Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-26

roast fortifications and putting the lat
,er in effective condition. The ordnance
officers are better off in the number of
rapid fire guns and others guns Of for
ridable character, ammunition, and
1roiectileS, than in the number of car
fiages for the guns. 1t is hoped to Sc
sure a large number of carriages out Of
Inc allotments made to the bureau and
money made available by the fortifica-
ions bills. Bids were opened recently
tor supplying s, 10 and 12 inch gun car
riages and as soon as the officials know
he precise amount Of money at their
disposal for this purpose awards will be
made.
Meanwhile the engineers bureau is at
work on the building of emplacements
iar the guns. and this work is being
pushed with all possible speed con-
eistent with the force applicable for that
purpose.
feations at Dry Tortugas, at which
nlace the navy department is TO estab-
ish a coaling station viii begin as
soon as the plans for that purpose have
been adopted. Ii is thought that Capt
OuvaI the military aide to Secretary
Alger who left here last night and
who is regarded as an expert IN artil-
ery matters, will make an invesyiga-
ion OF the requirements of the service
at Tortugas.
The ordnance bureau expects to OBJ
5ain in all about 46 rapid fire suns from
saToad for the sea coast fortilications.
Capt Shoemaker, chief Of the revenue
utter service was busily engaged to-
7ay in making assignments OF officers
10 ire revenue cutters detailed yester-
gsv for defensive service along the At
antic seaboard Every vessel in the
service available for action has been
ar will be assigned to duty. Even the
hew cutter Gresham on the great lakes
and the little Calumet, located at Chi
eago. have been called on, and in day
M two both the lake ships will be en-
route TO the rendezvous at Hampton
Roads. They viii make the trip to the
Atlantic seaboard through the ST. Law
renee river. The commanders Of the
revenue cutters have been notified by
wire to be in readiness to move as
SOON as their general orders are re-
eeived, which probably viii be issued
The revenue cutters which will be or
dered into service are as follows: Tlae
woodbury. at Portland, Me-; Hamilton
Philadelphia; Hudson, New York; Man
ming. Boston; Calumet, Chicago; Ores
nam Milwaukee; Morrow, Wilmington,
A. c.; and Window, Baltimore
Capt. Shoemaker was of opinion that
# would require about a week for all
of the vessels to reach Hampton roads,
Or rather Norfolk, which will be their
official rendezvous At the navy yard
these vessels will receive their equip
ment, guns, ammunition, torpedoes and
supplies, and will make such other pre-
narations as are necessary for fighting
service. The new cutter Gresham, re-
Gently built at Cleveland in brief time,
ean be transformed into a formidable
commerce destroyer or torpedo boat.
She was built expressly for such an
emergency as she is now called upon
tc meet.
She is equipped for a torpedo tube. and
ran carry an ugly battery of rapid fire
guns. All Of the vessels are first-rate
sea-going craft, and all of them are fit
ted with small but effective batteries.
Their speed varies from IA to 20 knots.
All officers Of the revenue cutter SER
vice now on duty with the life-saving
service are being Withdrawn today, and
assigned TO duty on vessels ordered to
Norfolk Their orders are made i'm
mediately effective in every case, and
they viii report to the commanding Off
sers Of the ships as soon as the vessels