The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-05

His Opinions CONCERNING Coast Defenses-
Torpedoes, Guns and Cannon.

i
Torpedoes, Guns and Cannon.
Interview in San Francisco Bulletin.
Are the facts, set out recently by Lieuten-
ant Griffin, concerning our coast defenses, cor
rect97
''Well,n answered General Pope, with smile,
''those facts as now stated ought not to occa-
sion any general surprise, for they have long
been known to the business men of our CONNER
cial cities. The defenses of San Francisco, for
instance, are very poor. The guns are few and
small Tnsre are some fifteen-inch guns, which
explode $50 pounds of powder at a charge, but
these are not well mounted. l under.
stand that congressional vS--.tnistee
will come here to look at the works.
Some Of these committees so combine
pleasure and work as to eliminate the work. but
this committee will probably be an exception.
AS to your question concerning the ability of
civilians to judge of question of defense better
than military men, the wisdom of the nation has
named congressional committee to consider
the facts and report New York harbor cannot
be much worse defended than San Francisco is.
Twenty years ago the defenses here would COM
mand more respect than they dc now"
What would be the probable cost Of making
the defense of San Francisco adequateW
20. that could not say. could not even
approximate an estimate Before any figures
could be suggested it would be necessary for the
engineers to make surveys, and for some plan to
be adopted"
"And what general form would the improve
ment in our defenSeS takeF'
There should be changes, of course. But no
nation has yet reached conclusion concerning
defenses. The conditions change constantly
with the invention of firearms and ships. The
torpedo service seems to be moderately satisfac-
tory, but not completely so. Experiments are
continually going on with large and small torpe-
do boats and fixed torpedoes. The torpedo
service can be made only auxiliary to the land
service. It is one thing to carry torpedo
experiments, or in fact any warlike experiments,
under favorable circumstances, in time of peace,
and it is another thing to try the same expert
ments when an enemy is doing his best to thwart
YOU The difference, in fact, is about like that
of firing at target for practice and firing at
another man when he is taking aim at and firing
at you at the same time"
Are not certain kinds of torpedoes found to
be comfortable and navgable some distance from
from the shore?"
Eyes, they appear to be; but this has been
demonstrated by experiments, and not by actual
war, which is different thing. If the enemy
will give you ali the time you want, and allow
you to impose upon him all your conditions, it
Is probable that you will be able to blow him out
of water almost every time But he will be
busy himself trying to foil your plans"
''Are you familiar with the plan proposed by
Lieutenant Graydon for the defense of San
Francisco harbor, recently his plan being to at
tach torpedoes to wire cables operated on the
principle of our cable roads,"
II have not studied it. My impression is that
torpedoes can be only auxiliary to the land serv-
ice for defense. At present we could not stop,
with our land defenses, an invasion by iron
cads. Such vessels could come over the bar
and into the bav. But there is no sign of for
egn war now. Our nearest danger in this coun-
try is internal, not external
HAS any new principle of Importance been
applied to the manufacture of arms since our
civil war;"
There have been improvements in the manu-
facture of guns and in the materials used but l
do not think there is any new principle in the
manufacture. Guns are made larger and further
reaching We have guns which can carry five
miles effectively
rs there any fort in New York harbor which
could withstand bombardment9"
mo, sir. New York is better guarded than
any other large seaboard city on the Atlantic
coast"
"Are experiments made continually in warlike
instruments in this country
"Yes, in torpedoes, guns, breech loading can
mons, ETC., and they may lead to some advance. -