Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-23
PLANS FOR CAPE HENRY.
Fort Monroe Will Become 4 Second
Line OF Defense.

When the new fertilization at
Cape Henry are completed the strong
mold will be equipped with every de-
; tail essential to its supremacy as a
| nrst line OF defense. Fort Monroe at
once becoming second line Of de-
Tense and both forts being maintain
! cd as Individual units The new forti-
locations Will DC operated as scpar-
ately as though they we're many miles
apart instead OF within gun-tirc dis
! lance Of each other. All OF the depart
! ments now maintained At Fort Mon.
roe will be continued.
The Cape Henry stronghold will
have its own submarine mine depot,
its own fleet of steamers attached
10 the quartermaster's depot and its
own base CT supplies. Many people
have gained the impression from
Washington and other dispatches that
the Cape fort would be operated rs
an outlying post of Fort Monroe.
The contrary is evidenced by tcnta-
tive plans Of the former which are
now in the Office OF Col. J P. Pervcy,
United States Engineer, in charge CT
the Norfolk district.
Fort Monroe now controls the field
4
of sumbarine mines that are planted
across the base of Chesapeake Bay.
1t will continue to control the mines
adjacent to its location, but the mine
field that will add to the impregnabe
strength of the new fort and will
protect the approaches to the bay
through the Capes will be controlled
by the Cape fort.
One of the important reasons urg-
, ed upon the department at Washing
ton by Col Jcrvcy, for the building
| of a large breakwatcr to afford pro-
! lection to the 1,50O-foot pier to BE
built adjacent to the fort Is that
| the minc-laying fleet will have Its
base just westward Of the pier and
the vessels will .need protection
against eastcrly and northeasteriy
winds when moored at their docks.
! The definite number of batteries
/ has not vet been determined by the
department but the locations, as
! shown by the tentative drawings, re
veal that the entire battery strength
will be ranged around the Cape cast
ward of the point where the bay
meets the coast and will command q
radius of fire up and down the coast
as well as seward. While the ar.
rangemcnt is primarily to resist at
tack directly from the sea the bat
terics arc strategcalIE placed to
i block the entrance into the bay shouIt
any invading vessel get by the hrs
lire Of ofFcnsc for dash.
The new Notifications will be bun
for business rather than for appear
ances and there will be. none OF tn
heavy enclosures so long typical o
the older type Of forts and still! Il
| evidence at Fort Monroe. There VII
: be an enclosure to mark the lines 0
l, ;hc reservation and tic government
! control. The fort will be open to vlsl
c tors in time Of peace just as For
: Monroe and other American fort
arc today.
Residents on the reservation WI
J be permitted 81 continue their hone
{ there until the construction opera
( tiar; reach point where the cngir
(, ea require the land. Colonel .lcrvc
bas received many injuries fron
) ree5!ents about the probable life Q
II tenancy and; to ;all: heBhas lrt
Ss9iie8 that the government will nc
I !resferc until it becomes nccessar.
bss sFas fund placed at>the disposal {
..gsis!ess== 1eise for tbs la-slsa .