The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27
FoRTIFICATIoNs AT TYpEE
carriages for the Big Guns to BE
Forwarded at Once.

washington, Feb. 26.-Gen. Miles and
the officers at army headquarters ridicuIe
the report sent out from Atlanta that TWO
companies of troops from Fort NIopb,rso,
are under orders to proceed to Key West
10 repel a threatened attack by Spain
Gen. Miles laughblgly remarked that while
he mas feeling of pride in the Fifth Req
lment, which as his old command he
would not cons ider two companies suf,.
clent 20 meet IN vasion in the event of war
win SPAN. IL troops were needed at Key
west the wholL regiment might be ordered
there but it would be mere child's play
~ SEM TWO companies. He added that
there Is no lspositon, at present to move
any o. the troops from Fort Mcpherson.
On the cor .trary, he hopes that Congress
VIII soon see its way clear TO give him
some adCdtional men to man the fortifica-
'loIs at savannah, Charleston and other
points Itong the coast. where new FORTH
catlon5 have been constructed.
In connection with the Notifications at
iypee Island, in Savannah harbor Cen
MItes says the work there is progressing
as rapidly as circumstances will permit.
ind he has every reason 10 believe that
the tortifications will be completed by the
tlme Congress passes the Hawley bill, pro-
WONG for two additional regiments of ar
ullery. AS soon as that bill becomes a
law steps will at once be taken to secure
the number of men provided for In view
OF the number of applications daily made
Tor enlistment, Gen. Miles says he will
have no trouble in filing the two new
regiments with high grade of men. With
SO many men to choose FROM there should
be no difficulty in securing able, intelli-
! gent and n e., ~.
the artillery branch, men of intelligence
are required to handle the modern guns.
and for that reason more than usual care
| VIII be observed in making enlislments.
AS TO the distribution of the men COM
posing the two new regiments, Gen. Miles
says majority of them will probably be
assigned to duty at the new Notifications
along the Atlantic coast. OF course, ii will
not do to place raw recruits in charge of
the modern Notifications and guns, but
details will be made from other regiments
and promotions to the non-commissioued
| staff will be made so that capable men
will be in all of the new companies or
! ganized. Charleston will probably secure
two additional companies, and it is intend
ed to establish regimental headquarters on
| Sullivan's Island. Just how many COM
| panles viii be stationed at Tybee Island,
! in Savannah harbor, has not been deter
mined upon. 1t is the intention of Gen.
! Miles to distribute the men to the best of
his ability, in view of the limited number
allowed by Congress.
| Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, in re-
| ply to an inquiry concerning the progress
! of the work on the Notifications at Tybee
Island, stated to-day that fle work is
| progressing there in the most satisfactory
| manner and the works will be ready for
the guns and troops by the time the Haw
| ley bill becomes operative There SEEM
ed to be some confusion as to whether the
four 8-inch guns which were lost over
board from the schooner Grace off Tybee,
have been replaced. At the ordnance bu-
reau Maj. Clark says as soon as the re-
port reached the department that the
| guns were lost, and their recovery doubt
full, the order was duplicated and four
more guns were sent to Savannah. The
| guns have been delivered, there, but they
| are awaiting their carriages. The latter
will be delivered In a few days, when
! the great guns will be set up and ready
| for use. In the meantime the guns are
being cared for by members of the engi-
| neer corps, but the force is not sufficient
| to give them proper attention. Tybee for
| tiflcations, under the circumstances. will
| be among the forts to be garrisoned after
| the new regiments are organized Gen.
| Wilson says the engineer department will
| have its work completed before the troops
are ordered there. The quartermaster
| general is already preparing plans for
| quarters at Tybee, which is another indi-
| cation that Savannah is to be taken care
of without delay.