Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-05
OUR NATIONAL DEFENCEs.

OUR NATIONAL DEFENCES.
again call your attention to the pres
ent condition of our extended sea coast,
upon which are 80 many large cities
whose wealth and impc rtance to the
country would, in time of war, invite at
tack from modern armed ships, against
which our existing defensive works could
give no adequate protection. Those
works were built before the introduction
of German heavy rifle guns into maritime
warfare, and if they are not put in eff
cient condition we may be subjected to
humiliation by a hostile power greatly in
ferior to ourselves.
II TORPEDO SERVICE.
As germane to this subject l call your
attention to the Importance of perfect
ing our torpedo defences. The board
authorized by the last congress to report
on the method which should be adopted
for the manufacture of heavy ordnance
adapted to general warfare has been as
sisted by the principal iron and steel
works, in this country and in Europe.
1t is hoped that its report will be soon
made and that congress will thereupon
be disposed to provide suitable facilities
and plans for the manufacture of such
guns as are now imperatively needed.
| THE STATE MILITIA.
On several occasions during the past
year officers of the army have, at the re-
quest of the state authorities visited their
military encampments for the inspection
, of the troops. From the reports of these
officers ! am :::dncad to helieva that the
encouragement of state militia ~organiza-
lions by henational government would be
followed by very gratifying results, and
would afford it in sudden emergencies
fae aid of a large body of volunkperBJn1.
cited in the performance OF military
duties. x
rHB NEW WAR VESSELS.
The secretary of the navy reports that
under the authority of the acts of August
8, 1882, and March 3, 1883, the work of
strengthening u navy by the construc-
ton of modern vessels has been auspi-
ciously begun. Three cruisers are now in
progress of construction-the Chicago,
of $500 tons displacement, and the Bos-
ton and Atlanta, each of $500 tons.
They are to be built of steel, with the
tensile strength and ductility prescribed
by law, and in combination of speed, en-
durance and armament are expected to
compare fayorably with the best war yes
sells of other nations. A fourth vessel,
the Dolphin, is to be constructed of SIM
liar material, and is intended to serve as
a fleet dispatch boat. The double-tur-
reted monitors, Puritan, Amphrite and
Terror. have been launched on the Della
ware river, and a contract has been made
fors the supply of their machinery. A
similar monitor, the Madanock, has been
launched in California. The naval ad-
visory board and the secretary recon-
mend the completion of the monitors and
the construction of four gunboats, and
also of three additional steel vessels like
the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin as an
important measure of material defense.
INCREASING vi NAVAL STRENGTH.
The secretary urges also the immediate
creation of an interior fast line of water
ways across the peninsula of Florida,
along the coast from Florida to Hampton
Roads, between The Chesapeake bay anG
bciuWuto tiNtI bIlu thiouBh Shpc Spt'
| feel bound to impress upon The
attention of congress the necessity o
continued progress in tho re-constructior
of the navy. The condition of the pub
lie treasury, as l have already intimated
makes the present an suspicious time 70
putting this branch OF service in a stat,
of efficiency. 1t is no part of u polio.
. to create and maintain n navy able t.
. cope with that of tho other great power
] of the world. We have no wish fc
foreign conquest, and the peace whicl
2 We have long enjoyed is in no seemin
+ danger of interruption, but that GU
+ naval strength should be made AIDE
quste for the defense of our harbors
the protection of our commercial inter
S ests, and the maintenance of our ma
tional homer, is a proposition from whic
: no patriotic citizen can withhold his as
sent.