Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-27
OUR NATIONAL DEFENSES.
NO.lO,

the conclusion n us hc !lnt, whhc con
fidcrable yrogress has been made III
preparing Arms, Military and Naval
stores. our national militia is not only
without organization as such, hut as
STATE militia Is fact hasi'nlng towards
complete dissolution; while The means
of rapid aud iieclive augmentation ol
cur very feeble Navy eSre'mi y o'
oar steam Navy.-are aIarming'y u'h-
ci,u when comrared with the actual
naval iorce ofuur powerful rival Great
Britain.
The 5rh 'lmcnt o' Iaiiural d'icnscs
wos in No. 8. stated 10 he "Foriiticd-
tiors, wherever these can be made to
serve az obstacles 20 hostile approach,
NJ an expense less ihan il would cost to
effect ,hr same purpose hy men"
Any obstacle: natural or arti'!cia'
which enuLlrs weaker force ia resist
stranger with advantage is, III lis gen
eral sense, n Forliicaliun. The mos
ordinary understanding at once com
IrchcnLs their use. Wherevef ariarc
exists. or has existed, from lie rude in
dian who secures Lis squaws, laTooscs
and provisions in scme stronghold Tor
tiird 10y surrounding measures aid M
enctrub.r forests, or, protected by m
tervcning objects, pours unseen the un-
expected and deadly voIley upon his en-
envy to the great captains oi modern
warfare, establishing their grand dcIots
on points of a strongly fortified base,
and covering tie nanhs Of ihclr lines
and poi ions by every available natural
uI art fetal obstacle we see continual
iy examples Of Qualification" Their
gencral principle and utility being thus
universally known and admitted, as we
rs self evident to every intelligent mind,
we may conclude ,hat, Notifications are
means Of ccnnon,izlrg Gcn and thrit
fore M, ey, so long as the cost oi PEE
pairing them irg use, does not exec cd
The cost of Tie force which they will cn
able us TO G,sItnse with. thus: sup
Iose a point to be defended required
t.yo regiments at an expense o. s2tU,uUO
ler annum. ard by erecting at II iort-
cation, costing $lUC,(tC nNcu'd crat'e
ote regiment To resist rs large force
as twp rouId Leiorc have dnrc ihcn fer
- single year the iorttication would en-
ab.c us 10 save ony liic, witch IN gar
tson may be reckoucd'al 325 per cent
of the men. But ior every succeeding
year the irving would be ) iO.COO, Il {
II ;iiLtaiualcc Of II regiment, less the IN
tcrcsi on thc cus' Of FuriIiicatiun. And
SO according to our principle whe ever
torlllratIun can be erected at an cX-
p.nse less than The cost OF supl Orting
the additional atn tllat would Uler
wisr he r, quircd for defense, il is ar
economy oi both blood and treasure
and even " Ecre the less Of life. the wcal
OF men and The cXTcnscs nrc equal, the
Liability OF n,n to the accidents OF diF
ease, 10 deterioration and the other evil:
of large bodies Of men would decide the
choice III favor o notifications, that ART
lile liable 10 these conlingcncles-m
inert masse,, until called INTO use.
Wesce from this that lOrtilicatirn
must enter ns au important ccoromlca
extent into every wise system OF nailoh
al drl,n,e. The extent to which
sl.a,l enter and tie POSITIONS Of tie for
tIE,nlois must DEL eLd on the loIit@i
and social condition the geographical F'
siions with resIccito otlcr nations, al
the toI hiral features Of the cou'
try ; the proximity and exposure of it
ronticr to other nations, and position {
ils chef iiowns &C., &c.
Without entering into discussions {
the principles oi war, OF politics and a'
minislra,ion, which must he brought
10 determine these important points, (,
each country, it will not perhaps /
amiss 10 suggest few general consI'
eratOns.
There are in every country SON
points more important to the prospcri
more valuable, - tl,an others, AZ
son roads or avenues OF approach
these, more convenient and advant
geous Tor the enemy, tI.an others. II
iortifcation can be placed on any one
these, so that a snail force compels h
larger one TO 90 by less advantageol
route or, waste time in subdulng
there has been gain.
II all the best avenues leading to Il
vital points are thus c,Cscd, great GA
has been effected.
For the grealer the difficulty Of PC
etra,inn To Il poin, where serious uiu
cun be done, the less danger there is
attack; and IN case ol 1t, The greater {
damage lie suffers in overcoming it,
II. determined to reach vital point, I
enemy attempt to dcmullsh your fort
cations, your snah force Will bcld
check an army ofsix times lis uumbc
causing it TO lose time, men ana meat
IN subduing it. II it be possible to
around it, he will still he obliged to
loss arising from the difference o! wa
and moreover, to weaken his force by
detachment OF superior strength
watch and keep he garrison from sal
ing rth and cut'ing of his communi