The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-24

General Greedy Makes an Important
Suggestion TO Secretary AIger.

General Greedy Makes an Important
Suggestion TO Secretary AIger.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Secretary AL
ger had with him in conference for some
time to-day Gen. A w. Greedy, chief signal
officer of the army. General Greedy has
urged upon the secretary the Importance
of an allotment of money for the purpose
of connecting the various parts of the forti-
fcations at seaport cities by means of cleo
trical communications, and in response to
his representations on this subject work
in that direction is about to begin in New
York harbor. Another matter which Gen.
Greedy thinks of great Importance to the
army in case of hostilities is the employ
ment of balloons for observation purposes.
lie has asked repeatedly for an appropria-
tion from Congress for experiments in this
line, but thus far his efforts to obtain
money have been unsuccessful. He hopes
that some money may be soon put at his
command for experimenting with balloons.
as he believes they would be invaluable for
many purposes in time of war. For in
stance, he says, while floating in the air
off the coast around any of the seaport
cities they could observe the presence of
ships of the enemy's fleet at a great dis
lance off shore, and by means OF the cable
attached to them and connecting with tele-
graph instruments below could disseminate
information of the fact while the ships were
yet a great distance Off Balloons, more
over, he thinks, would be of great value
to the military branch of the service
Should army of occupation be sent to
Cuba, the balloons would be of use, 1t is
thought in the observations of the opera
lions of the enemyS army, the country be-
ing quite thickly wooded so that 1t would
be impossible some times to ascertain the
movements of the opposing troops while on
the ground. Gen. Greedy does not believe
there is much danger to be feared from
the fire of the enemy, as experience has
shown it to be very difficult matter to
gauge properly the height to which the
aeronaut takes his balloon, and guns OF
peculiar pattern and manufacture are al
most a necessity for use against balloons
The Bureau of Ordnance to-day awarded
contracts for supplying about 1000 cast
iron projectiles for seacoast fortifcations.
AS rapidly as completed they will be shipped
to the various places at which they are
needed. Two Virginia companies were
given the contracts. the Petersburg Iron
Works and the Tredegar Company, of Rich
mond, the awards being distributed as fol-
lows: One hundred and eighty-seven ten
inch solid shot and 745 rweive-inch mortar
shells, the latter of 800 pounds each, to the
Petersburg company, and l65 of the twelve
inch mortar shells, OF 500 pounds each, ana
800 twelve-inch mortar Shells or l,OOO
pounds each; to the Tredegar Company
order changing the methods OF making re-
ports by officers in the Inspector Generals
Department During the last administra-
fion these reports were made direct to the
officeiof the secretary of war at Washing
ton, but the order issued to-day contem-
plates that they be made hereafter to the
heads of the departments in which they
may be located. This, 1t IS believed Will
greatly facilitate business coming before
the military divisions.
Secretary Ayers office, at the War De-
partment, presented an unusually busy as
pect to-day. Much of the secretary's time
was occupied in conference with the various
bureau chiefs of the department in connec-
ton with preparations to improve the fCrti-
ficationS on the SeacoaSt. In addition, there
We're number of members of Congress
who called to have word with the secre-
tary, among them being Senator's Lodge and
Hoar and Representative Marsh, of Illinois.
Abner Mckinley, the Presidents brother,
was also among those who called but his
stay was very brief. Representative Marsh
is chairman of the House commcttee mi
litia, which has recently reported the bill
10 reorganize the body of state soldery.
To raise its efficiency and TO appropriate a
million dollars for its support. The chair
man said he had spoken TO Speaker Reed
recently IN regard to the bill. and he hopes
TO be able to call ii up in the House for
consideration within reasonable time.
During his interview with Secretary Alger
Mr.. Marsh urged that in the event of hos
ttities the first recourse of the government
for soldiers be the state militia, who should
be invited to volunteer for the countrys
defense. These men, he pointed cut, are
Wen organized. well drilled and Differed
and are in position to render very effect
I've service. In view OF these facts. Mr..
Marsh believed that it was the duty of the
government TO call upon these citizen SOL
OlerS iOT uutg III case Iney care TO NOiJn-
teer. If any members or officers of the
guard preferred not to enlist because of
family or business cares and responsible
ties, then their places might be taken by
volunteers from outside the service Secre-
tary Alger was very much interested in the
arguments made by Mr. Marsh, and while
not committing himself on that subject
seemed to regard the suggestions made by
him as practicable. Afterwards Mr. Marsh
called on President Mckinley and repeated
the statements he had made to the secre-
tary.
During the morning Secretary Aiger was
also in conference with General Miles, COM
mancing the army, respecting the military
occupation Of Fort Jefferson, on Dry Tor
tugas island. The determination to garrison
this fort has been reached by the secretary
after a conference with his aids and the
Navy Department officials, ard the ques-
tons now 10 be met are those OF what i'm
proyemet In the Notifications now there
may be necessary. Already a contract has
been let by the Navy Department for
dredging a large part OF the harbor OF the
Island so az 10 permit the entrance OF large
naval vessels and to-day bids were opened
for erecting an immense she'd in which the
navy VIII store large supplies of coal IL is
realized. however, that without very ma
Lerlal improvements and additions 10 the
fonficadfons and armament OF Fort Jef
1erson II would be impossible 10 protect the
coal supply from the depredations OF a hos
tie neet unless United States ssen-of-war
were constantly on hand for that purpose.
Inc armament for Fort Jefferson mt this