New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-14
MEASURES or DEFENCE AT NEWPORT
NEW TYPE OF TORPEDO TO BE Issued ~
FEW DAYS.

MEASURES OF DEFENCE AT NEWPORT
NEW TYPE OF TORPEDO TO BE Issued ~ \
FEW DAYS.
Newport r. | March l3.-There has been great
activity to-day the torpedo station in preparing
charges for torpedo outfits and also in perfecting
the defences at the entrance o. NarraGansett
Bay. In the machine shops the station the
lathes cutting the shells for fuses and primers were
10 their full capacity, while extra hands were
In the fuseroom loading and packing. Hands have
also been taken on In the gun-cotton and smoke
less powder plants which are being pushed to their
full capacity.
It is said at the station that all this stir has no
war significance and Is only for the purpose Of
catching up with orders but II is known that
while the orders for fuses and primers sufi
cien,y numerous to keep the plant In operation on
ordinary time for several months. this work had
been portoned ont as TO be completed by the
time the ships building ready for supplies
Since the war scare began there has been a large
demand for fuses for the ships fitting ont. and.
there is practically reserve supply. extra work
has heen made compulsory. and that TOO. without
providing for regular orders. The sun-cotton plant
has been making only enough Of its product TO
keep the smokeless powder plant supplied. but now
It Is working up the surplus. as well as keeping
up riie supply for the running Of the powder mill
10 Its full capacity, as under recent orders.
In the magazine at Rose Island there are several
thousand pounds Of Dupont cotton purchased az
Is used for loading torpedo warnelds; To-mor-
row another consignmehI or Whitehead torpedoes
The torpedo-boats Gwin and Talbot have steam
up ready to he turned TO the officers ana crew,
who are expected Tomorrow.
The new type OF torpedo. which will he issued in
few days will require double the charge OF those
heretofore served 10 the Navy.
Eary ihis eyening me t9rpedo,6ost stileto re-
she has been all winter tests Of her ol-hurninG
furnaces She came up under this sorI Of fire. and
her stacks famed considerably 1t is assumed that
gm1kcess powder
Eew-Sork as soon as i Is produced here The last
prised four thousand POUNDS for six-incn pieces
The class Of seanen gunners * being greatly re-
Trained tn" 1arne gn5rd at f' me ,o r,nns
station. which nov numbers scvtnty-dve men, IL
held in readiness for drafts. and Of the gen.
cral-seryice men az the station have already been
For the defence Of Tho bay the mortar battery
Fort Adams and the Pinch battery az Dutch
Island. on the othe- side Of the bay. are the prn-
carriages OF tho mortar battery At For Adams
are in the pits but await some improved parts be.
fore they are complete. Tho moftars nave not yet
arrived although couple OF carloads Of shells ara
IN tho CITY awaiting transportation 10 the fort The
Schroeder Burlington disappearing carriages are
ready for tho emplaccments ar Dl'ch Island. and
men mr." kent busy moving up tho Finch rifles 10
snipload Of powder arrived AZ For. Adams to-
day and another LOT Is expected soon by rah This
middle and west passages OF the bay. Mines
anchors and firing apparatus are already at hand
but no members Of tho Army Engineer Corps have
yet appeared to plant the mines During the last
T rsb psP ha 2G2 Tgk for b ay4G iG
shore, which will conrect with line here by a tee-
phone cable. L; will then 6e email JOB to cut into
the Geographic circuit som" Of the telephone wires
from here 20 Fort Adams.
officers At the fort have been establishing range.
finder stations for several DAYS. but their places
kept secret II ia said some are In summer cottages
ghieh hod 60 commanding o rM T9d@y the Eayo
stations between the G0vernment telegraph sta
pDtsn snd Pier Paint Jnd Hn' and
Watch Hill on the Rhode Island coast