The times., 1898-02-20
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Great Activity Prevails Through.
out the Army and Navy.
DECISIVE ACTION AT LAST
The Operations at the Different
Navy Yards Indicate Trouble with
Spain Is Anticipated-Pre
tionary Measures Taken at Army
Forts.

Norfolk, Va, Feb. '19-Indications that
the Government is anticipating trouble
with Spain seem apparent in its opera
/ tions at this point The monitor Terror.
which has been at the navy yard for
the past few months, and whose crew
was sent to San Francisco ten days ago,
has not been ordered to Hampton Roads.
Last night a telegram was received or
dering the Terror TO go in ordinary at
League Island. but this morning another
came reversing this order and bearing
instructions to get the vessel ready to
be sent to Hampton Roads as soon as
her officers and crew arrive which will
be early next week.
1t is thought that the department in
tends to keep the Terror in the roads for
defense, and incidentally to receive the
Vizcaya. which is due here within the
next two weeks.
The formidable double-turret barbette
monitor Puritan, which is being over
hauled at the navy yard. will be ready
for duty in three or four days, and may
assist at this function. The third-class
protected cruiser Newark which is at
the yard being converted into a second
class cruiser, under normal conditions
would have been completed in six months
The work can be done in three and it
is probable that this may be the case. as
an additional force of nearly a hundred
extra men was taken into the yard this
morning to work upon her.
Orders We're received at the navy yard
tonight instructing the bureau of con-
struction and repair to work the force on
the Terror and Puritan and the torpedo
nj fapiOht and Ill
day tomorrow. All four of these vessels
will be ready for duty by the middle or
the week.
Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn
Joined Secretary Alger at Old Point Com
fort late last night. bur is very reticent.
Fort Monroe is better equipped than ever
in its history for defense 1t is now al
most impregnable, modern guns defend
ing all approaches, while even the oldest
part of the fort has been placed in read
mess to contest the passage of the chan
mel by hostile vessel The disappearing
rifle batteries to the north of the ram
parts, mounting ten-inch guns. command
Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads for
twelve miles out. The battery of sixteen
mortars mile farther up the beach be-
hind sand dunes would make IL almost
impossible for any enemy's fleet to pass.
1t is considered by experts that with the
fort and two monitors the entrance to
Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay
would be efficiently guarded. An order
is in effect keeping all the men in the
fort except married men living on the
outside. who have to obtain permit.
Wilet's Point. y. Y, Feb. 19.-That war
is not deemed altogether impossible is ey-
idenced by the precautionary measures
that are being taken here and at the 9TH
er forts guarding New York harbor on
the East River and Long Island Sound.
Gen. Meigs brought thirty soldiers from
the Fifth Artillery, at David's Island,
and twenty from the Second Artillery. at
Fort Schuyler, presumably to man the
big guns should an emergency arise. The
artilierymen have pitched their camp in
the gymnasium rooms on the top floor
OF the barracks. There are vague ru-
mors of impending war among the sol
diers of the engineer battalion stationed
here.
No definite information as to orders re-
ceived can be obtained from the officers.
Major Knight is the commander of the
post All the rules of the post regarding
the admittance of visitors are being very
stringentiy enforced. The armament of
the fort consists of three new disappear
ing gums, two ten-inch and one eight-inch
together with several mortar batteries
on which the work of completion has been
rapidly pushed for several days past.
There is also complete submarine tor
pedo system, which could be placed in OPP
Grafton on short notice.
The Government steamer made an eX-
ira trip today. and it is said she brought
a large supply of ammunition. The en-
gineer soldiers have as yet received no
orders to move. but rumor is current
among them that two of the three COM
panies may be ordered away from the |
post to plant torpedoes at other points
at any moment At Fort Schuyler the
work of clearing Instructions around the /
batteries and big guns was begun yester- 1
day, and 1t is said by some of the sol /
diers that number of large boxes sup /
posed to contain ammunition were placed I
in the fort this afternoon. These two I
forts together with Fort Slocum, are /
deemed TO be sufficiently well equipped |
to prevent the invasion of New York |
harbor by any hostile vessel.
Charleston. S. c., Feb. 19.-It is stated |
tonight that orders have been sent here |
for the force of workmen employed on |
the Government fortifications which 7
guard the entrance to Charleston harbor |
to push ahead with the work as rapidly |
as possible. Guards are placed on the /