The evening times., 1898-04-16
The Signal Corps.


The work of the Army Signal Corps Is
being rapidly pushed to completion Com
munication has been established between
points in New York harbor, such as Sandy
Hook, Willets Point and Fort Schuyler;
in Boston harbOr. Portland Newport, r.
L.; Firms Point Fort Delaware, Baiti-
| more harbor, Fort Monroe, Fort CaswelI
| the entrance to Wilmington IN c. har-
bor Suilivan's Island, the entrance to
Charleston IS. c. harbor; Tybee Island.
| near Savannah; Fort Barrancas and Fort
Pensacola, Fort Morgan, Ala; Fort st.
Philip, New Orleans; Fort Point Calves
| ton, and at San Francisco and San Diego,
Cal
The military cable in New York harbor
is in operation. and the other cables will
| be in working order by next Tuesday.
The instruments for fire drill on all the
artillery posts on the Atlantic coast have
been provided. and in most cases INSTALL
ed
Orders have been issued detailing to
coast stations. signal sergeants for bal
loon and electrical work. A great deal OF
| responsibility attaches to the work of the
| Army signal officers and they are indus
| triously engaged in arranging a complete
| equipment and means for sustaining
prompt and reliable communication be-
| tween coast stations.
4 large detachment of signal men will
so with the Army to Cuba. and it is prob
able that one OF the military balloons
| will be taken with the troops. The usual
devices of the corps will be used on that
| occasion, including the flag, rocket hello
| graph and telegraph train. This latter
| system has been improved a great deal
recently. Ii will be possible to lay a tel
| egraph line between the headquarters in
the field and the various commands
The Naval Board.
The Naval Board of Auxiliary Cruisers
| was empowered yesterday to purchase
tugs. yachts and steamships to be used in
the Atlantic Coast defense. About 100
| vessels will be required to make up this
feet.
The members of the board say that only
| vessels built of steel or iron will be ac-
ceptable. All wooden ships will be reject
| ed The vessels that will be converted
| into armed cruisers. torpedo boat de-
stroyerS and gunboats for coast defense,
according To a member of the board.
have been practically selected and. il war
is declared, will be placed at the disposal
of the Government at few hours no
| tice
The Reading Railroad has six ocean go
| ing steel tugs that could be pressed into
| service Immediately If required. Several
| coastwise vessels that are capable of be-
| ing converted into swift armed cruisers
have also been picked out as well as
several fleet steam yachts.
To get together 100 vessels of this kind.
| in addition to the regular auxiliary fleet,
| Herculean as the task appears, will be,
according to the members of the board,
| comparatively easy matter.
Militia Companies Under Orders.
Duluth, Mimi. April 16.-Orders were
| received last night from Gov. Clough by
| the captains of the three military COM
panies here to be ready to move south
on Monday night. The members are al
ready prepared, having anticipated the
order by several days.
More Gums for New York.
Portsmouth. n. H., April 16.-Orders
| were received at the navy yard today to
| ship to New York the rapid-fire guns
which have been used as the yard sa-
| luting battery.
Commander e. Impey, L. s. N, left
| for New York today to take command
| of the Sterling. A detachment of sea-
men also was sent to Boston today