The Portland daily press., 1898-03-14
Government Proposes 70 Move
ArtiIIerymen to Coast.
ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE FOR
TRANSPORTATION.

F---~~S--"S k>~N-~~1 w eN~~
movements of troops to the coast defenses,
orders for which were issued by the war
department. ON Friday and published at
that time. A conference was held here to-
day by representatives Of the following
railroads to arrange for the transportation
of light artillerymen and ktheir aocoutre-
ments: The Atlantic Coast line, the
Southern railroad, the Seaboard Air line
and the Chesapeake and Ohio. It was
said that companies of artillerymen con-
sisting of about sixty men each would be
transferred from Fort Monroe to the fol-
lowing points: Fort Caswell on the Cape
Fear river, Ca, to Tybee, near Savannah,
Sheridan's point on the Potomac. 1t was
also stated that company would be
moved from Fort MoHenry, Baltimore, TO
some point on the Delaware river near
Philadelphia. The government wanted,
it was declared, the arrangements per-
latest. No bids have been asked for re-
gartling the transportation of heavy guns
and 1t Is understood the men were to be
carried to the different points, simply to
man the batteries. It is not known when
| the contemplated changes will take place.
TROOPS FOR SANDY HOOK.
New York, March 13.-The work of
transporting troops to the Notifications
at Sandy Hook will begin tomorrow. At
Governors island today it was said that
the batteries ordered there would be en-
camped before night.
WARSHIPS READY TO SAIL.
Philadelphia, March 1a.-The Mianto-
nomah, Katahdin, Minneapolis and Co.
lumbia, now in League Island navy yard,
will be ready to sail within day or two,
if SO ordered, and whatever additional re-
pairs may be necessary can be attended to
en- route. A few more men are needed for
tachment of marines under Lieut. Fuller
is expected shortly to complete the
Columbia's complement. a II the war
ships are coaled and have most of their
stores aboard, and about all that remains
to be done now is to replenish their stock
of ammunition. This will be done at the
government magazines. All the vessels
will then be ready for sailing at a
moments notice. The Columbia is
anchored in the river and as soon as her
marines arrive will steam to the maga-
zine. The government tug Leyden is ex.
pected tomorrow or Tuesday and will tow
a large barge load of coal to Key West.
1t is reported that the government is
negotiating for the purchase of number
of large barges in this city to be used for
carrying coal and supplies.
HURRY AT NEWPORT TORPEDO
STATION.
Newport, r. L., March 14.-There has
been the greatest activity today at the
torpedo station in preparing charges for
torpedo outfits and also in perfecting the
defenses at the entrance Of Narrangansett
bay In the machine shops at the station
the lathes quitting the shell for fuses and
primers were run to their full capacity,
while extra hands were in the fuse room,
loading and packing. Hands have also
been taken on in the gun cotton and
smokeless powder plants, whioh..are being
pushed to their full capacity.
1t Is said at the station that all this
stir had no war significance, ana 10 --ny
for the purpose of catching up with or
ders. Tomorrow consignment of White
head torpedoes will come from the Bliss
company works in Brooklyn. The torpedo
boats Gwin and Talbot have steam up
ready to be turned over. to1 the officers
and crew who are expected tomorrow.
The torpedo boat Stilleto returned quite
unexpectedly from New York where she
has been all winter for tests OF her oil
burning furnAcss. She came up under
this sort of fire and her stacks famed
considerably. 1t is assumed that she will
he used for carrying smokeless powder to
New York as soon as 1t Is produced here
MINES IN PORTSMOUTH HARBOR.
Portsmouth, N. H., March 18.-Plans
for the placing of submarine mines for
Portsmouth harbor have been mapped out
and large force of men have been active
" at work near the fortifcation all day.
1t is claimed, however, that these mines
Will be or llGDl6 usS OWING W eHo kroau
depth of water in the river, there being
over ten fathems in the channel from the
entrance at Newcastle to within short
distance OF the navy yard. Hundreds of
men have visited the navy yard during
the past week to enlist, but as there is no
enlistment bureau here, many valuable
men have been lost to the navy.
Request will be sent at once to the navy
department for the erection of such a
station for the enlistment of men from
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
TORPEDOES FOR OUR SHIPS.
Newport. R. l.. March 13.-The tug
Leyden left the torpedo station ut twelve
o'clock today fer League island navy yard
with torpedo outfits of twenty projectiles
for the Minneapolis, Columbia and
| torpedo boat Rogers. The tug has been
detached from this station and will here
after be attached to Leagus island navy
yard.