New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
FORT MILTON INSPECTED.
IT'S CONDITION SATISFACTORY TO GEN
ERAr. MERRITT
soMp MINOR IMPROVEMENTS MAY RE RECON-
MESpED - ADDITIONAL DEFENcFs' BEING
PUSHED FORWARD RAPiDLY-A SUM
MARY OF THE ARMAMENT-IN
sPECTIOSs TO CONTINUE.

SPECTIONs TO CONTINUE.
Tho derences NJ Fort Hamilton were Inspected
Yesterday by General Merritt. He started froia
Governor Island at 10 a. m. and was accompanied
by members OF his stan including Colonel John l.
Rodgers Lieutenant Colonel John w. Clous. Judge
Advocate: Captains Allen. Parker and Harris and
IAeutcnants strother. Mott and Hale The day
WAS spent i'm making fun examination Of the
preparatons for defence at the fort. and especially
its artillery equipment in which Colonel Rodgers
takes particular interest. as the guns are manned
mainly by men Of his command Owing TO the fact
that some OF the trained men have been trans
ferred to the care Of the big recently mounted
at Forts Hancock and Slocum. some raw recruits
were sent last week to Fort Hamilton from the
new 9Th Artillery stationed at Fort McHenry at
Baltimore and they are being instructed In their
duties by the experienced men.
rrowning from the walls OF the fort some
old smooth-bore cannon. ono OF them with "a
inch bore the largest size ever cast They arc
antquated. however. and the means Of defence
depended on are the modern guns OF these the
fort has a battery Of sixteen Pinch morars. whose
range extends beyond the shoal water Off Coney
Island where it would lee possible for big battle
ship 10 anchor and attempt TO shell the outlying
portions Of the city. There are also two lNlnch
rlned cannon mounted disappearing carriages.
and several s-nch guns OF similar pattern and
similarly mounted. The armament is rounded out
with n number Of rapid-tre guns. for use should
torpedo boats attempt TO steal up the channel.
The whole Lower Bay is covered BY the range OF
the big guns already mounted. while range and
poslton finders are in place, electrical connection
completed. soarchliehts being equipped. and stores
of ammunition are in the magazines. together with
ample food supply for all the men who can be ac-
commodated at the fort
Work is being pushed both day and night on
empacements for l--inch rifed cannon. TO be
mounted disappearing carriage, which VIII
the post of honor a the southern angle OF the
h4ars. z .
and will be of the most use IN any emergency.
Emplaccm"nts are also nearly completed for several
s-inch guns TO add to The armament. and eight
mortar pits and platforms Tor doupe battery
OF a M peI simuitaneouslv or separately as
deemed most desirable are also well under way.
All the work is being carried on under the direction
y, Just OF shore from Fort Hamilton and out in
the Narrows Hes the old Fort LAFAYETTE rms Is
one of the circular brick fortincatons which were
aen, ,mry Int which one shot from the guns car
ried hy modern ironclad would completely de-
mosh. It's only present use is as a powder store,
War # was used As military prison. and it was
r'sn IN sentiment deemed reasonable incar-
cnrated When this fact VAS recalled by an Army
officer yesterday he said There re might be , worse
II is expected that General Merritt VIII continue
tho inspecon of the forts to-day. and that he Will
Visit Hose at the Junction OF the Sound and
East River. at Thfoggs Neck and Willets Point.
He decIined 10 say eT
that It satisfactory II + understood that he
tain things be done under the emergency fund APP
nronriation 10 more fully equip the fortiications
p.;tb facilities for making them useful as pos
sible -.
There were no new bids sought yesterday for
,ha rork Of supplying the troops and Notifications
Under control Of the Army officers with what Will
be needed for equipment. An Army oncer SAID
tho basis OF an army of twenty-five thousand men,
a much Larger force In the matter OF tents the
Tent Bureau at Philadelphia has stock of tents
as big this Army Building on hand but II we
need 10 send supplies out for four times as many
men az we now have TO provide for 1t Will be
necessary TO sweep the market. Bids were sought
last week for a certain kind OF canvas. and II was
found that the market had been swept clean OF It:
All this shows that there Is much activity III
war comes It will not find Us unprepared. But