The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-26
IN ARMY CIRCLES.
Preparations 10 Move Men and Am
munition 10 Fort Washington.


munition 10 Fort Washington.
NORFOLK, VA. February Especial
There is every indication at Fort Mon
roe that war is anticipated. Even the
officers do not hesitate 10 say that they
expect a crisis In ten days.
Forty cases Of 555-pound projecules for
ten-inch guns have been loaded on four
teen cars and will be sent 10 Fort Wash
ington. about ten miles below Washing
ton city.
1t is also said that one company Of ar
tllery has been ordered TO hold itself IN
readiness 10 be transferred to some other
Doint-possibly Fort Washington.
This report cannot be confirmed at this
hour.
COAL CONTRACTS.
PITrSBURG. PA, Feb. 2j.-Ihe Post
tomorrow will say:
1t was learned to-day IN Pittsburg,
through an officer OF one ofthe largest coal
corporations doing business in this dis
trict that the Navy Department had
closed contracts with the incorporated
firm OF Cashier Curran Bulltt' OF
! Philadelphia. for the delivery at Key
West. Sand Keys. Dry Tortugas, Sa-
vannah. Charleston and Fort Monroe OF
$1,000 tons OF Pocahontas coal. ard with
the Rhodes & Beldler Company, Of Cleve-
I land for the delivery of 5000 tons OF
Goshen coal Of that company
1.-The stipulations Of the contracts Just
placed are that the coal so ordered shall
be delivered at the designated coaling sta
lions as soon as It is possible 20 do so,
and that the utmost secrecy be observed
about the matter.
I'm carrying ont these contracts the
! railroads play a most prominent part
and for the purpose of moving everything
as expeditiously az possible President NJ.
r. ingalls,. OF the Chesapeake and ONO
railroad. Receiver oscar c. Murray OF
the Baltimore and Ohio, and General
Manager l.. f. Tore, Of the Pennsylva-
MIA. went TO washington. last week, and
consulted with secretary Long, OF the
navy and Assistant Secretary George
Meikejohn, OF the War Department, Oh
the matter.
THE contracts and arrangements for
the rapid handling and shipping of the
coal were made. ana the Government ~
is understood. agreed to pay bonus TO
both the coal miners and the railroads II
the 100000 tons were delivered within a
specified time" ..
PREPARED TO MOVE TROOPS.
TAMPA. FLA. Feb. 25.-Although the
officials Of the company have not So
stated publicly pretty much everybody
here understands that the plant system
has completed arrangements for the
TRANSFORMATION of troops and munitions Of
/ war 10 Havana on short notice
All of their ships have been placed IN
condition for emergencies. Should war
be declared. IL is said that they have per-
fected plans to land large body OF
troops in Havana within thirty-six hours
after their arrival at this place
Troops can be transported from Wash
.ngton and New York TO this port in from
twenty-four 20 thirty hours.
The company has also made arrange
ments. It is understood TO land promptly
men and arms al Key West and ali stra-
! teeic points on the Florida coast and at
} Mobile
| GENERAL MERRITT'S INSPECTION.
ATLANTA, GA, Feb. &-Major-Gen-
eral Merritt. commander OF the Depart
/ ment Of the East to-day Inspected Fort
! Mcpherson, and was very much pleased
with the appearance of all departments.
! He left this evening for The next post
IN his territory-Fort Belcrss. Pensacola
TORPEDOES IN EAST RIVER.
/ NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-The Brooklyn
! Eagle to-day said:
/ Al Winets Point precaution IS being
1 taken To make the East river entrance
| 10 New York invulnerabi'
J A so-called skirmish line OF torpedoes
! Is projected from Willets Point shore
across the channel TO Fort Schuyler. The
! torpedoes will be anchored so as to make
| II impossible for a hostile vessel TO cross
! the line without being blown up. The
! torpedoes viii be connected with cleo
! tric wires and to make doubly sure that
/ their plans cannot be frustrated. the
| eneincers have arranged 20 have bat
I teriss located at each end OF the line so
! that In case an apparatus was used 10y
| tho enemy 10 sever the connection and
break the circuit the torpedoes could
! stin be exploded from either end OF the
/ lire.
The channel Is already protected from
! the Winet's Point shore 10 the centre OF
| the channel by two groups OF submarine
! mines.
Each group Of mines consists Of twenty
two torpedoes forty-four together con .
tanning l20 pounds OF giant powder.
SEA COAST BATTERIES.
TRENTON. n. j.. Feb. 25.-Men have
! been at work placing the sea coast bat
! tcries at Sea Girt in order for service.
ne quartermaster generals office
; 70 was denied. however that this haS
any significance. as this work is usual at
this time OF the year.