The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-05
MINES FOR SAVANNAH HARB0R
SUBMARINE WORKS READY TO BE
PUT IN OPERATION.

Fourteen Tons of TOrpedOes and
shells Received for the Compile
tion of the HarbOF Defenses-fhe
Explosives to BE stored in Fort
Pulaski Until Their Use Is He
quired-HOw HarbOr Mines Are
Operated.
Thirty-eight submarine torpedoes and
thirty-seven shells for the submarine
mines in Tybee roads were received from
New York by the City of Birmingham
yesterday.
Many people at once concluded that
the government is making ready for The
defense of the city in the probable event
of war with Spain 1t seems. however,
that no special significance can be at
tached to the torpedoes being received just
at this time, as they have been expected
for quite a while.
The equipment is to be sent TO Fort
Pulaski. Ii came consigned TO Capt. Gil
lctte who is in charge of this district
of the United States engineering service.
Capt. Gillette is in New York, but
talk with Lieut.. Morgan of the Engin-
eering Corps disclosed the fact that there
is no occasion for alarm in the receipt
of the parts of the mines. Work COM
pleted some two years or more ago at
Fort Pulaski rendered it necessary that
equipment for the mines be sent on. Il
has been expected ever since.
The work 10 which Lieut.. Morgan re-
ferred is the mining casemate, intended
for the operation of the mines from the
fort. This casemate is built at the rear
of the fort near the demi-une, or earth
works. The electrical appliances are
ready and il has only remained for the
mines to be received These mines are
to be sunk out in the channel of the river,
so as to offer distractions 10 the passage
of am enemy's vessels. Connection with
the casemate is so arranged that any one
of the mines may be exploded upon the
signal of a vessel having struck 1t being
received. These signals are transmitted
10 the casemate by means of a buoy
either on the surface or Immediately be-
low, attached to the mine. Contact with
a vessed causes the buoy automatically
TO send in an alarm in the casemate.
where the officers operating the mines
are able to see what has happened. The
electric current is then turned on and the
mine is exploded.
The parts of the mines that were receiv-
ed by the Birmingham from the navy
yards at New York will be lightered down
TO the fort where they will be slowed
away. 1t is said that there has been no
detail of men for the sinking of the mines,
and this is taken as an indication that
their speedy use is not regarded necessary
1t is necessary, however, to have them
on hand in the event of war. A force of
men could place them in position in a
short time, and they would then be a
perfect safeguard against the passage OF
vessels from the sea to the harbor. There
are no troops at Fort Pulaski, so there
will be nothing but to store the mines
away. The ordnance sergeant in charge
will thus have additional munitions of
war under his care.
The bill of lading OF the Ocean Steam
ship Company shows that thirty-eight tor
pedoes and thirty-seven shells were re-
ceived. Lieut.. Morgan, however, includes
the entire shipment under the name of
ports of the submarine mines They
resemble shells, and the explosives may
be taken for torpedoes. When they are
placed in position under water they be-
come torDedoes of a certain kind though
they are usually called mines.