The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-26
cERMANY's iRoNcLADs.
Guns Which Could Make Portland a
Very unconnfovtabIep Place

While nobody seriously thinks that the Sa-
moan difference will lead to a war between
Germany and this country, the diplomatic
breeze has caused some speculation as to the
relative strength Of the governments. Any
extended movement on land by German
troops would be practically impossible but
the damage to our sea coast cities In event
OF hostilities is another thing and In this
connection an important feature Of the posi-
bilities of q war with Germany Is the range
OF the guns aboard the German ironclads.
These a.e all breachiloading Krupp guns,
ranging from 5 to 10 1-2 inches In diameter
to 500 pounds. or II the IL inch guns of the
harbOr defense craft is considered-850
pounds. These shells have bursting charges
varying from two pounds for the inch to %
pounds for the 10 inch and 3S pounds for the
II inch. 1t will be readily comprehended
that there would be practical objections to
doing business In New York If a German
ironclad should be engaged In dropping into
the city great conical headed cylinders OF
steel three feet long and ten inches in dame
ter, containing % pounds OF powder warrant
ed to explode on striking Would such a re-
suit be possible with the guns Of German
battleships.
1t is well known that there is point off
Coney Island where five to six fathoms of
water at low tide can be carried sufficiently
than 80 feet to approach with safety to with
In about IL miles of New York city. This
being conceded, would the German guns
reach the city, say as far, even, as Wall
Those who remember that formidable
19-inch Krupp gun at our Centennial Exhibi-
tiou in Philadelphia, with its ominous pla-
card, Range, Is miles" will probably imag-
ine that the question Is settled in the affirma-
tive. According to the report Of the United
SfQtRQ EnrfifQatiQn lie a.
ited with only three vessels carrying gun
capable Of range Of ten miles. These are
the Salamander, Natter and Hummel, all
coast defence craft. mounting one such gun
eac.l. nf vessels carrying guns capable Of a
range bctWeelf lcine End ssn r.;lcs Germany
has twelve-namely.. the Baden. BaIeru,
Wurtemburg and Sachsen, OF four such guns
each, and eight coast defence vessels OF one
such gun each. In other words, the four
last named ships could probably lay waste
every part OF Brooklyn, and even make low.
er New York uncomfortable for people Of
unsettled nerves. They could undoubtedly
reach the best part of Portland, Boston and
other smaller places, without coming within
range Of any gun now mounted.
Manifestly, while New York city might
possibly escape. there would be enough 9TH
er vulnerable points to enable Germany TO
collect heavy ransom, unless we could
meet her ships at sea, or drive them from
our coasts.
for immediate service, the Chicago, Boston,
Atlanta, Vesuvius and Dolphin, and possibly
the Baltimore, Philadelphia, Yorktown,
Charlestown, Puritan, Mlantonomah. Am
phltrite, Monadnock and Terror. For coast
defence the old monitors might do some ser
vice and our wooden corvettes would fairly
Offset the German cruisers Of the same type.
While we are sadly deficient in fighting ships
it extremely doubtful whether Germany is
sufficiently strcng to conduct an offensive
war at so great distance from her supplies.