The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-22
COAST DEFENSE.
The Helpless Condition OF American Harbors
"A Plea for the Use of Torpedo Boats.

|
2 "A Plea for the Use of Torpedo Boats.
The old world nations are restless
their people many and poor. England
mas her hands about full, but Germany
and France are spelling for light
Hardly daring to tackle each other, Q
war of some sort would naturally as
sist either of them in reducing her pop
ulation. while, as it has become the
correct thing for the yanquished to
paw the victors for the thrashing re-
ceived, war of tribute is not among
the impossibilities. For such a war
any pretext sufiices. This may seem
absurd under present conditions, but
it is by no means improbable. The
question of the Panama canal is going
to make n world of trouble one of these
days. and as at present fitted the
United States must either keep still or
be thrashed. An extended inquiry
among naval men reveals the fact that
one and all regard the final settle
ment of this question with the greatest
concern. They feel-t the country
must arm itself, not for the sake of
fighting, but for the sake of avoiding
It.
ers that trouble can be expected. The
verlest one-horSe South American re-
public can make life burden for the
residents along the western coast If it
owns decent boat How long would
San Francisco stand against some
swift-moving, hard-striking Huarcar
or Esmeralda, lighting upon the city
before it knew what had come to handp
1t is the custom in war TO take from
the weaker all the portable articles of
value. and is not the ransom of such
city worthy of the guarding? Think
of New York and Brooklyn under the
guns of some foreign fleet, the COM
Lnander of which was bent upon the
creation of an emergency fund for his
Country's benefit! What collection
would have to be taken up; and who
would be the givers? Boston, Phila-
Gelphia, Baltimore. and in fact every
city and town from Eastport to the
Rio Grande and from the Gulf of Cali
fornia to Vancouver's island, are
equally, if not more imperiled.
but, says the uniformed, eve
have forts. I've seen them myself"
Yes, forts there are, and forts upon |
which nothing has been done since the |
hour long since when they were called |
complete. The piles of earth and
stone lining the approach of New York
harbor look imposing and are nice
places whereat to spend a holiday.
The grass is smooth and green and
the band plays finely. Plenty of can
non lie about, some of them large
enough to hide in; the only trouble is
that they can't shoot far enough.
True when they first went on guard
the world had few like them, but that
was long ago and they are now al
most antiquated so, at least,
to fail against those likely to be sent
against them. If the enemy's ships
would only come within range it
would be all right, but not accommo-
dating, and, relying upon an ability to
shoot two miles further, would aristo-
stay out of range and pull
7erize the opposition. Therefore it is I
leedful that the forts along both coast +
ines be supplied with cannon equal to
my yet made, and that these be pro- 9
ected beyond the power of penetra- Z
ion yet possessed by any gun, that
he harbors may be made inacce 5sible !
rom without. .
All this is good, and calls for care L
III consideration. The needs of the {,
ountry, however, are immediate. =
'hree years time will hardly suffice X
o properly arm New Y DIRK harbor with II
he worlds resources at hand. A good n
cal can happen in three years. Hence !.
he burden of actual present defense A
ests wholly upon the navy, and "
81 /
vent of any misunderstanding a
18th some foreign nation. about q
II the officers and men could do u
'ould be to go out in the poor old v
lips to do and die, especially die. y
he wooden vessels would stand about p
) much of an assault as DO the paper A
orts of China. Thirteen monitors are W
fair condition and near at hand, b
ut their guns could hardly indent the W
'mor of their opponents, while the ~
'mament of the latter could make M
.rap-iron of the monitor in short or II
or, and then attend solely to bonn o.
ardment. H
AS stated, the master of the IRON
ad is at hand waiting cali, and it is m
the torpedo that those interested in w
mediate coast defense look for aid. at
The torpedo and the torpedo boat oO
| all that is lacking for present w
'eds. The massive forts and swift ~
users, with better guns than armor, l..
G of the things to come; but the 20
untry must have torpedo-boats now. a.
7 torpedo-Doats are meant powerful Ii
tie steamers, too small to offer tar IN
: to the enemies marksmen and w
avily enough armored to resist at nc
ok. They should be swift and sure, 80
at no steaming about can shake Il
EN- off, that when once started to ed
d war-ship's career their own con- ed
'uction may offer no impediments for Tn
e purpose. How can these be fur an
she'd? Simply enough. Let the gov m'
nment go abroad and buy the best OF
lde by foreign makers. Why not tln
Ike them here? None of our ship
ilders know how. They might sue
I'D in making hull, and armor, but
on the engines-a very important de
4ture. The ship-builders of the sci
1de and their engine-makers know CO..
n what RI do Hare - 10 obo,,4 III -: