New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-16
MORE HARBOR DEFENCES.
PLANS FOR FORTIFYING PLUMB ISL
AND.
RoCKAwAY INLET TO BE PROTECTED By A
TORPEDO STATION. SUPPLEMENTED By
LIGHT BArrERY-GENERAL MERRITT
TAKES CHARGE OF ALI. EASTERN
COAST FORTIFIcATIONs.


COAST FoRTIFIcATIoNs
Plans have been prepared and work will soon
begin under them for additional coast defence for
New-York Harbor. This Is to be effected by build
Ing Notifications Plumb Island which lies near
the village of Sheepshead Bay, in the Borough or
Brooklyn. and IL surrounded by the waters or
Jamaica Bay Several years ago the Government
purchased from tho Engeman estate tract or
about sixty acres. including the solid ground OF
the island and the marsh adjoining. The plans
contemplated at that time included placing on the
property mortar battery Of sixteen guns. similar
to the one which is being constructed on the prop
crty. purchased at the same time adjoining Fort
Hamilton
Recently 1t was decided in considering the addi-
ticnal means OF defence to be provided for this
city. to establish a torpedo station on the Plumb
Island property Not far from (; Is the dcepwater
passage known Rockaway Inlet leading from
the ocean to Jamaica Bay between the point OF
Rockaway Beach and the Rockaway Shoal, lying
off Coney Island The inlet has greater depth
of water than the channel at Sandy Hook and 1t
would bc possible for battle-ship TO anchor or
the eastern end OF Coney Island. near Point Breeze
and with guns OF nine miles range reach the heart
OF the metropolis. OF course. she would be under
the fire OF the cannon and mortars at Forts Ham
iIon and WaGsworth and would be in greater
danger of receiving damage than the city could
fear from her. hut It has been deemed advisable
to protect the inlet by submarine mines and tor
pedocs.
In order 70 do this station for torpedoes Will
have to he established by as they could not
be operated from the forts at the Narrows. Plumb
Island Is tho most available point. and could be
projected and utilized far better than Rockaway
Point the Point Breeze end OF Coney Island. as
it lies further inland. But to make tho submarine
mines useful they would have 10 be protected from
danger of having the wires cut by tho enemy
and tho station must he defended against an as
saut from a party landing on the coast. To this
end II will he necessary to mount some rapid-'ire
guns AZ the station. commanding the coast line
and perhaps to provide soma guns Of greater cali
bre ard range.
The plans for terrifying Plumb Island provide all
these. ard the work can be hurried TO
completion the defcnces will be ready for the
mounting of guns. II Is thought that some or the
rapd-hrc guns expected from England will be utl-
lied at this point. The total number bought was
forty-four Of which twcnty-elght are to be trans
ported 10 other points along the coast leaving six
teen for AT the forts defending this port They
exactly suited for the required at the
Plumb Island offences II Will be possibl" ut any
time TO add mortar battery 10 tho armament at
this new point OF defence. which Will have range
OF three miles further seward than the Fort Ham
lion battery has. and vii! give the same protec-
ton off Coney Island and Eockaway that the SINH
lar battery AT Fort Hancock affords of Sandy
Hook. Tho big hotels at Manhattan and Brighton
beaches. rs well the many smaller ones nj 'oney
Island proper. and AT Rockaway Beach. will then
have far greater protection than heretofore. and
the extent OF It will take in Arvcrne. Edgemcre
Far Rockaway and Wave Crest. on the south side
OF Long Island. The dwcllcrs IN the cottages ct
Shccpshead Bay. many Of whom live all the year
rourd there are deeply interested In IN" prospect
OF having adequate dcfeuces At hand. so that their
homes Will not be wholly unprotected.
The coast Notifications OF the Department OF the
East have Just been placed entirely under the CON
troll of tho General commanding. This Is regarded
as a sure portcnt Of war IN time 81 peace IN"
Engineering Corps remains IN control OF All I'M
completed work. Smyar steps have been taken 20
place tho coastNlsc foA.h-aions IN the Department
OF the Guli and the Pac.nr Coast - 'nars, o'
the generals comma dng those departments The
expected 10 aNect tho Department OF tho East, -
it would simply take the forces further away from
nessec An inspection Of all the men now stationed
IA, has been begun by InsrcctO General r. +
Hughes under orders from General Merritt ~"
started FOR Fortrcss Monroe yesterday and viii 20
further South To- the limits OF the department hr-t
ard hen rcturn 70 ne other ror,e o. ,no in
spcciion OF the forts which hc has not already VS.
Statistic IN regard 20 r." railroad and steamship
lines 0. this port and the number OF men ih"y
can transport In given time were sen, 10 wa. d.
how long f. would take TO forward an army 70 ."y
point Most OF me line. r.fuscd - quotc ngn7rs ~
regard 10 the cost Of transpor iailon as Inc 'aLa
were too Indefinite. IL was not known at the
Quartcrmastcr's Department yesterday where IN"
guns and their projcctllcs were when IN" boVern-
mcuf recently purchased from tn" Armstrongs. IN
England The powder 10 charge The prol"ciilet
came in the Newt Orleans. and was uno'ded Al
Fort Wadsworth.
There WAS another conference In tho ONO" or inc
commssary OF Subsistence Yesterday be- w"cn rep
resentatiycs OF the tOmmistIrN Deparlm'ht OF
tho National Guard organizations ana the regular
Army officers charged with tho same work
II is expected that the experiments TO u" mace
with "a balloon for observations OFT IN. coast ana
signalling Will take place ut sandy HOOK rathrr
than ~ Fort Wadsworth. 10 which place the PAL
lrcti chi
bccn taken The work will excite far less atten-
tiou on Sandy Hook than II would or staten
Island where Il would be within sight Of all per
sons in tho Vicinity OF the fort. The wire connec-
lions between all the forts and headquarters by
snhmar,ne cable have been completed, and II IS
now easy to direct from Army Headquarters, or
The harbor from Sandy Hook 10 tho Sound.
CONFERENCES At ALBANY.