The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-14
AT THE TORPEDO STATION.
Great Activity in Making Fuses ant
Deadly Gun Cotton,


Deadly Gun Cotton,
NEWPORT, r. l., March 13.-There has
been the greatest activity to-day at the
torpedo station in preparing charges for
torpedo outfits and also in perfecting the
defenses at the entrance of Narragansett
bay. In the machine shops at the station
the lathes cutting the shell for fuses and
primers were run to their full capacity,
while extra hands were in the fuse room
loading and packing. Hands have also been
taken on in the gun cotton and smokeless
powder plants, which are being pushed to
their full capacity 1t is claimed at the sta
ton that all this stir has no war signifi-
canoe and is only for the purpose of catch
ing up with orders but 1t is known that
while the orders for fuses and primers were
sufficient numerous to keep the plant in
operation on ordinary time for some
months, this work had been s. portioned
out as to be completed by the time the
ships now building were ready for sup
plies. Since the war scare there has been
a large demand for fuses for the ships fit
ting out and as there is practically no re-
serve supply extra work has been made
compulsory, and that, too, without provid-
ing for regular orders. The gun cotton
plant has been making only enough of its
product to keep the smokeless powder
plant in supplies, but now it is working
up the surplus, as we'll as keeping up the
supply for the running of the powder mill
to its full capacity as under recent orders.
In the magazines at Rose island there
are several thousand pounds of Dupont
gun cotton purchased at the time of the
burning of the factory here This is used
for the loading of torpedo war heads. To-
morrow another consignment of Whitehead
torpedoes will come from the Bliss Com
pany works in Brooklyn. The new type Of
torpedoes which will be issued in few
days will require double the charge Of
those heretofore served to the navy
The torpedo boat Gwynn and Talbot had
steam up to-day, ready to be turned over to
the officers and crew, who are expected to-
morrow.
Early tonight the torpedo boat Stiletto
returned unexpectedly from New York,
where she has been all winter for tests of
her oil burning furnaces. She came up
under this sort of fire and her stacks famed
considerably 1t is assumed that she will be
used for carrying smokeless powder to
Newport as it is produced here. The last
shipment, on the Leyden last week, con-
sisted pOuIuS LOT Sl6-lIlCu
pieces.
The class Of. seamen gunners is being
greatly reduced here on account of an
urgent call for these trained men The
Marine Guard on the training station,
which now numbers seventy-five men, IS
held in readiness for drafts, and mo5t of
the general service men at the station have
all eGdy been detached. For the defense of
the bay the mortar battery at Fort Adams
and the twelve-inch battery at Dutch Is
and, or the other side of the bay, are the
principal points where work is being pushed.
A vessel load of powder arrived at Fort
Adams tonight, and another lot is expect
ed soon by rail. This morning there arrived
several tons of cables for submarine mines
for both the middle and west passages of
the bay. Mines, anchors and firing appa-
ratus are already at hand. officers at the
fort have been locating range-fnder sta
tions for several days, but their places are
kept secret, but it is said some are in sum-
mer residences which hold commanding
views.