The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-02
Guns in Fine Shape to Meet
Naval Attack
OFFICERS BUSY WITH PLANS
Most Interesting and Important Fea-
ture Of ManeuVers VIII Be DEM
onstratIon Touching Outbreak of
HostIIltles In Southern Waters.

Washington, September 1.-Tne guns in
the Long Island forts are in fine shape to
meet the attacking movement of the
navy, according to reports received at the
war department from General Crozier,
chief of army ordnance, who has been
making a tour of the army defenses to
observe the preliminary target practice
and the workings of the guns. In letter
received at the par department the gem
eral states the guns at Fort Wright
functioned in an especially gratifying
manner. The big 12-inch guns were fired
with both practice and full charges and
gave a good account of themselves. The
three 6-inch guns were given some inter-
esting practice work at ranges of from
5000 to 1000 yards firing at a moving tar
get. Each of them fred thirty-three
rounds with great rapidly and the target
was entirely destroyed. In one Of the
carriages a leak developed, but the acci-
dent was not thought serious enough to
stop the firing. From Fort Wright Cen
eral Crozier proceeded to Fort Adams
and thence to Newport to observe the
work at those points.
Naval Officers to Work.
Even while the combined maneuvers
are In progress at the eastern end OF
Long Island sound, body of naval Off
GERS is steadily at work planning the de-
tails for the winter naval operations az
Culebra Islands. The problems there
presented differs essentially from those
now being practically determined on the
New England coast. 1t is true that there
will be search problem sucn as preced-
ed the joint maneuvers now going on,
but in the West Indian waters the chase
will be on a much grander scale for
probably the combined command made
up of the fleets from the North Atlantic,
the European and the South Atlanta sta
lions will engage IN the pursuit of the
flying foe.
But the most interesting ana important
feature of the work will be the practical
demonstration of certain theories that
have been evolved by the naval general
board touching initial operations in case
of an outbreak of hostilltIes IN southern
waters. Culebra Island lies on the ex-
IRENE edge of the farthest circle of de-
Tense and 1t is regarded as the most feas-
ible base for the operations of a United
States defensive feet.
Place Not Fortified.
The place Is not fortified as yet and
ma not be taken over by the army and
fortified for several years. So the prob
lem presented is the rapid occupation
and fertilization of the island by the
naval acting single handed on the theory
that the army in the throes of organiza-
tien cannot meet the emergency. The
Dixie. the Panther, and another COM
bined transport and cruiser will be laden
with all of the material and guns needed
for the island and kept In waiting at the
Norfolk navy ayrd, ready for the word
That word may come upon the departure
from Europe of the European squadron
and the effort will be made to reach
| Culebra to land guns and marines and
generally place the island in condition
to resist a naval assault without the as
sistance of a defensive fleet.
If 1t is shown that this plan will work,
then 1t would appear that hostile feet
| could not pass Culebra into the Caribbean
| of gulf without mourning the danger of
| having its communications cut Off by
| even a small United States fleet with
| submarines and a monitor or two which
| could find safe refuge In case of need
in the defense of Culebra. When this
problem is worked out the fleets will be
combined and enter upon an extensive