The Portland daily press., 1898-02-21
TROOPS ON THE MOVE.
1t Means Nothing-The Department Loud
in the Assertion.

1t Means NOthlnS-ine department. Louu
in the Assertion.
| Washington, February 19.-OfficiaIs
at the war department are annoyed at
the circulation of rumors that seem to
connect an activity now observable at
the sea coast defences with the Maine
incident. The attention Of Acting Score
tary Meiklejohn was this morning called
to several such stories, coming from
widely separated points of the country.
He promptly declared that this movement
had no connection with the Maine affair
| There had been increases of the garrison
Of the seaboard posts. But this had been
going on for six months and only marked
a step in the development of the scheme
of coast defence planned by the fortified
tion board some time ago. Said Mr..
Meiklejohn:
SIT is following out the policy of the
department. which has been pursued ever
since the ordnance department turned
over to the engineers the modern guns
which they had manufactured. When
these are placed in the coast Notifications
1t becomes necessary to have them care
fully protected and this work has been
going on for six months. Guns have been
sent to Delaware Notifications. Finn's
Point, Fort Moultrie and other defenses
on the Atlantic coast Congress has been
called it's attention to the need of at least
two additional regiments of artillery to
man these posts and take care of these
guns as fast as they are installed. The
letter of Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn
is now before kCongress and has been
printed. Meanwhile in the absence OF
legislation the department is making the
best possible distribution of its small
forces to carry out its policy"
The suggested increase in the artillery
arms of the service is simply In line with
recommendations of the war department.
made in order that the Notifications and
their armament now in process of con-
struction may have adequate care. The
present artillery force is not sufficient for
the proper manning of the batteries
which Congress has authorized and In
order to provide for trained body Of
artillerists to the additional batteries,
bills are now pending in both the Senate
and House to increase the governments
artillery force by two regiments.
In letter to the military affairs COM
mittee of the House from Assistant Secre-
tary of War Meiklejohn under date of
January Is, Mr.. Meiklejohn wrote:
"In view of the great development Of
our sea coast, that is to say of the great
number of points fortified and to be
fortified, and Of the great number of
volunteers that would be needed in the
event of foreign war, it is clear that the
present force of regular artillery, is, in
point of numbers, inadequate to It's du-
ties. Hence the imperative necessity of
an immediate increase of the regular
artillery force, a necessity fully reoog-
nized by the department and clearly
stated by the major general commanding,
who, while pointing out the inability Of
the department. to shelter the garrisons
on ground heretofore occupied owing
to the restrictions of the act of March
8, 1897, expressed the hope that an addit-
ional force OF two regiments Of artillery
will be granted by Congress with the least
possible, delay as that additional force
in imperatively required to keep the guns
and mortars in proper condition and to
use them effectively when required
Gen. Miles, writing upon the same sub
ject to the secretary of war, said: "In
my Judgment there can be no practicable
or economical plan for the careand preser-
walton of Notifications and their arma-
ment except a suitable command of arril-
lery composed of skilled officers and sold
iers who understand the manipulation OF
the machinery required and traverse and
use these big power guns and mortars
skillfully and successfully. In my opin
ion it would be criminal for the gov
eminent to expend tens of millions O.
dollars in the placing of Notifications
and ornaments for the protection O.
coast and then abandon them to the cars
of few men, simply employed as watch
men, without any knowledge or power tx
man these guns and mortars successfully
against hostile fleets
TROOPS SENT TO SANDY HOOK
New York, February 19.-The sending
of $50 men from the regular force stationed
at Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton
yesterday to Sandy Hook, today gave rise
to rumors. 1t was ascertained that the
detail was sent to Sandy Hook for CUR
practice in the routine OF military ar
rangements and that there was nothing
significant about the matter. An order tt
keep civilians out of the government
! fertilization grounds was commented up
: on The order was issued two years age
and has been enforced ever since.
PUT IN TRIM.
!. IA Chicago, February 19.-Since Friday
morning Fort Sheridan, where the
; fourth infantry and the first cavalry arr
stationed, has been in a state of thu
,, utmost activity. Soldiers have beer
polishing their weapons, arranging mess
kits, grooming the horses and preparing
generally to march at a moments notice
Dobart TT Hall in command n