The herald., 1898-03-13

fort are prepared to start at moments
notice and are prepared for any kind OF
service. The same preparations are
being made at all the posts In the De-
partment OF the Colorado.
A CHICAGO REGIMENT
CHICAGO, March 12.-Within two
weeks a regiment Of 1900 men will have
been organized in the Twelfth Ward
ready and anxious to answer to a call
to active service. For ten days secret
enlisting has been going on under the
leadership of Col. F. T. Colby, until
year ago at the head Of the Seventh Reg
iment, National Guard; Adjutant Keat-
ly, recently Adjutant Of the same regi-
ment; Major L. D. Buckley, formerly
Major of the Clan ma Gael Guards. and
several other West Siders.
Up to today 312 men have promised to
ioin the regiment and daily additions
are numerous.
WIRES FOR MINES
NEW YORK, March 12.-The steam
lighter Caroline left the dock at Will
lett's Point. Long Island. last night with
a load consisting Of Is drums of torpedo
cables consigned to Bar Harbor, Me-,
where Lieutenant Mckinney is in charge
of the torpedo work. Each drum or
spool Of cable weighs about three tons.
Recent orders received at the fort call
for 140 drums Of cable to be sent to va
rious points south, where the torpedoes
are to be laid. and a force of engineers
and soldiers is kept busy all day and
sometimes until late in the might pre-
pairing the various supplies for ship
ment.
MORTAR PROVING
NEW YORK, March 12.-The train
carrying a consignment Of big 12-inch
mortars from the government works at
Providence reached this city just before
midnight. They will be transferred to
the proving ground at Sandy Hook to
undergo the regulation tests.
At each Of the way stations the mas
sive ordnance created the greatest ex-
citement. Crowds were waiting all
along the line to get glimpse Of the
engines of destruction.
COAST DEFENSE GUNS
BOSTON, March 12.-The work Of
mounting the new ten-inch guns at Fort
Warren and Long Island Head is being
actively pushed. The last Of the three
ten-inch rifles at Fort Warren is prac-
tically completed. OF the Ave which will
be mounted at Long Island Head, three
are In position and work on the other
two is advancing. 1t Is thought that all
the guns will be in position within ten
days.
PACIFIC COAST DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, March 12-In maxi
ing preparations for the possibilities
of the future the Navy Department has
by no means overlooked the strategic
defense Of the Pacific Coast. To guard
properly this important seaboard it has
been found necessary to send an ad-
vance guard some distance down the
Southern Pacific ocean. The battleship
Oregon, the sister Of the Indiana, and
one of the most powerful vessels in the
navy, has been selected for this work.
Secretary Long today telegraphed or
ders to her commander to leave San
Francisco and cruise down the southern
coast. The vessel will report from time
to time by cable to the Navy Depart
ment and receive such instructions as
changes in conditions may warrant. At
present she is taking ammunition, about
fifty tons in all, which was unloaded at
the powder station when the ship went
north last fall to have some repairs
made at the Bremeterton station. As
soon as this work is done she is ex-
pected to sail southwark.