The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-18
Our Sc. Coast DeGences.

The annual report Of the Chief of En-.
g!neers Of the United States army. in nd.
dition to giving in detail the condition
ourvarious forts and batteries, supplies an
elaborate argument in favor Of immedirte
strengthening of our seacoastt'.. ..defencas
The report contends that the opinion tEat
the navy is the true defence of The country
is no longer tenable. A feet can onfy
give our seaports security when it is su.
perior to any possible force which can be
brought against 1t. This is q position
which our navy does not occupy, and
probably never will. The true field of
operations for a:navy which j, Inferior to
the enemy's is on the ope. sea, and
against the commerce of that enemy.
This fact has been recognized by Russia,
which iIT every recent case when hostili-
ties with England were threatened sent
its cruisers aboard and to American ports.
so rs to save them from being Llockuded.
Had hostilities actually broken out
the cruisers would hay raided upon
British commence just as ,ie Confederate
curisers did upon United States COM
mencc during the civil war. In case of
war with any foreign power having n
navy our ports.arc in danger, not only of
Blockade. but Of destruction. Our sea-
coast defences are not in condition so as
to give us any protection. Our policy
towards foreign. powers is characterized
by its pacific tendency. its impartiality
and Justice. We have persistently in
sulated ourselves, but, ms this report justly
says: Neither our geographical posi-
ton, nor our forbearance, nor the equity
Of our policy. can always avail us.under
the relation i'll which it is our destiny to
stand to The rest of the world" Colli-
sions cannot. always be avoided, and must
sometimes be invited for self-defence.
ut is CERTAIN" this report says, chat in
our present condition injuries to our citi-
Zcns aboard and insults to our flag could
not be represented with that yigor and
promptitude demanded by the dignity
and honor of the nation, and justified
by knowledge that our fine b -bora,
important navy yards, rich comm. .cial
cities and depots for military and naval
stores were guarded by imprcgnable fort
ifications and obstructions." To be pre-
pared for war will often prevent it, and
i'll this view of the case such prepa-
rations wisely made nre not costly.
Our seacoast is very extensive and
offers many temptations to an en-
emy in view of the absence of
these preparations and imperfect char
acter of our dcfences. AS the report
notices, any declaration of war would in-
stantly be followed by the descent of
armed vessels upon our coast,
aud adds: "fhirty-six hours steaming
could bring them from Halifax, six
hours could bring them from Havana
and ninety six hours from Victoria, Van
couvcr's Island, could bring them in
front ofsan francisco, the navy.yard at
Mare Island and the arsenal at Benicia.
There might be very little time for pre-.
paration to meet the assaults Of the fast
running. ea-going, armored ships, ships,
iron armor, carrying Tif1ed guns from
nine inches to seventeen inches bore.
which are more po@fa! tl:s.. any gun
we have in our service. No army would
be of service against any such fleet. In
case Of war, either Great Britain.
France, Germany, Italy or Spain could
attack us successfully with their fleets,
destroy our naval stations, burn our
shipping and levy contributions upon our
chief cities. We have no artillery of the
calibro necessary for effective harbor
defence, our largest cannon being 8-inch
rifles, carrying 80paund shot. In Eu-
rope seacOast defences are mounted with
l2-inch and l7-inch rifles, the latter of
which guns weigh 1O5 tons and carry
shot of 1000 pounds weight, fired with
40 pounds of powder. To mount such
guns, even if we had them, much time
and labor are required. Immense para
pets and traverses of earth and sand need
to be built, and special mechanical ap.
pliances have to be constructed fer
handling them. All these are reasons
why we should profit by the present time
cur seacost defences in order and pro.
tcct our large cities against the contingen-
cy of war.