The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-06-07
TALK OF DISMANTLING FORTS.

IHE aDanuOnlng OIL most OIL Eng
lands fortified stations is bold sug-
gestion, and the leaving to means
other than Notifications the coast de-
fense of the country is a bolder one,
vet both are made in all seriousness,
and stoutly maintained, too, by one
of her best authorities on modern war
fare. Admiral Colomb, who, more
over, has a large following among
military men. Ofcourse, there is no
dearth of authorities to espouse the
other side, and vigorously, too, yet ii
is not going too far to say that the
novel proposition is gaining more
friends, the more it is discussed. It's
effect on those considering it for the first
time is curious one, the first inclina-
ton being to ridicule it, as if it were on
its'yery face an absurdity;a a little more
consideration, and the inclination is
to regard it as an ingenious though a
bold plan to enormously strengthen
the Channel feet, but not a practic-
able one. 1t is just here where the
split comes, where various processes
of reasoning lead to different goals;
one following out the train of thought
inspired to conviction, the other only
the more sustained in his inherited
belief that England's feet should be
scattered over the world.
Admiral Colomb and his contrereS
virtually ask what advantage it is to
have fortified stations all over the
world. For base of supplies for the
feet? Well, then, if no fleet were
kept there, no supplies would be
needed, and consequently no fortifca-
tions.
A novel proposition this, and when
carried to its conclusion it leaves a
picture in the minds eye of war fleets
arriving in distant and hostile waters
with no means of obtaining a fresh
supply of coal provisions. But the
calculations that have been made
show that since the introduction OF
steam on the sea there has not been
an occasion where, during time of war,
coaling stations could not be forcibly
fortified. As 1t is, the greater part OF
England's feet, often three-quarters
Of the number of effective ships-those
out Of the dockyards-are kept con-
stantly in distant seas, and millions of
dollars are spent yearly in keeping up
military establishments in these far
away parts to supply them with coal
and food. The best naval authorities
have recently given it as their opinion
that the Channel fleet should be more
than equal to Withstand the assault of
the combined fleets of the two strong
est naval powers. It never has been
so, it is not so now, and, with the scat.
tering of ships as under the present
system, with the great powers con-
stantly building, it is not likely to be
so in the future.
Under the proposed system, il
might be accomplished. Such a feet
might be recruited from the distant
fortified coaling stations. The ad-
miral might have cited some vel
known illustrations of the danger oi
dividing the forces; a notable one be
ing the dispatch by Octavius of the
best troops on a distant expedition
against the barbarians while the en-,
emy was knocking at the gates o
Rome. The admiraIs idea is that
when war threatened, dash was tt
be made in the direction of its prob
able operations, and reftting stations
fortified and provisioned there, thu
saving the expense Of a long list o
Notifications In foreign waters. As tt
temporary troubles in time of peace
this very steam system, which man.
think requires fortified coaling sta
tions, permits the quick dispatch of al
effective force.
As to the system of immense an'
costly shore Notifications, both he anC
many others of the best military
minds regard them as unnecessar!
and ineffective. Even the iron ant
steel plates now being spread alonl
their seaward faces are regarded a
impotent against the assault of tn
great marine guns. Such fortifica.
tions make too large target, SO, it
said, all that is wanted being plat
form of iron or masonry, with NJ
obstacle in the path of projectile'
from the sea, and a group of deer
pits to contain disappearing guns. Il
these and other suggestions RELATIVE
to armament and processes be adopted
there Will take place something like
revolution in the present system o
warfare.
Merit Wins.
We desire to say to our citizens, tha