The Portland daily press., 1862-06-24
MISCELLANY.
Coast Fortilications.

The contest of the Monitor and Merrimac;
the passage Of casemated pits mounting over
100 guns, by the feet at New Orleans, has
created great discussion in Europe, upon the
subject Of fortifications, and Punch has truly
said that there seems to be now rivalry in
England between the Navy and War Depart
ment, to see which shall first produce inpene-
trable ships, or invulnerable pits.
Whenever the aristocracy who govern Eng
land wanted to provide for their second sons,
&c, in the Army and Navy, they had only to
hold up their John Bull Scarecrow, French
invasion, to make the Commons loose their
purse strings and grant millions Tor defense
One party now is for abandoning the old
system Of forts and trusting to iron floating
batteries, and one branch OF the question, that
of the Spithead forts, has been referred to a
Defence Commission who have just given their
report to the country.
"The Commissioners, having duly consider
ed the whole subject by the aid of the newest
lights and latest experiments, "feel warranted
In the conclusion that, In short time, guns
VIII be produced Of sufficient power TO pene-
trate, at a considerable distance, the heaviest
armor plating that is compatible with the nee
essary qualities Of sea-going vessels They
then continue These Considerations re-
specting the progress which is being made in
the production of ordnance of increased power,
tend to show, that in all probability, the rehl-
tive value Of forts. as opposed to ships, will be
gradually increased. The fort may be made
impregnable, and practically invulnerable, and
can carry guns OF any size; 1t can be con-
structed so that its fire cannot be silenced by
that OF ship, whilst the latter, to the thick
ness OF whose armor there must be limit, is
liable to be sunk by the guns of the fort; the
distance at which this can be done being, as
before observed, dependent on the power of
the gun. The fixed floor of the fort. moreover,
enables full effect to be given to the advanta-
ges which are derived from the precision of
the fire Of rifed guns; whilst the want of a
steady platform seriously diminishes the accu-
racy Of the fire which can be obtained from
such ordnance The report, which was unan-
imonsly agreed to, concludes Is follows
The foregoing considerations lead us to the
conclusion that fertilization is necessary ele-
ment An any arrangement for our permanent
security, and that the construction of forts at
Spithead Is essential for the protection of that
anchorage. In proportion to the developement
OF the power of artillery, the value Of the
forts will be increased, and the space to be de-
Tended by floating batteries diminished But
whatever that space may be, the support of
forts is necessary to give the defence superb
ority over the attack. We therefore adhere to
the opinion expressed in our report offhe 10Th
of February, 1881, appended hereto, that the
combined system Of forts and floating bate
ries therein recommended will be not only the
most economical, but the only really efficient,
mode of providing for the defence of Spit
headr
Sir William Armstrong quite concurs in
their conclusion, and declares he can equip
these forts with guns which will do as much
damage at 1000 yards range as the twelve-ton
gun has done at 200.-