New-York tribune., 1908-08-23
ARMY SCHOOL MOVING.
Fort Totten Submarine Defence
Plant Going to Fortress Monroe.

Bv water and rail the School of Submarine
Defence at Fort Totten, Long Island Is Deihg
moved this month to its new quarters down tle
coast in Fortress Monroe, Virginia Seldonl' save
In war times, do army quartermasters get SUCH
q heavy task put upon them. Every transport
In the depot quartermaster's feet VIII be caileo
into use and as much of the movable Things as
the army can handle will be handled oy the
soldiers and not trusted to the ralroaaS' Iof
mine apparatus is expensive.
officers and men who form the body Of stu
dents there are packing workshop and class
room equipment preparatory to embarklng TOT
ese new seat of instruction on the Chesapeake
gahoratory and machine shops are being dis
r,antlad fathoms of steel cable and tons or ex-
plosives Grated for shipment SOUTH ana 'he
delicate electrical instruments used IN the estap-
fishing of mine controls taken apart anu
sranped piece by piece though made OF the
most fragile china
With its abandonment an army service
,chooI the old fort near Whitestone Lanolns
which has been engineer or artillery head-
suarters since the close OF the rebellion se'tles
hack into the hu1ndrum existence OF harpor
,ort in peace times with only sufficient garrl-
son to care for the big guns and keep the "eeos
from ove~growing the mortar pits. Casual op-
servers will not notice this abandonment. Save
Pioi4SN4'
the grassy heights of the fort from the water
front will stand as inpassive ever. Inside
The rannarts the grand old trees viii keep
ne3ocful watch over the green parade and OIL
GERS quarters.
sound steamers of the merchant marine and
pleasure fleet, however, will be quick TO note
the change More than one frate skipper OF d
coal tow or excursion boat has been held up IN
the narrow channel while the school at its les
sons touched off a mine of guncotton, ana IL the
resultant roar and gigantic spout of water were
not treat to him they certainly were to his
passengers.
The New York public had hardly time to real
tge the nature and Importance of the post
nate school at Fort Totten before its removal
south WAS ordered by the War Department
The new school was established at Totten When
the artillery service took over the mine part Of
,be coast defence work from the engineers, and
,be artillery then developed the plans for the
submarine defence Of the nations coast line.
Wiring every harbor between Maine and Alaska
was big job and to begin it properly General
Murray. then a major of the line, was intrusted
witt, the responsibility of organizing a corps of
instructors among the officers and men.
Officers came to it readily enough, as the new
work offered an opportunity to specialize The
rnen-t!1e trained working crew-were obtained
q college course an education, with board,
room. clothes. books and pocket money, in re-
turn for a three years enlistment and willing
ness to do hard manual labor while learning
their trade for Uncle Sam
Among the force at work to-day moving the
stores and equipment of the school aboard the
quartermasters boats at Fort Totten may be
found officers and from almost every state
In the Union. They work eight, ten and twelve
hours day and consider themselves well off
for having the opportunity. When they get to
Fortress Monroe and set up their college they
will again take up the routine of theory and
practice and proceed with their problems and in
struction as before.
Military discipline prevails at all times in this
school, but the are put upon their
own initiative than at other army posts. In
winter the two schools for officers and one
for men, are confined to the shops, engine and
lecture rooms. When spring brings its milder
weather, classmates, observation towers and