Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
WORK ON DEFENSES
San Francisco Harbor Safe From
Hostile Fleet Attacks.
HEAVY BATTERIES FOR new YORK
Illinois NayaI Reserves Actively Pre-
pairing for War.
RGANIZING IN OREGON

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15.-The land
defelses of San Francisco harbor have been
greatly strengthened of late and the mill
tary and naval authorities agree that the
presence of the tattle ship Oregon is not
essential for the proteo ton of the port.
The ten-fnch battery at Fort Point has
been reinforced by the addition Of two
guns, so II ere are now five ten-Ech rifles
IN position. Five twelve-inch guns COM
mand1nS a fine sweep CT the ocean can be
brought to bear on a ship attempting to
pass through the narrow channel between
Lime Point and Fort Point
Three more 12-inch guns at Fort Baker
tosether with the l6 mortars and three dy-
Mantle guns on the peninsula, also be
brought into use at long or short range.
The great guns on Lime Point. nearly
900 feet above the water, are so high that
a plunging fire against the deck of shin
may be delivered. All of the formidable
weapons are SO situated that their fire may
be concentrated on any hostile fleet at
tempting to enter the Golden Gate
Batteries ut For: Wads.vorth,
NEW YORK, March 15-Representatives
OF the govern ment visited Fort Wadswor;h
and have secured valuable land adjoining
the new fortifcations.
Extra gangs of mechanics and Iaborers
rave been put to work with orders to rush
which. when completed, will mount the
heaviest disappearing guns in New York
harbor.
Illinois Naval Reserve,
CHICAGO, March 15-Twelve thousand
dollars will be raised by the Naval Reserve
Association of Illinois to uniform and
equip the Chicago ships crew.
Resolutions to this effect were adopted
unanimously by the officers and the trus-
tees of the association.
Oregon National Guard.
PORTLAND, Greg, March 15-Steps
have been taken looking to the organization
OF a naval reserve for the state of Oregon.
At meeting in the 1st Regiment Armory
OF the Oregon National Guard, a roll was
opened and twenty signatures secured.
Ii is expected that forty men will sign
the roll, and then application will be made
to Governor Lord for authority to organize
a company.
Inspection Board Meels
NEW YORK, March I5.-The board for
the inspection of auxiliary cruisers met in
secret session today. The board is to de-
eide today whether the American line
steamer ST. Louis may sail tomorrow or
shall be held for armament.
draft of thirty-three men for the Co
lumDia and Minneapolis at League Island
was sent off from the Brooklyn navy yar,i
today. They Were taken off by navy
yard tug and sent to Jersey City in charge
OF Warrant Officer Peter Ward
Enlistment at New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, March 15.--The enlist
ment office here was opened this morning
at the custom house. in charge of Lieut..
Commander Hawley, Chief Engineer Web
ster and Surgeon Persons. Long before the
offices were thrown open several hundred
men had gathered before the doors, and
throughout the morning the crowd increas-
ed. The enlisting officers found an ;abund-
ance of good material and all applicants
were subjected to rigid examinations The
promise is that the desirei complement for
the navy will be speedily secured.