The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-26
TO PATROL MINES.
New Duty Being Considered Tor the
Pennsylvania Naval


The Pennsylvania Naval Reserves will
be ordered to man boats armed with
small guns and patrol the Delaware
River mines from Philadelphia to Viii
mington. That is one Of the plans the
navy officials are said to be discussing.
There has been SO much trouble with
shippers OF trading vessels who have dis
regarded warnings and have sailed over
the mines, in some cases badly damaging
them, and at all times endangering their
own craft and the lives of those aboard
the vessels, that it is deemed necessary
to have stronger guard.
Commander Muckle, who returned
from Pittsburg, Pa, on Tuesday, when
asked if there was any probability that
his men would be ordered to guard the
mines, replied that he had nothing to
say about plans for the reserves, except
that they stood ready 20 answer any call
of the Navy Department.
He admitted that he had had a confer
ence with Captain Reeder of the Naval
Auxiliary Board, but said the matter
considered was not for the public to
know just yet. ..
The commander stated that the navy
officials were probably waiting tor Con-
gress to dispose OF the bill which takes
the naval reserves into the navy as a
body, officers and all, before calling out
the local men. The bill has passed the
House.
Having during his three months adj
ministration brought the divisions of re-
serves up to high standard, the COM
mander went to Pittsburg with Execu-
tive Officer Mltcheson, and they thor
oughly inspected the Third Division.
"The defenses OF Philadelphia and
Wilmington are impregnable as far
as human ingenuity can make them
This was the statement made by an
official high in command. The system
of submarine mines along all the APP
proaches to Philadelphia are complete,
but are subject to constant supervision
and correction. About Fort Delaware
they are planted SO thick as to make
navigation extremely dangerous. The
path for vessels is marked off by buoys
and is along a tortuous and intricate
path.
The number Of guns mounted on the
uelenSeS OF L DfIS lJelaNdtt anu hOUI anu
the Notifications on the Delaware side
are constantly being augmented. The
eight, ten and twelveinch rltled and
rapid-tiring guns and twelve-inch NOR
tars are expected to prove very effective
against hostile feet. There are a num-
Der OF Rodman guns, part OF the old de-
lenses, which have Zen restored and put
into shape for use. They will be very
effective at short range. a hostile fleet
in order to attack these cities must pass
these Notifications, as the river Is not
more than 700 yards wide, and between
the guns and the submarine mines the
defenses are in an absolutely impregra
Bile condition.
At noon Saturday the L. NJ. Spedden
Company Of Baltimore will launch the
steamer Nidettc for the United States en-
gineer corps, tor use at the new break
water to be built at the entrance to the
Delaware Bay.
The Nidette is steel steamer, 100 feet
long, u feet beam and II feet depth ("
hold. Her engine is OF the fore and at
compound type, with cylinders ID inches
and 80 inches diameter and stroke OF PTS
ton - inches The boiler is to work al
$50 pounds pressure, is OF steel and is 10.
fee! in diameter and II feet long. Two
pole masts to carry fore and aft canvas
will be stepped.