Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-27
SK|PS OUT
T."
German Officer at Fort Nor
roe Disappears.
A SENSATIONAL REPORT
Rumored Tint the Nj issing Man Took With
Hin, Plans OF the Stronghold. To-
days Church Services.
Other Matters.

An important fact was learned from
an officer Of the fui1 by A Daily Press
reporter yesterday. 1t can he stated
on good authority THAI preparations TO
lay Sub-nlarinc mines in the harlp:r at
Old Point have b. en- made. T,he cables
10 which these mines wild be ATTACHED.
and by which they may DE exploded.
nave been pacy d in the waters of
Chesapeake Bay. and the mines them
selves can be attached in TIVE MT -fouu-
hours
y regular net work of wires extend
from Cape Henry to Cape Charles, and
any nunbsr of eath-dealing torpedoes
IAN be connected With them at airy
time. Should war be declared today the
cities reached by way of Chesaps AXE
Bay and the James river would be psr-
iecthy secure from the guns OF q hostil-.
fleet by tomorrow. 1t is Very likely
that these mines will shortly be con-
meet. d witil the electric batteries which
Will operate them, as everything seems
to indicat that war will be declared.
There are two places from which the
tr:s pd19es could Ire eNpfoded-rne at
Cape Charles and the other at fortress
Monroe. II an eneny's ships tried TO
enter Hampton Roads the guards at the
Cape would put off half dozen tor
pedoes under the hostile ship and the
unrol'tunate Maine. However, should
these MINIS fail TO operate, all would
not be lost. as before the ship could get
Within sslnshot she would have to pass
over another su%h plant, and ttis time
the Officers at Fortress Monroe. would
be very much 10 blame If cht vess,l.
should mass sa fe1v
The Daily Press received relja h,a in
formation last night that Sergeant
Scherning. of Battery H, Fourth Az
tillerv For, r,.Ss Monroe mvstarinusiv
disappeared lasr THURSDAY anoq-nin-
Colonel ROYAL r Frank tba corr.
n1,,ndz,nt is ya,y- anxious to -1aarn hia
wherea;bouts. II lis common talk among
the officers and men Hnot Tscherninp
carried viii Aim whan Sha want q cn,,,s
-plst,- .salt ,,f the n]ans ar tha fortif;ca
tions. showing tha axact nosition ~
evarv r,In cnnvarte7, rif1a an5 n,nrt.ar
behind the walls AZ E,ortrass Nnnrna
tbs. mos, i1nnrrta MI a nj NJ nroterte5
stronghold On th.a Atlantic cnast nnd
the ~ - ~ ''San.nnrt 800 ~ S.nu
ward the Eorfo1k nav 12ard ans he
cities OF RICHMOND Norfolk Nawnor,
News and Ral,imi,r. / ranresanta
tive ar the DaiIy Press fa1lad an Col
on,al Franl-at rha n,rt L,st ni~at ans
he confirmed ,the report off Tscharnina's
d1sannearance Ar first III
shrewd old soldier was MOT jncIinsd ~
speak of the matter, hun finally CON
srn.ad when hn la.,rnaS thai hha "a
porter was in possession OF The facts
..Tscherninc's tlTsapp.arance was re-
ported 10 me several DAYS IGN" said
Colonel Prank. "antl his cantajn was ~
sprees cannot saw that ha has ever
been away 50 lone hefora We lie on
expert civil engineer. and has ALWAYS
proved hims.lf tn H., a canah1e trnst
worthy man While am informt,1 4 hat
he rf,rrital n,ons away With hi,n
know thar h. has nom. of Ma ,snr,t,s
property. He NAV have mada mans ct
his avn IA, NOT haIiava bowaIar tha+