Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-18
FORT MONROE'S DEFENSeS
Old Ordnance supplanted by Modern High
Power Guns.
Col. Hughes Of the War Department
Makes IN Inspection Of the
Garrison There.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
FORT MONROE, Va. April 1s.-Col
Hughes Of the War Department. Washing
ton. visited this place yesterday and. in
company with Col. Frank and Col De Mar
ely, made a thorough inspection OF this
important outpost for the defense of Wash
ingtcn and Baltimore.
While each Of the officers named declin-
ed to give any Information for publication.
1t was learned by a Star reporter that Col.
Hughes is entirely satisfied with the prog
ress that is being made toward rendering
Fort Monroe impregnable against any hos
tile fleet
The greater part OF the day was spent in
examining the new defenses at Buckroe
Beach. piece OF thickly wooded ground
about one and one-half miles north of the
fort, and in inspecting the extensive sys-
TEN Of mines which has been and is being
placed In the harbor between Capes Charles
and Henry. Work on the latter means of
defense is conducted with the utmost Sc
crecy, and no one except those actually en-
gagged In II and q few officers of the rant.
OF captain and above Is permitted to learn
anything whatever about II, and all are
pledged to give no information whatever to
inquirers
At Buckroe Beach. where a large number
OF men are engaged In planting heavy
mortars and disappearing guns there is
almost completed what will be one of the
MOST powerful fortresses along the Atlantic
coast. and every man who is expected 10
operate the guns is confident that no Span-
Ism neet can get beyond the range of their
miles. a. 's''
Besides this. the old-fashioned guns on
me parapet are being rapidly replaced with
o-lncn converted rifles, and rapid-fire gums
are peing mounted wherever 1t is deemed
.ney can be made to perform good service,
II the time arrives for SO doing, 1t Is he
iieved the latter will be a certain protec-
tion against the swift ard supposedly dam
gerous little torpedo boats, which are re-
pCteo to cave sufficient speed to enable
them to elude the more deliberate fire of
the big guns. The new guns will be
mounted on the upper ramparts, facing
poIn Hampton Roads and Chesapeake BAY.
Inc mines above referred to will, when
completed, command every foot of water
over which "a hostile fleet going north
would nave to pass. From the two mining
easements at the fort, cables now run out
TO the expanse of water between the horse
shoe and the fort, and other cables extend
across the entrance to Hampton Roads
lnese cables are attached to submarine
mines winch are Of themselves almost suf-
hcient protection to the fort.
me oihcers at the fort express the utmost
confidence in the ability of the guns at
Their command to repulse a hostile fleet
Inere are however. hundreds of persons
In this vicinity. and among them many
VINO compose the garrison at Fort Monroe,
who say they do not believe that the SPAN
lards Will ever get near enough to attack
the Tort. 1t Is their belief that the flying
squadron is being held by the government
IN Hampton Roads for the purpose of TAX
ing care of any hostile fleet whose COM
n'ander might take 1t into his head to try
the capture OF Washington or Baltimore
Inc utmost energy is being displayed in
the Norfoik navy yard and Newport News
ship yards in preparing ships for war, but
nowhere is there undue excitement
capt. Taylor of Light Battery F, 4th Ar
tillery, who few days ago, with his COM
mano, reached Fort Monroe from Fort
hley, Kan, yesterday received orders TO
teke his company to Chickamauga and
Will leave for that post tomorrow