Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-27
DID HE TAKE PLANS?
FORT MONROE STIRRED UP BY a
BIG SENSATION.
AN ARTILLERYMANS DISAPPEARANCE
sr.nected of Having Given FORTH
cation Secrets to Spnin-Coiohei
UI- Mos Not Think He Would
Stoop So Loyv-Expects War.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, March 26.-
(special)-The Dispatch correspondent re-
ceived reliable information tonight that
Sergeant Tscherning, Of Battery h.
Fourth Artillery, Fort Monroe, mysterl-
ously disappeared last Thursday morn
ing. and Colonel Frank, the commandant,
Is very anxious to learn his whereabouts.
1t is common talk among the orlce.s
and men that Tscherning carried Win
him when he went a complete set Oh the
plans Of the Notifications, showing the
exact position Of every gun, converted
rife. and mortar behind the walls of Fort
Monroe, the most important and best
protected stronghold on the Atlantic
Coast. and the key TO Newport News
ship-yard. the Norfolk navy-yard, and the
city Of Richmond.
COLONEL FRANK INTERVIEWED.
called on Colonel Frank at the Fort
tonight and he confirmed the report OF
TscherniNS's unexpected disappearance
Al first the shrewd old soldier was not
inclined to speak OF the matter, but nha4-
" consented when he learned that l was
in possession OF the facts. "IScnerhlhs
disappearance was reported 70 me seVeral
DAYS ago" said Colonel Frank, land his
captain was Of the opinion that ne was
on one of his sprees. j cannot say that
he has ever been away so long betore' lie
is an expert civil engineer, and has al
ways proved himself 10 be a capable,
trustworthy man. While l am informed
that he carried plans with him. know
that he has none Of the forts properly.
He may have made plans Of his own.
do not believe, however, that Tscherning
would stoop to such an act
The only plans that would be OF use 70
an enemy are those of the masked bat
terry of sixteen mOrtars and the disap-
nearing gun, which are under double
puard. Tscherning is thoroughly acqualnt-
ed with the plan OF these important de-
fences. There have been several Span
iards evidently Of some distinction at the
fort within the past week, and the artilt
lervrnen incline 20 the belief that Tschern-
ing has been bribed TO reveal what he
knows about the strength Of Fort Mon
roe. Tscherning was instructor In the
artillery school.
PROSPECTS OF WAR.
speaking of the prospects of war to-
night. Colonel Frank had this to say: 81
believe that war will surely result be-
tween the United States and Spain, and
very shortly, too. The administration
will not need TO make the first declara-
ton. The sending of a torpedo hotllla 10
American waters is an overt act, and any
of our warships would be justified in
stopping the little destroyers with shot.
and without any special orders from
washington. Fort Monroe is very well
fortified. although 1 must admit that !
have not a sufficient number or men 10
man my guns. They took away four bat
teries and sent only one, which leaves
me about 175 men short
The frst-class battleship Massachusetts
arrived this afternoon from Key West.
The Terror sailed from Old Point paint
ed black, half way
The Massachusetts boats are being
painted tonight The Brooklyn will be
changed from white TO black tomorrow
or Monday night.