The record-union., 1898-05-25
COAST SIGNAL SERVICE.
Efficient System for Observing Ap-
proach of Hostile Fleet.

WASHINGTON, May 24.-After sew
eral weeks of work along the entire
lstretch from Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
the Navy Department has completed
the most comprehensive and efficient
system for observing the approach of
hostile fleet that has ever been put
into operation. Another bureau has
been created for this purpose, known
as the Coast Signal Service, in charge
of Captain Bartlett, who attends to
this as we'll as the work of the Naval
Board of Information.
The Department has the services of
2,300 men stretched along the coast
from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Galveston.
Texas. These are divided into thirty
four central stations, about sixty to
one hundred miles apart along the
coast The stations are in turn con-
nected directly by telegraph with the
coast signal office of the Navy De-
partment and operators are on duty
night and day keeping the Navy De-
partment in constant telegraphic
touch with the 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
thirty-four central points from Maine
to Texas rush orders were given to
build observation towers and towers
for the observers. The naval militia
men, with the rank of Naval Quarter
masters, are now on duty at each of
these stations The towers are COM
pleted, and also the small houses for
their living uIIrDOSeS There are 2.}3
of these militiamen now in the service.
The next step was to have the light
house service made an adjunct to the
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation of the Treas
ury Department, and the lighthouse
force of .2G0 men scattered from
Maine to Texas are assisting the work
of observation. The life saving SER
vice was brought into similar CO.
operation so that now 1,060 life saw
ers are brought into the observation
force. The thirty-four central sta
tions with the numerous lighthouses
and life saving stations make a com
plete chain of observation points. all
connected by telegraph or telephone
with one another and with the Navy
! Department
companies, the reports from these OBJ
servers take precedence over private
/ itelegraphic business. so that the Navy
! Department is enabled to get immedi-
ate telegraphic notice of the approach
of any hostile fleet or suspicious ship.
| The work of observation has been
thoroughly systemized. Watchers are
kept in the towers throughout the day
10 frA
/ signed in night duty, and they patrol
the beach throughout the night on the
/ lookout for approaching ships. All
the central points and the observers
/ have been supplied with telegraph and
/ full appliances for marine observation.
/ They are also supplied with torches,
rockets and other paraphernalia for
| Isignaling.
| The results already secured have
shown the efficiency of the plan. Naval
vessels passing along the coast are
able to signal day or night by torches
and otherwise with the naval observers
along the beach. and these signals are
Immediately telegraphed to the Navy
Department here. Captain Bartlett
sleeps throughout the night alongside
the telegraph instrument. ready to
| convey TO his superiors word of the
approach of any hostile ship. The
first thing in the morning reports are
received from every point from Bar
Harbor to Galveston, stating briefly
that everything is quiet or otherwise.
as the case may be. The night reports
have been at times alarming The OBJ
servers report every suspicious light
seen off shore, and frequently attach
serious significance to it. Since Cap
tain Bartlett has answered some of the
scare reports with the laconic message
Sea serpent" the observers have been
more cautious, and the reports show
levidence of careful observation.