Evening journal., 1898-04-18
DELAWARE NOT MINED.
Major Raymond Contradicts
Fake Statements.
PUBLIC NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN

No one can predict what the effect OF
war with Spain would be on the COM
merce of the United States, domestic as
we'll as foreign. Probably large ma
jOrity of those who are demanding IN
slant hOstilities have given no thought
to this feature. If they have, they have,
perhaps, dismissed it by saying that
only a small portion Of the foreign
commerce of the United States is car
ried in American ships and foreign
vessels would not be molested. The do
nestle commerce Of the United States,
represented on the Atlantic seabOard by
the immense coasting trade, is re-
quired by law to be carried in Ameri-
can vessels. That trade would un-
doubtedly suffer, but to what extent it |
would remain to be seen.
1t is a question as to whether anyone |
has taken into consideration the LA |
bility Of interference to commerce by |
defensive measures on the part of the |
United States Government. When in |
reference with commerce is mentioned, |
it means, in the mind Of the average
citizen, interference on the part of the
enemy through the capture of merchant
vessels at sea. Such was undoubtedly
the case in the wars of the past.
But war between Spain and the
United States would be very different
from any Of the wars in the past War
is becoming more and more Of a sci
ence, with specialists and experts in
| the various departments of the army
and navy, charged with offense and de-
| fence. The officers of the army and
navy Of the United States have been
studying the problems of warfare, as
| Il rsr
the civil war; and war If it comes, will
be carried on in the light Of all the
facts and theories which have been
gained in that time, and not in accord
ance with the practice of the civil war.
| Defensive operations may cause such
interference with the movements Of
merchant vessels, to and from harbors,
as to cause great losses from delay.
This will apply to foreign as well as to
American vessels. Probably the most
important interference of this character
will develop when the orders are sent
from Washington to plant submarine
mines at the entrance to the harbOrs OF
the country.
The harbor entrances will then be in
the charge of the army officers, and
the guarding Of the groups Of subma-
rine mines from interference or disar-
rangement will probably necessitate
stringent rules for the navigation OF
vessels while in their vicinity, and
3 | perhaps the employment Of special
government pilots. The prohibition Of
, the movement of vessels across the
o imine fields at night win become neces
isary, thus limiting the time for the en-
- trance and departure Of vessels to day
| light. This in itself will cause mucl
h delay in the movement of vessels.
1t is not known how marine insur
5 ance companies will regard risks OF
vessels entering and leaving harbor
r in which submarine mines are known
/. to be established. II is a phase OF wa
;. risk that the Insurance companies havi
r never yet had to deal with.
The reported establishment of sub
marine mines in the Delaware river
: near Fort Delaware, has been the caus
of considerable alarm TO shad fisher
neil, whose season is now we'll started
and to others, who fear interferenc
with their vocation in the vicinity o
the mines. Major Raymond, tn
United States engineer officer in charg
Of the defences of the Delaware river
was asked yesterday what ground ther
was for their fears, and how the plant
ing Of the mines would interfere wit
Major Raymond said that, of cours'
no submarine mines have yet bee
planted in the river. When it is don
due notice will be given.
I'VE are ready" said he, "to estal
fish the mining defence at a moment
notice, and the work can be done befoI
a hostile vessel can possibly ascend th
river"
In reply to the question whether th
mines would not be dangerous
friendly vessels, Major Raymond sal
that they would not be dangerous If IL
river was navigated under strict regI
lations.
LAS soon as the river is mined" I
said, "all navigation between suns
and sunrise will have to be suspende
No vessel could safely pass through ol
mine fields unless conducted by a col
iidential pilot of the government. tt
locations of the mines will be know
only by the engineer officers and d
commanding officers at the forts"
Major Raymond said: Popular ide
. with reference TO submarine mines a
naturally very erroneous. The who
az. | submarine mining system adopted f
rer the defence Of harbOrs has been deve
by oped at the Engineering School at w
the Corps of Engineers Of the arm
t. The experiments and investigation
- connected with it have been in progre
there for more than thirty years. r
. system is confidential and no o
:. knows much about it except the of
1et GERS of the Engineer Corps and f'
line officers of the regular army, W
have been trained there.
Z ''It is, of course, impossible to esta
lish secretly, a complete system of su
49,. marine mines in a harbOr and have
0o' harbor used by friendly vessels witho
their knowledge Of the mines. A f
mines might be established but preca
sts lions would have to be taken to Ike
Sts friendly vessels away from them. Thil
necessary, not only for the safety Of
vessels, but also to protect the mil
st from disturbances which might rene
them inactive"
The supposition is that when
lch mines have been established at #
Delaware guard boats will be placed
duty above and below the field to