The New York herald., 1870-08-31
OUa HAIDOR DEFENCES.

Partial Change Of the system Contrn.
plated-Increased Security Against Attack
the Ohlect-An Improved American System.
IL Is one OF the imperative duties OF o govern
meM TO protect its coasts and harbors against the
attacks OF an enemy. This Is OF the objects for
which governments are instituted among men, and
for which the people contribute literally their sub
stance In order that they might nd security through
tsagency. And It cannot be denied that up TO within
arecent period-say up to 1860, the beginning of
our own late war-the federal government did
everything necessary, according to the then ac-
knowledsed principles of military science 10 make
the harbor OF New York perfectly secure against
either hidden raid by an enemy or a systematic
attack by his neet. For that purpose the water ap-
proaches to New York were, by the numerous de.
tached stone forts and batteries, as completely
closed TO unfriendly vessels n they had been shut
OF, like canal locks, with heavy gates
But the American war mas revoluti0nized the sys.
TEN OF attack and defence both water and on the
seashore. The naval battle at Fortress Monroe,
where the wooden irigates were crushed In as SO
many paper boxes by a Confederate irOn-cad ram
and which was only checked in its unembarrasscd
raft, out ali OF iron was the Deoinnin~ Of 1n ne
system Of marine warfare and coast defence. Fort
sumter was another instance, ana the many expe-
riences ON the Mississippi Also taught valuable
lessons. BY the light Of these. ana measuring the
force OF tine prOjcctes thrown by the huge iron
tanned that the walls OF Forts Richmond and Haml
ton or OF CasIle william could not Withstand such
attack but would crumbe TO pieces as did those OF
Fort SUMTER
WHAT Is NOW PROPOSED. -r
For years this subject has occupied the attention
OF the War Department, and the engineering officers
At New York and at Washington were busy IN test
ing the resisting qualities OF various materials to the
shot and shell me professional instrucliops. No.
II" lately issued by the Chief OF Engineers General
Humphreys, gives long ist OF these experiments,
RnlS SnnanR ofnal
plates, others made or chilled iron, of wrought
and chilled iron combined and some Of iron and
they appear In the Autographed representations VI
these several targets that nearly AL OF them were
perforated or broken by the cOnica shots or bolts.
Yet, as something had TO be done TO increase the
defensive power and resisting quality OF the fortili-
cations OF our harbor Congress, at Its last session,
appropriated Sal4,ooo. and the War Department
allotted 100000 OF the amount for Staten
Island, to be expended unaer the slperintendence
OF General Gilmore and $4,000 for Governor and
Bedloe's islands, and for Fort Hamilton,
on the norihernshore OF the NarrOws in
charge OF General Newton. No detailed ia.
formation could be Obtained rom General Newton
at his headquarters In this city, He very
justly admitted the right of the press and OF the
IN case 0l war; yet he very properly considered thai
more Than general nlmation OF the course
adopted should DE withheld for the publication to
the world would bring the details OF the plan
adopted TO the knowledge also OF those who pos
s0ly might at some day or other assume hostile
attitude towards this country, ana sucn information
10 them was somewhat In the nature OF contra
band VI war; Still he did not hesit TO say that
AN IMPROVED AMERICAN SYSTEM
OF heavy earth batteries Deing erected at the
most available points already selected. The Russian
General Totieben's defence of Sebastopol mas been
carefully studied and vastly Improved upon to fur
nsh the resistance required by the at present OF
heavy marine artillery. These earth batteries will
be so arranged even TO protect stone walls OF
the present forts. large additional number of the
heaviest guns Will he brought IN position ON these
batteries, while the guns now mounting the forts
Will be materially changed Ia number and cali
bre thus In every respect increasing the force avail
able u repel any hostile attack