Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-12-13

OF great importance in those emergencies
so frequent in war.
II 3 Another point Of immense advantage
which Newport possesses over every other
station is the difficulty, and in fact mpossi.
bility Of an enemy, Of however superior
force, maintaining blockade Of this bay
for any length Of time. The result oil the
attempts during the revolution and the war
/ OF 1912 demonstrate histruth. There ole
no headlands and islands TO form protee-
tion for hostile feet beyond The guns Of
the fort as at every other naval station -
While Boston, New York Delaware and
Chesapeak bays are subject 10 blockade,
Nature and the elements have provided
Newport with a sure guaranty against such
calamity. In our heavy Southeas; gales
blockading squadron would find itself on
alec shore, re !uccd to the alternative OF
stranding On the beach, or runLing in, to
certain destruction, under the guns of Fort
Adams. A Northeast gale would compel
1t to put to sea to clear Long Island, while
the thick weather which attends that wind
would enable vessels in port TO get to sea
with small chance Of being Intercepted
a Ncrlheaster would likewise open the
blockade, as no anchorage would hold in
the outer bay against those furious tenn
pests
4. The facilities which exist no where
else il an eq'al degree tor squldton man
euvre by signal from the commanding OF.
fcer, AMI for exercise in target fring-two
matters which are sadly neglected in our
service, but are constantly prac,i,cd in the
British and French nayies.
5. The United Safes already possess
large tract OF land commanding the harhor,
and more if needed could readily be obtain
cd the sparcity Of population on the ada
cent islands and opposite shores alIording,
as it now does to Fort Adams, the best OPP
portunity for gunnery and every sort Of
tactical evolution.
g. The average height Of The tides (be
tween and 3 feet,) the boldness of the
shore and the Grmness of the soil present a
combination of facilities, no, to be found at
any other station, for the construction OF
extensive docks for The repairs OF ships and
the preservation of timber.
7. The opportunity ior rapid and most
extensive internal communication which i.
found at the head of Narragansett bay in
the long lines of Railroad diverging from
Providence which give facilities equalled |
only by Boston and New York, and sur
passe by neith.r of these, for promptly |
transporting troops 10 the Canada frontier,
the great lakes, or any Other portion of the
country.
s. The great advantage of Newport in a
strategic point of view has been apparent
from the earles, period of our history. 1t
has always been the place Of attack for an
enemy, and in his posse ssion would hold in
check our chief commercial ports. while if
improved, as it should be, by ourselves il
p'otccls at once both New York and Bos-
ton and S The readjest poin, Ct departure for
the whole s.aboard IL was with this view
that the extensive Notifications defending
Newport harbor were constructed
1t is diflicul, to assign any other reason
than conflicting sectional interests, or EoIitl-
cal influences, why the idea, commenced on
so grand scale at Font Adlms, since the
war Of 1919, has not been carried out
But thus it is that at present the ample
protection afforded to our ships of war,
which may, and often do, put into Newport
as most easy of access, in stress of weather,
or disabled by the enemy, is rendered futile
by the utter wan, Of national resources for
repairing and refttng vessels.
Aside from the superior advantage Of
ty of a dock yard isapparcnt and without
II the original object in commencing the
massive and costly works already complet
ed is but half attained.
ln this connec ion let us glance briefly at
The seven existing Atlantic stations, motto
ing their prominent defects.
The Kluery yard at Portsmouth, rs is
well known, does no. admit the launching |
of large ships without extreme precaution 10
avoid the opposite shore. The first ship
ofthc line butt inIths country was launched |
there, the America ~, under the direction |
Of Paul Jones. The account Of that affair /
in Mckenze's life Of Jones is the best |
commentary upon this point, Further,
there is no dry dock or marine railway at /
which ships can be repaired.
The yard At Charlestown near Boston, is |
subject 10 like objection in having too .
small a water front for store. houses. The .
liability to blockade in Boston bay is an
other drawback {; to which may be added
third aud serious inconvenience, the vicinity .
of a large city where land becomes too
valuable and population too dense to afford
a A