The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-26
OUR COAST SIGNALS.
IMPOSSIBLE FOR A HOSTILE SHIP TO
APPROACH UNoBSERVED.

APPROACH UNOBSERVED.
Over Two Thousand Observers from Bar
Harbor to Galveston on Duty-Reports
Z from Stations Received DaiIy-How the
System Works.
Washington, May 24.-After several
weeks of work along the entire stretch
of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the
navy department has completed the
most comprehensive and efficient sys.
tenn for observing the approach of a
hostile feet that has ever been put into
operation. A new bureau has been Gre
ated for this purpose, known as the
Coast Signal Service, in charge of Cap
tain Bartlett, who attends to this as
well as the naval board of information.
The system has the services of 1900
men stretched along the coast from
Bar Harbor Me, to Galveston, Tex.
These are divided into thirty four CEN
tral stations about sixty to one hundred
miles apart. The stations are in turn
connected by telegraph with the coast
signal office of the navy del S.iment,
and operators are on duty night and
day keeping the navy department in
constant telegraphic touch with the en-
tire stretch of Atlantic and Gulf
coasts.
Secretary Long projected this plan
month ago. and $4,000 was set aside
to establish the points of observation
along the coast. After selecting the 81
central points from Maine to Texas,
rush orders were given to build obser-
walton towers and towers for the OBJ
servers. The naval militia was drawn
TO man the different observation towers,
and hVe militiamen, with the rank of
naval quartermasters are now on duty
at each of these stations. The towers
are completed and also the small houses
for their living purposes. There are
2Ss of these militiamen now in service.
Other Assistance.
The next step was to have the light
house service made an adjunct to this
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation Of the treas
uiy department, and the lighthouse
force of 1.200 men, scattered from
Maine and Texas, is assisting the work
OF observation. The life saving service
was brought into similar cooperation
so that 1,060 life savers are added to
the observation force. The thirty-four
central stations, with the numerous
lighthouses and life saving stations,
make complete chain of observation
points. all connected by telegraph or
telephone with one another and with
the navy department.
BY arrangement with the telegraph
companies the reports from these OBJ.
servers take precedence over the pri-
waite Geographic business, so that the
navy department is enabled to get i'm
mediate telesraphic notice of the an
proach of any hostile fleet or susp,c-
ious ship.
Work Thoroughly Sys.ematIzed,
The work of observation has been
thoroughly systematized. Watches are
Kept in the towers throughout the day
and night. The life saving crews In
particular are assigned to night duty.
and they patrol the beach throughout
the night, on the outlook for approach
ing ships. All the central points and
the observers have been supplied with
telescopes and full appliances for ma
rine observation. They are also SUD-
piled with torches, rockets and other
paraphernalia for signaling.
The results already secured have
shown the efficiency of the plans adop-
ted. Naval vessels passing aloag the
coast are able to signal day or night
by torches and otherwise with the ma
val observers along the beach and these
signals are Immediately telegraphed to
the navy department here. Thus the
naval vessels can be kept in constant
communication with the department
without the necessity of coming into
port.
with the system in its present per
fected condition the navy department
1eels assured that it knows exactly the
condition of affairs along the entire
stretch of Atlantic and Gulf coast.
The system is simply a precautionary
one, as the department has had no fea-
son to believe that Spanish ships were
menacing points along the coast.
1t is further believed that Spa.n is
endeaVoring to transfer important in
terests in the Philippines in way to
bring foreign influences to bear for the
purpose of restraining the operations
ol thls government. Altogether the
philippines are now regarded as the key
no the situation, their possession in
NoiVlng great interests and possibly
most important events in the future.
IL is said that there is not the least
doubt or hesitation on the part of the
administration with respect to the rol-
icy to be pursued and that possession
is TO De taken of the entire group of is-
lands.