The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05
WAR TALK.


Coast With Twenty Mosquito Cruisers
10 900 Rounds of Ammunition Received
-The Southport Reserves Boys
Ready to start at q Moments Notice
In accordance with the orders issued
by Governor Russell. commaider-in-chief
of the North Carolina military forces, at
the request of the navy department, at
Washington. Ito Immediately proceed to
put the naval MALTA in thorough con-
dition to meet any sudden call for their
services by the president of the United
States" Commander George T.. Morton.
commanding the North Carolina Naval
Battalion. has the five divisions In condi-
ton to be ready for service upon receipt
of Geographic orders. The order from
Che navy department is to hold the re-
serves in readiness to move at a mo-
ment's notice.
Commander Morton tells us that the
Wilmington division would be ready to
man the monitor Nantucket and be off in
an hours time. The other divisions
would come here Immediately and join
them at Southport. Each division will be
recruited up to the fun requirements of
the navy, which is eighty-six men each.
The Wilmington division recruited sew
eral men yesterday.
In the event of war the Nantucket will
proceed to Southport for orders. She
would probably be stationed there and
the naval forces would be despatched
from her to patrol the entire coast Of
North Carolina. Fifteen or twenty small
steamers will be placed at their disposal
and will be known as the mosquito
fleet" They will also have one large
fast boat to cruise in a circuit from point
to point. Steamers will also be station
ed all along the coast to be used as hos
pital boats. Several steamers in the port
of Wilmington have been selected and
will be used for the mosquito fleet and
hospital service. Inquiries from Wash
ington as to certain teamer and tugs
here were received yesterday.
The monitor Nantucket is in very good
condition., and her armament is effective
for coast defense. She has two
smooth bore guns in her turret, and their
maximum range is from three to four
miles. She will also have two auxiliary
rapid fire guns that will discharge pro-
~jectiles at the rate of 200 shots a minute.
1t is said that one of these guns, though
of small calibre, is equal to a regiment
of men. They are terribly effective at
from three-quarters TO a mile. Each of
the divisions lis also equipped with two
breech loading rapid fire howitzers.
Seventy-five thousand rounds of ammu-
milton have been received and is being is
sued to the divisions of the North Caro-
lima Naval Battalion.
THE SOUTHPORT RESERVES.
A detachment of Southport Division,
North Carolina naval Battalion, came up
to the city yesterday morning on the
steamer Wilmington for the purpose Of
carrying back their canvass boat and
5000 rounds of cartridges for their Lee
magazine rifles. The members of the par
ty were Lieut.. Mark Farguson, COM
manding; Lieutenant Percy Canady, jun
ior grade, and Seamen Moody, Mintz, Ar
thur Dosher, Albert Savage, Willie
Thompson, Charles Hewlett, W.. r. Pin
ner, r. NJ. Morse, w. ]. Mintz, and c..
Ed. Taylor.
The boys looked like ode real ting" in
their natty new uniforms. They intended
to sail and row their boat back, but as
the tide and wind were both against
them, it was decided to tow down by the
steamer Wilmington, which went down
at 2:30 o'clock. The ammunition,
consisting of seven cases of cartridges,
was carried on board the Wilmington.
Their Lee rifles have not arrived yet, but
are looked for this week.
The canvass boat of the Southport di-
vision is like that of the Wilmington di-
vision. They arrived here a few weeks
ago. 1t is 26 feet long, 5 feet wide and
will carry 70 men. 1t has locks for ten
oars, and is rugged with a mainsail, fore
from the water and folded up. The Sides,
bottom and seats are juniper, and are
in sections So the men can each carry
a section. The boat can thus be easily
carried when necessary.
Members of the Southport division, who
are absent, have been ordered home to
with the order issued by Commander
Geo. l.. Morton.
THE TELEGRAPH LINE TO FORT
CASWELL.
We understand that the telegraph line
from Fort Caswell to Southport will be
built this week. The distance is about
three miles. Mr.. Sam Dosher, of South
port, will be operator ait the fort, and Mr..
". IS. Stevens will be operator at South
port.