
| Afterwards Mr.. Marsh called on Presi-
| dent Mckinley and repeated the state
ments he had made to the secretary.
During the morning Secretary Alger
| was also in conference with Gen. Miles
| respecting the military occupation Of
Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugas island.
| The determination to garrison this fort
has been regarded favorably by the sec
| retary, and the questions now to be
met are those of what improvements in
| the fortifications now there may be nee
essary. Already a contract has been let
| by the navy department for dredging q
large part of the harbor of the island
| so as to permit the entrance of large
naval vessels, and today bids were op-
ened for erecting an immense shed in
| which the navy will store large supplies
| of coal 1t is realized, however. that
without very material improvements
and additions to the fortifcations and
armament of Fort Jefferson 1t would be
| impossible to protect the coal supply
from the depredations of hostile fleet,
| unless United States nen-of-war were
constantly on hand for that purpose.
Reports received at the war depart
ment show that about 400 men, UP to
this time, have been enlisted for the two
artillery regiments recently authorized
| by congress. About 1900 men in all are
required. Most of the new recruits are
sent to join old established regiments,
and in many cases experienced men
from the latter are 0eDallSQ Tor QuLy al
the seaooast Notifications.
1t has been decided to strengthen the
Notifications on the ship channel at Sa-
vannah by the erection Of a number Of
siX-inch rapid-fre guns on Warsaw
island, opposite Tybee island, which is
well fortified. Rapid-fire guns will alsc
be mounted so defend the harbor OF
Brunswick, Ca, and at the mouth OF
the st. John river below jacksonville,
Fla. Work at these points will be
hastened as much as possible by the
employment of men to work by day
and night. Encouraging reports con-
tfnue to be received at the department
regarding the progress of work at Key
| West, and this port soon will be in a
thoroughly safe condition.
| The consignment of 80 fiVe-inch rapid
| fire guns, bought last week in England
| by the ordnance department, is expected
to arrive in this country in a few days
Agents of the ordnance department in
London, Paris and Berlin are negotiat-
ing for the purchase of another lot of
| fiye-inch and six-inch rapid-hre guns
and carriages In order to provide
funds for the purchasing of these guns,
and for other necessary ordnance sup
plies, Secretary Alger will, 1t is expect
| ed, obtain the approval Of the presi-
dent for another allotment of 81 ,000, 900
for the use of the chief of ordnance.
The $2,500,000 recently allotted is now
nearly expended or appropriated in
contracts.
DECISIVE STEPS TAKEN.
Washington, March 29.-The navy de-
partment today took the most decisive
steps toward defensive preparation for
emergency that have been made since
the squadron was centred at Key West.
The orders today bring into service
the eight single turretted monitors used
during the civil war for service as coast
defense ships. They have been lying
for some time at the League Island navy
yard at Philadelphia,
Fhe monitors Catskill and Lehigh are
to proceed to Boston, and the monitors
Nahant and Jason to New York. The
other monitors, Manhattan, Mahopac.
Montauk and Canonicus, will remain at
Philadelphia, where the work of pre-
pairing them for service will begin i'm
mediately.
The monitors ordered to Boston and
New York will proceed under their own
steam as they are good sea boats, and
tnelr engines are in fair condition cap
able or a speed of five to seven knots an
hour. The four monitors remaining at
Philadelphia will be commissioned with
IN the next 80 days. They will be given
new boilers, and Secretary Long an
proved orders for these boilers at a cost
of $2500 each.
Secretary Long has also ordered the
double turreted monitors Terror and
Puritan to Key West, where they are to
join Admiral Sicard's feet. The moni-
tors Nahant and Jason will supply the
place Of the Terror at New York, While
there Is a vast difference between the
old and the new type OF these peculiar
naval engines Of destruction, yet they
are essentially the same, and naval Off
GERS say that 1t is great mistake to be-
lieve the effectiveness of the old moni-
tors is past. The monitors now brought
into commission took part in the nota-
Bile engagement resulting in the fall of
Charleston. In recent years they have
been somewhat overshadowed by the
fine cruisers and battleships of the new
navy, but the navy department never
has lost sight of them as effective coast
defence vessels in time of need. They
have two 15-inch gums mounted in re-
volving turret. The turrets are In per-
feet condition. and the guns, while not
of the latest type, are effective for heavy
solid shot.
Another important step in the prepara-
tions for defence has been practically
decided upon by the navy department.
since 1t is Impossible Tor TINS govern
ment to obtain abroad war vessels of
any class, the navy department has had
under consideration the question of
building a number Of torpedo boats and
torpedo boat destroyers. Vessels of either
class could not be built in less than
ninety days. but the exigencies OF the
case are such that conclusion has been
about reached, it is said. to give Ameri-
can builders contracts for a number Of
ffan.<.n xraae.ola ONLY SI1fh builders how