Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-27
FROM WASHINGTON.
rCorrespondence of the Alexandria Gazette

]
Washington, d. c., August27.
According to advices received at the
War Department, the shore deienses OF
Long Island Sound, Newport, New Lon
don and Narragansett have been put III
such good condition in anticipation OF
the coming manoeuvers that, If actual
war were impending and if the United
States navy co-operated, they would be
absolutely impregnable to the combined
nayies of the world. Such is Mayor
Gen. MacArthur's opinion after care,
full inspection of the forts which defend
this important stretch of coast. The
telegraph. telephone and cable service
connecting the forts has been placed IN
efficient condition by the signal corps so
that at the first sighting of the hostile
feet under Admiral Higginson, which
will be designated as the red fleet, news
of it. approach will be instantly com
municated along the entire line OF de-
tense. Wireless telegraphy and auto
mobiles have also been pressed into the
service of the defending army. Three
tugs equipped with wireless telegraphy
instruments and powerful telescopes will
be stationed Is miles off shore and at the
first sign of suspicious sail will flash the
information to the forts. Three auto
mobiles are to be used to convey officers
and supplies from fort not engaged IN
the fight to one that is under attack.
Target practice is being conducted at the
iorts with the guns mounted on dlsap-
pearing carriages. Reports indicate that
the guns and carriages work beautifully
! but the men are not used to them so that
the shooting records are below standard.
Nathan b. Scott, junior republican
Senator from West Virginia, who IS in
Washington, says that the coal strike
will do no material harm to the political
canvass in Pennsylvania and West Nlr-
ginia this fall. There will be repub
ican loss, he predicts, because negro
miners and Others have gone from Penn
sylyania and West Virginia to Other
States. "The negro workman is some
what timid," said Mr.. Scott, "and when
he is threatened with determination /
he takes the places of strikers III tho
coalfelds or wants to go back Il
work in the coal mines, he becomes
frightened and emigrates to some other
State in search of work. This will lose
us some strength this fall.
Senator Martin, of Virginia, was in
the city yesterday on his way to at
tend the horse show at Warrenton.
He says that the campaign in Virginia
this year, will be tame. The regis
tration under the new constitution will
practically eliminate the negroes, and,
consequently, there will be little left OF
the republican voting strength. In ref
erence to President ROosevelfs state
ment that he wants republican candidates
for Congress nominated in every district
in Virginia, the Senator takes the
Gazette's view, that the republicans OF
1 Virginia are better acquainted with the
conditions in their State than is the
| President.
! The Auditor for the Interior Department
Robert s. Person. in his annual report ia
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw, states that
II, S74 accounts and claims against the United
States were settled during the past fiscal year.
The expenditure involved in the settlement
aggregated $l5S, OS9, 1856 FOur-ftths OF
this sum, 1924, 93j, 53e, was used in the pay
ment of pensions.
The Census Bureau reports that more than
"a per cent. of the oyster canning industry Is
carried on in Baltimore.