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

The annual report of the Chief of Eli
gineers of the United States army, in ad.
dition to giving in detail the condition
ourvarious forts and batteries, supplies an
elaborate argument in favor of immediate
strengthening of our seacoast.. ..defences
The report contends that the opinion that
the navy is the true defence ofthc country
is no longer tenable. A fleet can only
give our seaports security when it is su.
perior TO any possible force which can be
brought against it. This is position
which our navy does not occupy, and
probably never will The true field of
operations for a.navy which is inferior to
the enemy's is on the open sea, and
against the commerce of that enemy.
This fact has been recognized by Russia,
which in 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 blockaded.
Had hostilitics actually broken out
the cruisers would have raided upon
British commence just as the Confederate
curisers did upon United States COM
mencc during the civil war. In case of
a war with any foreign power having
navy our ports..are 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, as this report justly
says: "Neither our geographical posi-
tion, nor our forbearance, nor the equity
Of our policy, can always avail us.under
the relation in which it is our destiny to
stand to the rest Of the world" Coli.
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 vigor and
promptitude demanded by the dignity
and honor of the nation, and justified
by a knowledge that our fine harbors,
important navy yards, rich commercial
cities and depots for military and naval
stores were guarded by impregnable fort
i6cations and distractions" To be pre-.
pared for war will often prevent it, and
in this view of the case such prepa.
rations wisely made are 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 defences. AS the report
notices, any declaration of war would in.
stantly be followed by the descent of
armed vessels upon our coast,
and adds: "rhirty-six hours steamiug
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, sea.going, armored ships, ships,
clad with six to twenty-four inches of
iron armor, carrying riaed guns from
nine inches to seventeen inches bore,
which are more powful than any gun
we have in our service. No army would
be of service against any such fleet. In
case of a war, either Great Britain,
rance, OcFHaHy, ltaiy vi Cpaiu CouIu
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
calibre necessary for effective harbor
defence, our largest cannon being S'inch
rifles, carrying lS0.pound shot. In Eu-
rope seacoast defences are mounted with
12.inch and l7-inch rifles, the latter of
which guns weigh los tons and carry
shot of 1000 pounds weight, fired with
47O 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 for
handling them. All these are reasons
why we should profit by the present time
of peace, prosperity and plenty to put
our seacost defences in order and pro.
tcct our large cities against the contingen-
cy of war.