The herald., 1898-03-15

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| BY the s99inesrs to mine the Narrows. but
that scheme was abandoned owing to the
great depth of the water At that point.
The engineers say that q complete system
Of torpedoes on Sandy Hook would render
the harbor inaccessible to hostile ship.
WAR IL A CRIME
BANGOR, Me-. March Ex-senator Eu-
gene Halls, chairman Of the senate commi;-
tee on naval Affairs. ID home for few
days on private business. To reporter
who is an intimate friend he said:
II have been steadfastly refusing to dis
cuss the Spanish situation with newspaper
men. do not want TO be questioned about
the situation. but you may say that do
not believe In war. War is a great blunder
It is a great crime. But fear the news
papers may drive us into 1t. but believe
the best way to avoid war is to be prepared
for It,"
The senator in conversation with several
friends said he regarded the situation as
serious and thinks the country is in dam
ger of an encounter. He endorses the ac-
tion Of the president In making the most
active preparations for war, and believes
the Maine was destroyed by an outside
agency.
MORE HARBOR WORK
SAVANNAH. Ca. March 15.-The war
department is taking every precaution for
the defense Of Savannah harbon Arrange
ments are being made to send Battery +
| OF the Fourth artillery. In command of
Capt. s. w. Taylor, from Fort Tyler, Kas.
This is battery of light artillery, which
will go into camp here and remain under
orders to assist In the defense of Savannah
A battery OF heavy artillery will also DC
sent here to take charge of the new FORTH
cations at Tybee island. The Tybee forti-
fications are not completed yet, but 1t Is
understood that only a little work is re-
| quired to put them In condition.
TESTING A DRY DOCK
NEW YORK. March 14.-The work of
testing dry dock No. 8, which has been
practically rebuilt since the leak was dis
covered several months ago. was contin-
ued today and was more successful than
the tests made yesterday 1t had been ex-
pected that the dock would be ready for
use by April 1st. but 1t is now doubtful if
1t Will be ready before May LIST. as It will
take thirty days to remove the cofferdam
SAN FRANCISCO DEFENsEs
SAN FRANCISCO. March 1A.-The land
defsnses Of San Francisco harbor have
been greatly strengthened Of late, and the
military and naval authorities agree that
the battleship Oregon is not essential
for the protection of the port The lO-inch
battery at Fort Point has been reinforced
by the addition Of two guns, so there are
now five 1O-inch rifles in position. Five
Pinch guns commanding a fine sweep Of
the ocean can be depressed to bring under
fire ship attempting to pass the narrow
channel between Lime Point and Fort
Point. Three more 12-inch guns at Fort
Baker, together with the sixteen mortars
and three dynamite guns on the peninsula
can also be brought into use at long or
short range.
The great guns on Lime Point, nearly 500
feet above the water. are so high that a
plunging fire against the deck of ship
may be delivered. All of these formidable
weapons are so situated that their fire may
be concentrated on any hostile fleet at
tempting to enter the Golden Gate.
GUNBOAT REPAIRS
NORFOLK. Va, March 1.-THE gun
boat Machias has been ordered to Boston,
and she will sail in the morning. She
coaled today.
1t is supposed the transfer was made be-
cause the work on her could be done more
expeditiously in Boston, this Yard devot-
ing all its energies to the Newark. A
large number Of new men were taken in
today, making the total number about
100.
SUPPLIES FOR FORTS
PENSACOLA. Fla, March 1.-THE
schooner Josephine Mestir has arrived
with large quantity of shot and shell for
| the forts and batteries here. A large lot
of powder for the government arrived over
the Louisville and Nashville road this
morning, and two carloads of torpedoes ar
rived tonight. The movement of troops
| from Fort Barrancas to the heavy batteries
| on Santa Rosa island begun today. This
| is preparatory to practice with the big
disappearing guns which is expected to
begin this week.
EASY TO DEFEND
CINCINNATI, O., March 14-A special
to the Commercial Tribune from Tampa
Fla, says:
Ammunition continues to arrive ir
large quantities for the vessels Of the
North Atlantic squadron. but the cruiser
Marblehead, which arrived here Saturday
under orders to load with ammunition fol-
Key West and Tortugas. is still lying al
| anchor a quarter of mile from the rail
road dock, where she will have to take OF
the cargo. 1t was learned today tha
thirty-six carloads of ammunition was thu
full shipment sent to this place. Only six
teen carloads have yet arrived, but th'
balance is expected tonight. The two
carloads of torpedoes and torpedo buoy,
said to be for the protection of Tampa ba,
have not yet been unloaded. A small yes
sci of the navy, or one Of the revenue cut
ters will probably do the work of placing
these torpedoes in position. The govern
ment officers familiar with the channel o
Tampa bay say that the only protection
needed will be the removal of the buoy
and beacons marking the channel, for tn
channel is so crooked that even the shi
masters and pilots who are thoroughly
familiar with it would have great diff
Guilty in finding it without the buoys. Com
mander Mccall of the Marblehead re
ceived several kilograms today. He vii
not give out the slightest information con
cerning the future movements of the yes
sci.
SLOW RECRUITING
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The newl
established recruiting station at the nav
yard here shows great activity TIL
emergency methods Of accepting any ma
who makes application has not yet be
come necessary, and therefore the work
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