The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-09
Forts Ready for Inspection by
Ordnance Officer.
,mpREoNABLe AGAINST ATTACK
zine Riaes and Sixteen Mortars Dis
tributed between Forts Casey
and FIaglcr-AI1 Are Mounted and
Awaiting Inspection by Proper
omcers-An Unfounded story of
Injury 10 Guns Mt Fort Casey.

Nine heavy guns and sixteen big mortars
have been mounted on Notifications at Fort
Ttsgier and Fort Casey at the entrance
az puget sound, and are awaiting inspec-
flon by the properly qualified Officers OF
tho ordnance department OF the United
states army. When these guns are tested
and those to be erected at Point Wilson
are In place, the Sound viii be impregna-
bic, in the opinion Of skilled experts I'm the
art Of war. against attack from foreign
enemy.
Az matter OF fact the guns now In place
At Flagler and Casey are more formidable
ana more effective in case of an attack by
n hostile fleet than was the whole Spanish
armament in the island OF Cuba at the out
break OF the late war between this country
and Spain. This statement In made on the
authority OF a military expert who Is IN
position TO know the capabilities OF the
Sound Notifications as they stand at pres
ent and who made a study of those Of
Moro Castle, Havana, Mt Santiago and
other fortified points on the coast Of Cuba
when the war broke out in April. 1898.
Information for Foreigners.
war department officials are reticent
when matters concerning the fortincations
which guard the entrance to Puget sound
arc mentioned. II IL against the code for
such officials to give out information con-
corning these Notifications. Yet, by a pro-
cess OF reasoning on part OF the Washing
ton authorities, information concerning
coast defenses az to the number of guns.
their character. etc. IL often freely given
TO military attaches Of foreign countries on
duty at Washington.
The guns which now present frowning
front to any foreign invader entering the
strait OF ruca were all handled through
a. nd hat II. utaA cha mt
we'll known. There are two twelve-inch
rifles at Marrowstone. built on the latest
model and having power to propel destruc-
ton incased In $40 pounds OF steel dis
tance OF between Ave and seven miles.
There are also three ten-inch rifles at Mar
r0wstone, and four similar engines OF de-
struction at Casey.
The latter fortress IL also equipped with
q powerful mortar battery. but the number
OF mortars Is known only 20 the local army
officers and the department at Washington.
Guns Not Damaged.
An Associated Press dispatch from WASH
inston published in yesterdays Post-Intel-
liEencer contained the statement that two
Of tho guns at Fort Casey had been dis
abied through somebody's carelesmess The
statement IL unfounded. however. as the
reports on file at the war department Office
at Washington show The guns were land
ed on tho beach at Marrowstone point over
year ago. A party Of campers built fire
near them, which was communicated to the
timbcrs supporting the guns. 1t was feared
for time that they had been warped By
the heat. but an official Investigation proved
that the guns had sustained no injury.
Capt. Charles II. Clark, OF the ordnance
department. of the army. who il station
cd at Beneoia. Cal. has been ordered to
inspect the guns at Forts Casey and Flag
Ter. and will probably visit the Sound in
the course OF hts itinerary this spring. Capt.
Clark will test the guns by firing Them and
will report to the department concerning
their efficiency.