The times., 1899-05-13
NEW YoRK,s pEFENcEs
The Metropolitan Harbor Fortifca-
tions Nearing Completion.


New York, May 12.-The New York har-
Dor defences have been pronounced, it is
reported, by the engineer officers at the
War Department as being within 80 per
cent of the condition of readiness contem-
plated in the general defence scheme At
the present rate of progress New York
will have received its full quota of high
powered guns and mortars by July /, 1901
The defences at the Narrows are rela-
lively further advanced, il is said than
those at Sandy Hook. The latter point,
however, Is regarded as the more i'm
portant of the two, since the object OF
all harbor defence schemes of the present
day is to keep the enemys fleet as far
away as possible from the object defended.
AS the second line of resistance, the Mar
rows are declared to be in readiness, even
| now, to block the progress of any fleet.
| At Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton
| disappearing guns of 12inch, 10-inch. and
S-inch are in position. On Fort Wads-
worth, and situated almost at the
top OF the hill, are disappearing S-iDch
guns capable of delivering a powerful
| plunging fire against the protective decks
| OF ships. These S-inch guns throw a
heavier she'll than the Navy S-inch wea-
pom, the army projectile( weighing 800
pounds, as compared with $50 pounds for
the navy shell.
All OF the guns mounted at Fort Wads-
| worth and Fort Hamilton have clear
| range down the main ship-channel the
Swash Channel, and the East Channel. The
zone of Are of the Narrows defences may
| be said to be entered by ship when she
is abreast of Romer Shoals. In addition
to the guns of the main batteries, the Mar
rows defences possess powerful batteries
of rapid fire guns placed in positions close
| to the waters edge. A number of Els
wick 4.7-inch guns, duplicates of guns of
| this calibre on the cruiser New Orleans,
are located at the Narrows. the special
| function assigned to them being the pro-
| lection of the mine-felds. 1t is safe to
| say, however, that the fire from these
rapid-fre guns in the water batteries would
| alone serve to hold in check any unar-
1 mored ship of an enemy.
According to the estimates furnished by
/ the engineer officers, the mine fields at the
| Narrows can be placed in readiness to re-
ceive an attack In twenty-four hours 1t
| is not meant by this that the full quota
of torpedoes can be placed in position in
| that time, but enough can be planted to
| assure the progress of a feet being dis
| puted, The full allowance of mines for
| New York Harbor can be installed, 1t Is
| declared, in seventy-two hours time. These
mines are kept in readiness for imme-
! diate placing, and no little care is neees-
sary to see that the electrical appliances
are maintained in constant state OF efii-
| cheney. Store-rooms for the torpedoes,
cables, and firing attachments have been
provided both at Fort Wadsworth and
Fort Hamilton. 1t was because OF the
need of the store-room afforded for torpe-
does in the old ammunition rooms at Fort
| Wadsworth that the Navy was compelled
to give up the use of that fort as naval
! magazine.
The defences at Sandy Hook are declared
at present to be in first-class condition,
so far as material is concerned. High
powered disappearing guns and sunken
imoVtar- batteries are now in position,
while additional guns are being mounted
The installation of the great 16-inch 12e-
ton gun, which will shortly be undertaken
at Sandy Hook, will still further augment
the defences there. The War Department
proposes to provide suitable facilities at
Sandy Hook, which will permit OF station
ing an infantry garrison there whenever
the needs of the service require it. The
arrangements will include kitchens. ETC.,
in protected places. and bomb-proof shell
tiers for occupancy during bombardment
The principal duty of an infantry force at
Sandy Hook in time of war will be the pro-
lection of the batteries against landing at
tacks. The guards and lookouts will also
be supplied from this force.
The defences of the eastern approaches
to New York harbor are declared to be well
advanced, and In about fourteen months
time, it is estimated, all guns designed to
be mounted in the vicinity of Fort sehuy-
Ter and Willet's Point will be in position.
The latest plan of the War Department, it
is announced, is to place battery OF dis-
appearing guns on Hart's Island. When
all batteries are Installed that are designed
for the defence of New York the artillery
and infantry force necessary to-work and
defend the guns will number collectively
about 1000 men,