The San Francisco call., 1898-03-18
INTERIOR
 LINE OF
 '''J DEFENSE Proposed w ater Bat tery at Gravelly
 Beach. Recent Allowance of Five Million Dollars to the Engineer Corps. Captain Charles E. Clark Takes Command Of the Battle
 Ship Oregon. COAL FOR A LONG CRUISE. The Ship May Sail To-Morrow to Join the Squadron at Key
 West
COAL FOR A LONG CRUISE.
The Ship May Sail To-Morrow tc Join the Squadron at Key
 West.

The allowance of s5,0OO,0 900 to the En- gineer Corps to protect the principal harbors of the United States leads to the belief that some of the money at the disposal of Chief Engineer Wilson may be allotted to San Francisco. II the money does not come directly rom the $50. .000 900 allowed to the President TOT use in national defense 1t is likely 10 come from the regular appropriation, and may be available early In July next.
 It is the judgment of well-posted ar- tillery officers that works should De constructed at Gravelly Beach, on the Marin shore of the bay, near Lime Point. A position for water battery has been designated at that point. III fact. the scheme for defense for San Francisco harbor, adopted by the Board of Fortifications, embraces battery of ten or twelve inch disappearing guns at Gravelly Beach. The guns of this pro- posed battery would not command much of an ocean range, as an arm of the mountain or bluff touching the Golden Gate shuts off view or the sea further out than a line extending from Lime Point to the Cliff House. A battery there planted would be op- scured from the view Of an incoming fleet. An enemy would not discover the guns until the range of fire was short.
 Six 12-inch disappearing guns at Gravelly Beach would constitute a tremendously effective battery, ana should at the short range of one thou sand or fifteen hundred yards, be able to destroy any ironclad that floats
 While it is the judgment of military men that the works now constructed are strong enough to resist success fully the advance of any fleet that Spain could bring to the Pacif1c, IL IS believed that steps should be taken to strengthen the interior line or re- sistance, so that if one ship should manage to pass the outer forts and get inside the vessel could not live a1ter getting in the harbor. It IS suggested therefore that Alcatraz, the great nat ural stronghold, should have oatterles of high-power range and precision.
 It is probable that the engineers ull- der the direction of Colonel Sltcr Will soon begin the work of constructing new batteries The accepted plan or fortifications includes fort at Lake Merced. south of the Cliff House, at an elevation of one hundred feet. ana also
 
 prevent an enemy from efectlng a landing at Halfmoon Bay. These pro- nosed works at Merced and Hal1moon Pay are not now deemed so essential as A battery on the water line near Lime Point.
 The detachments of one non-commls- stoned officer and five privates from eocb of the batteries stationed at An gel Island. Fort Mason and Fort Baker, that have been on temporary duty at the Presidio since the 18th Of last month, for the purpose of mounting guns on the Presidio Reservation, have been ordered to return to thelr proper sla- ceived from the East are III proper First Lieutenant John A. Lockwood, Troon c. Fourth Cavalry, whose troop is stationed at the PreSldlo, mas been detailed by the President as ProIesSor of Military Science ana IactlCs dl tl.e Wast Virginia University, Morgans- town w. Va, relieving Captain Chris tine q Hewitt, Nineteenth Infantry. I lieutenant Lockwood has been on teIn- snorarv duty at the university for seV, eral months past, but the present detail carries with it permanent oetali TOT fuil term of service at the institution.
 Cantains Harry c. Benson ana ceorea H G. Gale with their troops,
 and c, Fourth Cavalry, nave been detailed to patrol the Yosemite. Sequoia and General Grant National parks the oor,,inp season. These two troops have natrolIed the parks for several years past and the officers and men are f,Illy acquainted with the duties re- o,Iired of them, which duties are con tained in a letter of instruction from the Secretary of the Interior Ine troops will leave the Presidio for their resnective camps between the lst ana 1stb of next month. They will remain in tbe marks until November.
 Cantain Charles E. Clark arrived from San Diego yesterday and took command of the battle-shlp oregon | This powerful warship is ready for sea. The coaling for long cruise was mn ished the night before last and the vessel has now 1900 tons of coal aboard. | All the necessary stores and full line of ammunition are aboard. It is ex- 1 nected that the Oregon will leave this harbor for Valparaiso tomorrow, but | it cannot be ascertained that positive l orders for sailing have been received | from the Navy Department.
 All hands aboard the battle-ship from the highest in rank down are ready to respond promptly to the call l of duty. The officers and the men at | tbe guns do not boast, but they have Inc utmost confidence in the ability of tbe shir to fight, with an even chance of victory, anything that floats. It | is believed that the Oregon, after coal | ing at Valparaiso or Callao. will pro- ceed to the Atlantic and join the | sorodror, of United States ships at