The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-29
COAST DEFENSE.
The Helpless Condition Of American Harbors
"A Plea for the Use of Iorpedo. Boats-

%AS SPoliAdS " Il IL Y
Hardly daring to tackle each other, a
war OF some sort would naturally as
slst either OF them in reducing her pop
ulatlon, while, as it has become the
correct thing for the yanquished to
pay the victors for the thrashing re-
ceived, a war of tribute is not among
the impossibilities. For such a wal
any preteNt sufices. This may seem
absurd under present conditions, but
II Is by no means improbable. The
question of the Panama canal is going
to make a 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
They feel that the country
must arm itself, not for the sake of
1ghting, but for the sake Of avoiding
it.
Nor is 1T alone from the great pow
ers that trouble can be expected. The
yerlest one-horse South American re-
public can make life a burden for the
residents along tho western coast If it
owns a decent boat. How long would
San Francisco stand against some
switt-moving, hard-striklng 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 a
city. worthy of the guardingp Think
OF New York and Brooklyn under the
guns OF some foreign fleet, the COM
mander OF which was bent upon the
creation of an emergency fund for his
country's benefit! What a collection
would have to be taken up; and who
would be the givers? Boston, Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, and in fact every
city and town from Passport to the
Rio Grande and from the Gulf of Cali
fornia to V%ancouver's island, are
equally, if not more impcriled.
"But.' says the uniformed, 1--WE
have forts. I've seen them mvself,"
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--enough 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-
cratically stay out of range and pull
verize the opposition. Therefore it is
needful that the forts along both coast
lines be supplied with cannon equal to
any yet made, and that these be pro-
tected beyond the power of penetra-
ton yet possessed by any gun, that
the harhors may be made Inaccessible
from without.
All this is good, and calls for care
full consideration. The needs of the
country, however, are immediate.
Three years time will hardly suffice
to properly arm New York harbor with
the worlds at hand. A good
deal a happen in three years. Hence
the burden of actual present defense
rests wholly upon the navy, and
navy there is none. In the
event of any misunderstanding
with some foreign nation, about
all the officers and men could do
would be to go out in the poor old
ships to do and die. especially die.
The wooden vessels would stand about
as much Of an assault as Go the paper
ports of China. Thirteen monitors are
in fair condition and near ut hand.
but their guns could hardly indent the
armor of their opponents, while the
armament of the latter could make
scrap.iron of the monitor in short or.
der, and then attend solely to bonn
bardment.
AS stated, the master of the iron.
clad is at hand waiting call, and it is
to the torpedo that those interested in
immediate coast defense look for aid.
The torpedo and the torpedo-hoa,
fill all that is lacking for present
needs. The massive forts aud swift
cruisers, with better guns than armor,
are of the things to come; but the
country must have torpedo-boats now.
BY torpedo-poats are meant powerful
little steamers, too small to offer altar.
get to the enemies marksmen and
heavily enough armored to resist at.
tack. They should he swift and sure,
that no steaming about can shak,
them off, that when once started tc
end a war-ship's career their own con.
struction may offer no impediments fol
the purpose. How can these be fur.
nishedP Simply enough. Let the gov.
eminent go abroad and buy the bes'
made by foreign makers. Why no,
make them herep None of our ship
builders know how. They might sue,
coed in making hull, and armor, but
fail on the engines very important
feature. The ship-builders of the
Clyde and their engine-makers know
just what to do. Here it is about al
experiment. An engine-builder here
sets up his machine as a general thing
in Ignorance of its power, does no
know until alter TRIAL, and not Away.
then. The Dolphin may not be a fal
sample, but she is all we have. Thu!
proper vessels can be constructed bu
slowly, and extensively at that. Th,
country can hardly afford to run tn,
risk of waiting until some of the back
ward American shipwrights finish ex
periments at the peoples expense. 4
fleet of torpedo boats could he had fol-
the price OF q single great ironclad
Stationed along both lines of coast
in important harbors, these coul,
readily repel any expedition brough
against them, and all risk cf cities be
ing destroyed or laid under trsbut,
ended at once. So there should be II,
moro waiting. Admitting that de
lenses could be improved in the even
of sudden attack, though this is abou
impossible, prevention is always bette
chan cure. BY gradual preparation
l tho povarn nnapt would hn apoblaI 4.