The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-12
NEW COAST DEFENSE
CAPT. j. c. GILMORE, APPOINTED
BY WAR DEPARTMENT FOR
TYBEE.
TO PLANT SUBMARINE WORKS.
GOVERNMENT BEGINS ITS COAST
IMPROVEMENT AT SAVANNAH.

Capt. Gilmore n Graduate of the
ton at Fort TOtten. New York.
viii Succeed Captain CruiI1shank.
To be Second in Rank at Post.
Government Will Probably In
stall New Defenses at Once.
Capt. j. c. Gilmore. L. S. A, spe-
cial officer appointed by the War De-
partment to take charge of the sub
marine defense preparations in this
district, arrived yesterday from
Washington. He spent last night in
Savannah and will leave this morning
for Fort Screven.
The coming of Capt. Gilmore marks
a new era in submarine operations on
the coast, and his work will be watch
ed with interest not only by the Of
icers at the post, the corps of en-
gineers and the department at Wash
ington, but also by those who are
row in the government school of in
struction at Fort Totten. Capt. Gill
more is a recent graduate of the
school, which was begun by the gov
eminent Immediately after the war
with Spain when the need of addi-
tional instruction in submarine de-
Tense became alarmingly apparent.
There have been, so far, but seven
graduates of the school. The govern
ment is expanding enormous amounts
Of money in the improvement of the
coast defense at present, and contem-
plates the installation of the most i'm
proved system and the institution of
the methods taught at the new school
at Fort Totten. Capt Gilmore is the
first officer assigned for this duty in
the South, and his coming is indica-
tive of the intention of the War De-
partment to eXpend funds in the i'm
proVement of the post at Tybee.
Plans for Tybee Defense.
II do not know whether there is a
mining casemate at the fort or not"
he said in answer to a question last
night. But if there is not, l presume
one Will be put in right away. 1 can
not say just what my duties will be at
the post, more than generally speaking.
l am sent by the department, whose
policy it is to establish a thorough
coast defense along the harbors of the
lied by Section 81 of the act passed in
October, 1901, wherein it is provided
that an officer shall be stationed in
each district who shall have charge of
the submarine operations.
Until a short time ago the planting
of mines was one of the offices of the
Engineering Corps, but it was found
1t was much more practicable to have
the work performed by the artillery, in
whose charge the manipulation of the
mines was placed. You see, this fore
stalls any clash in authority which
might otherwise arise where there are
two departments in charge of the
work"
Succeeds Capt. Cruikshank.
Capt Gilmore will succeed Capt. w.
M. Crpikshank, whose command has
been in charge of Lieut.. r. B. Mcbride
since he left several months ago to at
tend the school from which Capt. Gill
more has just graduated. Capt. Gill
more said that he had received splen-
did account of Savannah and the post
from Capt Cruikshank. He said that
Capt. Cruikshank had often spoken of
the great amount of interest mani
tested in military affairs and in rifle
practice in Savannah.
Capt. Gilmore will be second in rank
at Fort ScreVen. He is a young man
both in the cavalry and artillery. He
has held numerous commissions,
among them being second lieutenant.
Fourth Cavalry; first lieutenant,
Fourth Artillery; captain and A A. G.
Volunteers; captain and A c. M, and
major, Forty-third United States Vol
unteers, during the late war. He is a
son of the distinguished Gen. John C.
Gilmore.
Capt. Gilmore will arrive at the post
this morning, where he will be met by
Col. Taylor He will enter at once up-
on the discharge of his duties