New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
MANNING FORTIFICATTONS.
MEN SENT TO SANDY HOOK AND VIII,
LETS POINT.

NEED OF MAKING THE DErENcEs OF NETWORK
HARBoR ADEoUATT-vrEws OF ARMY
oFFIcERs-MoRTAR BATTERIES TO
SHELL INVADERS.
The Importance Of strengthening the defences
of the port OF New-York has not been overlooked
by Government officials especially in such condi-
ton OF public sentiment prevails at the pres
ent time when single overt act may precipitate
a conflict. and the value OF adequate preparation
for any emergency is fully felt There has been
no neglect on the part Of those in charge 10 use
TO the full every measure OF precaution, and 10
place the harbor Notifications in condition TO repe
any attack. The only lack has been the appropria-
ton Of adequate amounts for the purpose Of forti
flying all the available points OF defence The mig
gardy sums set apart for this purpose by Congress
have been used with and economy, and have
gone as far as possible in equippng the forts with
modern high-power guns disappearing carriages.
mortar batteries and rapd-hre rifed TO
repel armored battle-shps
Large sums have been spent in the last few
years in building and equipping modern warshps.
until large feet Of armored crusers is available
The loss Of one like the Maine shows how easily
millions OF money be destroyed in moment
How far the ordnance defending this harbor could
be made effective in repellng an attack Of foreign
warships or how much they could be disabled II
they came within the range OF mortars carrying
nine miles, remains 10 be seen. But II the ships
should run by the forts and water batteries there
is still the peril Of submarine mines and torpedoes
which would TO make commanders cautious.
Repeated experiments have shown that II Is COM
parativey easy 10 attach torpedo 10 vessel
and send her to the bottom n desired. and the
danger is greater than is Willingly undergone.
Renewed attention was directed yesterday 10 the
strengthening Of the means OF defence about the
port Of New-York by the report that two hundred
artierymen had been detached from the posts a.
Forts wadsworth. Hamilton and slocum and sen.
to Sandy Hook 10 man the guns there, where the
Government proving-grounds situated. The
facts In the matter. as ascertaned at Governors
Island, where General Wesley Merritt is In COM
mand Of the Department Of the East, that
detachment OF twenty went on Friday night
from Fort Wadsworth 20 Sandy Hook to take
charge OF the guns recently mounted there.
and tina, yesterday morning twenty more men
detached from Fort Schuyler and sent across the
East River TO Willets Point, where some other
new guns are In position.
ONLY THE USUAL TRANSFER
This transfer Of men," said a regular Army on
GER is the customary thing in stationins them
whenever any work Is completed by the Board
Of Engineers and turned over to the General oom-
handing. Only few weeks ago made a sim
liar transfer. No sent in this instance
from Fort Hamilton from Fort slocum, on
the present juncture gives fictitious importance to
any change. The oily thing that bothers W IL
where to get the men need. owing to the limited
strength Of the regular Army. / think the next
transfer will have to be made from Washington.
There might be stress laid upon the fact that
the men were sent down to Sandy Hook at 3 O'clock
Friday night. But that was simply due 70 delay
in giving the orders and they might we'll have
gone at Q o'clock in tho morning When the order
sent the boat had gone that they could
be taken until the late hour The transfer at VIII
lets Point made at the regular trip Of the
boat there to-day. We have no expectation OF war
but In view OF such disaster the loss Of the
Maine exercising every precaution in re-
gard to caring for our ammunition. No matter
what precautions exercised for a time, they will
fall and into disuse. until It becomes
necessary 70 order extra vigilance. That is what
observing now. All that IS possible to be
done with the men and guns az our command VIII
be done In any emergency that arise 1t is not
necessary 70 say that the United States expects
every 10 do his duty. Every man has done
his duty IN the past and may be depended upon 10
do 1t In the future n occasion requires the regu-
lar Army be quadrupled by volunteers in few
days and with the means provided by Congress to
amin them. we could put large force IN ,he peia
49, 80. rottcs While we ali hope no such Crisis
NIL, come Z, II does we will he prepared TO meet H.
xrv-yoRKs DEFENCEs HIDDEN
r, ,,r,,scat,ons about the harbor OF New-fo rH
20 an ~ tha class known as concealed. Ihere Is
- sunicent height OF ground for d resu'ai .
~. limit set by the War Department peI"s ~
a. oror,v attempting 70 reach Ne"-iorK oy INC
ron.a ~ ocean steamers woulu MIS- e"e'
s,,,ces az Sandy Hook. While TINS Is not ~.
u - sense IL is the site OF a mortar pat
- 1"' ,od with sixteen pinch mortars eaPdo'c
=. orrying shells eight miles. Ihere arc ~ -
VI o. ne, guns torpedo tubes and rapid-nre guns
- Tho Government property there 10 NJ"
" .t waving grounds. and Is useo loi for The
arnor as the site IS an aulniIs and 81 captain
oanlo,, II Is under the coWtahu, y, Mont-
Lurp9Set rtb md First LieuieE.lts peo' r.asnn
LIN LAWSON VI. Fuller ana -, ,,ney A. this
solt,IjS he work was done last sunni annloyed
'onsldel - wing 10 the number OF men ura 20
pa {eet',chment OF troops had 10 DC SEM
preserve the p DEL succeeded In evadne the fre Ul
II a We Al sandy Hook and escaplhs ,hsmarine
pcdoes which can De esq be would have to run
the gantet Oh Dn INC sides of the Narrows. A.
Wadsworth OF Ppnortar batteries have been oulI..
hoth 9l Dhhyi battery known formerly as IND
rT Pevenna batteries mas recs" ~ FORT on the
d.u -" ,,or II is lust south OF the ~ oa,ars
Fort Newton Fort Wadsworth is at ne "a'er IT.
toP oi and has an old water battery Fort Tomp-
OF date on me n' mere in the war Of lSl2 The
Rns Th for Rere nameess G %a DiiSa
termed 1.-THE toTL on newer guns with disappearing
There are az Fort Hamilton, recently pun ~. bfore
viii give more ADEQUATE W botb side. of the Mar
atolueu, r1,and the lower bay ana me rgGins
or Coney Island. they ca can =, water and she'll
from ~ Ter part OF the enlarged cry. ~ art ~
nsre dropping in Brooklyn anu MID exodus 10 HAIR
ad The Bronx for safety the arrsnged
Narrows is also guardeu ~ - The change In mod
on eab0raSIs ~ warfare by the advance OF lasD s
lion no EFFORT has been maI It ~ nroximity TO the