New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-28
TIE NATIONAL OFFENCES.

AT AN ENEMY's MERCY-wHAT SHOULD Dh
DONE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-General II. G'
Wright Chief of Engineers. L. s. A. has submitted I'
annual report for the fiscal year ending June 80 100
to the Secretary OF War He gives detailed acco"" "
the condition and needs Of all the fortcatons' anu VI
the operations of the Board Of Engineers stationed ~
NewYork CITY On the subject Of sea-coast deenco ''
report saws that the defence of the United States against
maritime attack for many years must depend upon INC
finishing OF barbette batteries designed long SINCE u
with such notifications will adapt them 10 the rcoop
ton OF the twelveinch riAed gun recently proposed
with its enlarged carriage and nc the same uulo s''
greater security to the masaznesi also lhat ~ W.
be necessary to make ready WITHOUT ucr'
m onnIv one svsem OF torpedoes to all harbors by
preparing bombproof electrical operating rooms anu
deep masonry galleries extending therefrom 10 the ~"
water line needed for that purpose Geherai win
saws that these are the two prominent features oi ~
system OF defensive works requiring prompt attention.
a system, which, though preliminary one IN Par'' n"'
the merit of being comparatively Inexpensive
He sneals of The necessity OF modifying the plans OIL
tbe unfinished batteries in view OF the present arha
ments Of hps of war and OF the penctretnS power VI
proectles now used those ships. Much time mas
been given to this subject during the past year anu
will doubtless engage the attention OF the boru VI III
gneers In the future until the plans OF al inc batteries
designed for the seacoast defence are Thoroughly
examined and adapted to such ornaments as VIII DC pro
vded for them when the gun problem shall have been
solved As plans of electrical operating rooms ana oaoe
galleries for the prominent OF the seacOast "orAS
have been prepared their construction must await ~
preparations for that purpose
This board adapted ts preliminary system OF harbor
defence 10 the necessities Of the day and has advocated
II from wear TO year as OF arriving In the short
est time possible at some security FOR the important
commercial and manufacturer centres Ofthe sedcoast OF
the United States There be no doubt that inc
future Of the defensive system must look to the use OF
iron in some form, probably as revolving tuIrct 10
cover placcments the largest and most powerful
guns known 20 the service.
Plans have en- prepared for two dOubeturretcd IRON
forts one or each shore Of the Nrows mt the southern
entrance 10 New-York HaIbor Each turre is intended
to receive two one Lmlredton guns. IL is essential
tla the more important haT5Ors should remain 80 Sc
cure as to relieve the Nation Of all apprehension IN re
spect to them IS with this view that the two double
trreted iron been planned for the defence OF
the Narrows. for no naval ship yet built or
designed could remain under their close fire
long enough 10 do them any damage The extending Of
this system Boston and to other harb'rs or
leading commercial interest will doubtless engage the
attention of the Board IN common wth tne revision u
the bArbe, ic batteries during the coming year.
In regard TO torpedo defence, General NnSht recon
melds that special item he lnscrleu III ARp.op "a
ton bin for the coming year for preparing the tors LOT
successfully operating and defending the tOrpedoes
Ii t,rE. g3Gli 0nO would cover the more important
stations on tue Atlantic coast.
With regard to seacoast and lake frontier defences
works or for The Mobilization of our existing seacoasr
deiences have been made for maLy years The latter
consist OF NO classe5-cascmae defenoes and earthcn
defences. our casemate defences than whch there
none stronger In the world IN their Tine, were
built in the days OF sm0OhbOre guns and when wooden
walls were the only protection OF guns a1Oa; but the
masonry OF these defcnces long since out OF date
would not adequately resist the nre otthe powerful
I1cd with wdon the powers OF Europe have armed
their ships Of and the cascmates or enrooms arc
too small IN all their dimensions Tor the use OF mo1efh
scacOast artillery The fronts OF modern cdsenated
or have massive shields OF iron Tor te protection ol
guns ana gunners We nave not sing work OF either
kind III respect Of submarine mines or tOrPe-
better prepared although much remains 10
be done 10 max this part OF our system complete
THE UNPREPAREDNEss FOR WAR.
"In former elaborate reports from this department.
especially the reports for the years $50 and ISL it has
been endeavored TO invoke attention to our UMPIRE
paredness for war. AMI to show that modern fortified
lions require many years for their construction and
that almost utterly lacking In such fortlcaions
that neither geographic position. nor forbear-
ance nor the equity Of policy avail to prevent
our being engaged later foreign that
when in these days # often suddenly
that to be prepared for war il often 70 prcycnti that
OF the richest Of our ciue and the most important
OF our yards and arsen- OF supply our armies
within easy reach of the naval dcpOs Of Of the
most powerful OF maritime ma ions ana Thai in a few
days the declaration OF war Is possible for the
eucmy- fleets To run iuO our harbors and I'm hours
destroy immense amounts tue property which under
present conditions, would be exposed IN his shot and
shell and winch ms been estimated 81 900 900 OOO
that however powerful in numbers and yor orr armies
may be- without the aid OF tOrtications aud their
accessories cannot prevent the destruction Of
sea Ioard cities b. tnc ships maritime Toe and that
while reliance eau be had GU Other mode fence, "A
defence ~ lorrhcaions and toTpedoes the most ELI
Client, the most enduring ana the most expensive
"OJr present system OF scacoast defence same
az that which has been steadily pursued by
this Department from the first, excepting The
changes which have been brought about by the
introduction Of torpedoes into modern war
faro and these nave added much more 10 the defence
20 the attack, but our Qualifications be made
very much stronger than formerly The con
may be stated follows: EGicient for.
tncatOns must command from the shores exterior
10 our haroors all the waters from which the enemy
our cities and navy yards with his shot and
shen tie harbOr mouths ald all the narrow passes
Withln them must also DC occupied and II nature
afforded all the positions deemed REQUISITE. others
enemy may nowhere find shelter from our AIe while
lying within our mar. ors should he succeed In passing
hes must be Obstruced by lines OF electrical orpedos
Tor holding the enemys vessels under IRE OF The of-
stored latter, and LAID, the advent OF war i'm
ystrlns the plans Of awhicn have been carefully caDO-
tidal currents each harbor having It's 81 stem re-
corded in this department.
The wires for conducting tho current the electric
apparatus shore must AT the time be ald Sc
cucy in subterranean galleries, carried out To low
water, and electric machines themselves must be
placed Ia chambers within the notifications. hidden from
Inc enemy aud secured beyond all pcradycnturc from
his direct and curved fire. These galleries aud cnaub
ses nj Garth and The former 10 be eGnt u M, he
iu.urucd the latter cOmpactrd by time The tor
ueIO lines must be served by officers selected from tne
engineers and artillery asslsted by detacaments
from Il torpedo corps Of intelligent and skilled
engineer soldiers, and both officers and
men must be thoroughly instructed Ia the theory
and prac ice of electricity and torpedo obstrctons for
they must how render tine tOrpedoes instantly
harmless for vessels actye against an
Heavy InOrtars must be placed in large numbers TO
command all thOse positions where enemy IL likely TO
oucuor within their range, either for purpose
fanpcring with or destroying our torpedo lines.
or shelhng our cries ana public depOts
0f mortar batteries against shipping il acknowledged by
ai military engineers, II Is fully appreciated by the
uaves of m Nations and they paratlyely inex-
ncnsiye Our guns and mOrtars must be- capable OF
nierrg the sides OF roncads and Of breaking I'm their
dc aud tbcy must be mounted in numbers sufficient to
make n Impossible for any OF his fast running war
steamers to get past our works.