The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-20
THE CARRINGToN PUBLISHING CO.
A WARSHIP FOR OUR COAST
RESULT OF CAPT. ToWNSHEND,S
VISIT TO WASHINGTON.

RESULT OF CAPT. ToWNSHEND,S
| VISIT TO WASHTNGToN.
Interview With tho Secretary of Navy
Several Smaller War Graft to he Sent
| Also-The Defenses at tho Eastern
| Entrance of the Sound Ordered Com-
pleted as Soon as Possible.
| Captain Charles H. Townshend re-
turned last evening from Washington.
D. c., where he has been at the in
stance of the Connecticut board Of
trade, whose members have made un-
tiring efforts to push the work of COM
pleting the seacoast fortifcations now
in course Of construction on the islands
at the east entrance Of Long Island
sound for the defense Of the shore
towns on this very important approach
to the port Of New York. Captain
Townshend in an interview last even
ing gave the following interesting de-
tails:
He found the Connecticut and New
York delegations very enthusiastic and
most willing to give this important
work the support of their best efforts;
and with the Hon. N. D. Sperry he
called on the secretary of the navy ana
both made most earnest pleas for .a
Warship to be stationed off-shore be-
tween Montauk Point and Martha.s
| Vineyard, to communicate to the near
est of the signal stations lately located
at these points and on Block Island the
news of the approach of an enemy's
fleet, should such an event occur. An
enemy's fleet might sail from Cadiz ur-
der the pretense Of augmenting the
Spanish fleet in the West Indies, but
instead might steam direct on the
Great Circle" to Block Island and
there intercept the fleets Of steam, sail
and barge coal tonnage bound from the
capes Of Delaware and Virginia to New
England; and under the lee Of unpro-
tected Block Island replenish from cap
tured vessels their exhausted ccal
bunkers and then lay our coast cities
under contribution or lombard them id
revenge for our naval demonstrations
in the Philippines and West India ISL
ands. Thus they might repeat the sto-8
ry of the blockade Of Long Island sound
| during the war of 1872, when Block ISL
and was held by the British as base
| of operations and the towns of Essex
CIV. CIV o.oiii.s 'l son were ponlparueu ana
,,,uli'a, - anu Cuiliniouofe Deca.or neeL
Diochaueu M III New Loiluon ana our own
-. .Aeae eu anu ene parrachs
ouiiieu. sg
m Men..on was aiso inaue ~ Captaih
wv, Nv iisnenu =. eie lact that Ine war
SIP ooluihpla' winch was sent 20
poiiies oIi our COAST oH newport ana
NeW beoIoro' naa peen sent TO Massa-
onaee'.s uay anu, Win the Minneapois
az q sec.ioil q Inc mosquito meet, was
- snus harpor a. FaovlncetOWn ana
ouuiu Aot' uuii.is .ne Hrsl Hlohhents OF
a.aiii' ne ce1leu IL liine 70 prevent the
s,eAI ueslruc'loh "nicn might ensue
aAoS ene ueseruction Wnicn
,.s'e io.eiy peen mus ny Aulniral
Dewes MorA a. Ma1iiia IN Ine short
spnee - .hlee houIs. u
| - eeoielaly " tne navy alter lis
.1s' aSeueu US llal our wants
ei,ouiu We "'teiiueu 70 ae once ana nain-
GU tns sup ~ pe seht, Wnlcii, u IS ex-
pecteu' WIN sooli appea. On Inls secuon
u our COAST supported py vessels Of
]Au,iiiraI ~, Lrpeil !losqulto neet.
ne oniel u eAs inesIs alSo gave eveIW
| ooo+ n,,d 20 ~.