New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-25
GORHAM
Sterling
SilVerWareS
Broadway & 10Th St.
q Maiden Lane.
ARMY HEADQUARTERS NEW s
WHAT OFFICERS AND MEN ARE DOING
AT GOVERNORS ISLAND.
COLONEL. BARBER TO MAKE TRIP TO SANDY
HOoK-GENTRAL MERRrTT~s ABSENCE NOT
SIGNIFICANT PREPARATIONS THE
Broadway & 10Th St.
q Maiden Lane.

BEST PREVENTIVE OF WAR.
Colonel Merritt Barber. United States Army. Ad-
tutant- General Of the Department Of the East who
in charge at Governors Island in the absence Of
Major General Merritt his tour OF inspection Of
Southern forts. will pay visit to-day TO Sandy
Hook While the trip IS ostensiby a pleasure one.
Colonel Barber will be accompanied by some
friends who wish to go down the Bay Sightseeing.
he Will undoubtedly observe the preparations made
at Fort Hancock. where a detail Of twenty men
sent last week TO take charge of the newly
completed high-powe- rifed cannon. put In position
TO defend the entrance 10 the harbor. He will also
visit the quarters being built for four companies Of
artillerymen. who will be stationed at this impor-
tant point = the force OF artillery in the
Army is increased by the enlistment Of two new
regiments. The favorable action OF the House Of
Representatives upon the measure providing for
this which the Senate has passed. IA confidently
expected.
Nothing heard az his headquarters yesterday
from General Merritt, who was expected 70 reach
Atlanta at ?. m. He will inspect For McPher-
son there to-day. and then go on 70 Neag-Orleans.
where ne will visit Forts Jackson and s.. Philip
The point he will go on his tour OF inspec-
ton is Fort Barrancas. Florida. near Pensacola.
There was no news at headquarters 70 transmit TO
General Merritt. Tho report that he was suddenly
called upon by the War Department to make an
inspection of the Southern means Of defence was
dlsproved by the records In the Office, which show
ago to Washington stating that 1t was his pur-
pose go at this time tour OF inspection. to
last about two weeks unless there was something
10 prevent his doing
1T is conclusive proof" said Army officer
yesterday that nothing In the way OF IN inter-
national complication IS feared by the Govern
ment this timc. that General Merritt has gone
from his headquarters for fortnights absence
There is ground for tho reports that hostilities
are imminent. but we do not deny that everything
IS being done put fortfcations in E state Of
readiness for use. That is the pest way 10 pre-
serve peace. In the time Of Calhoun the sum of
&6100o9 was spent upon the Notifications OF this
them with guns. ammunition and supplies. To-day
these all useless. and even in 1851 they were or
vent a far greater expenditure in a foreign war.
which we might have had If we had not defended
may all be of date before il Is used but It Will
serve PURPOSE If !, prevents nos,iites ss,rr n,acea
across the Narrows ridiculed at Army head.
quarters and it was said 10 be unworthy even %, OF
channel both at Sandy Hook and at the Narrows,
with submarine mines and torpedoes wh h ga, can
are in the hands Of the engineers OF the War De
II to % put the nreyss as
they might endanger merchant vessels or the pig
take only a short time to protect the nareor and
long before any foreign warships could steam up
the Bay everything possible to destroy them would
At Governors Island yesterday, the Infantry OF
the 18TH Keglintll was tHgdbtu III tlc Itt ua'
Thursday drill. In the morning there were mill
tary athletic exercises to slow music; and In the
afternoon skrmish drill. In Fort Columbus awk-
ward squads Of new recruits were under instruc-
ton. We only recruit as we need to M vacan-
ces" said officer. and turn away many more
men than take The Army by law cannot ex-
coed twenty-five thousand men, and we keep about
two hundred and Fifty three hundred below that.
We do not enlist any men 10 send TO distant
points as the Government has funds 10 pay
transportation II men are wanted at any point
they must be enlisted al that place.
Il do not think the headquarters OF this Depart
rnent should be here on Governors Island. or at
any post but they should be in the Army Build
ing In New-York City. We have no more 10 10
with the post here AT Fort Columbus man we
have with the score more OF other garrisoned
posts IN the Department. and should not be sta
toned here with Il. But that Is for the War De
partnent 10 decide. II Congress passes the bill
10 sell this island 20 the city for a park, then
Headquarters would have 10 be moved TO the Army
Building 10 other point