The Critic and record., 1891-04-02
OUR IlARB0R DEFENSES.
SECRETARY TRACY's LAST REPORT
HAS NEW sIGNIFlCANCE.

The Wretcl,cdly Weak Condition Of New
York HarboI--Forts at the Mercy Of
Any Hostile Modern Fleet
Touching the defenscless condition OF
New York Secretary Tracy in his last an
nual report TO Congress had this to say
which he now asserts is not an overdrawn
picture.
"The harbor Of New York at the present
time is entirely defenselcss. The forts at
the Narrows would offer no obstruction
to the entrance of a fleet. Any vessel,
whatever her size or character, armed
with the modern s-inch guns-which, be
it remembered, are far from being the
heaviest guns aioat-could lie out of range
of the forts and destroy them. As for
Long Island Sound, it has no forts worthy
of thename, and the entrance to the East
River by that route is as unobslruCtcl as
to the Narrows. II may be said that guns
could be mounted on shore to fire at such
q fleet.
The Army possesses no modern guns
for the purpose, and the cast-iron shell
from the guns now in ITS possession would
make no more impression on modern
irOnClads than hailstones on roof. It is
likewise thought by those who are
ignorant of the actual conditions that
torpedocs would prevent the entrance of
the fleet. The fact is, we have no tor
pedoes. Stationary torpedoes or mines,
indeed, we have, or could make and lay
in abundance, but an attacking ileet could
pick them up or countermine without
danger to itself, leaving clear path for
its ships OF automobile tOrpeGoes, which,
though not principal means of defense
would yet be contributing fact lr, we
have not one at the present time. As for
our unprotected cruisers, if they stayed in
port it would only be to become involved
in general Capitulation. There is moth
ing, therefore, to prevent the access of a
fleet to New York by either the eastern or
the southern entrance.
"With fleet once in the harbor the
consequences would be of such magnitude
that the country at large could not disre-
gard them. The popular impression IS
that the danger Of a sea-coast city IS dan
ger of bonn bardment, with ransom as an
alternative. 1t is not regarded as press
ing danger, being opposed to the civilized
tendencies of the age, and, at the worst, a
menace that can be bought Off. Leaving
out, however, the possibility, If such a
possibility exists that q state of war will
forego an overwhelming strategic advan-
tage ont Of Difference to the 'Civili2ed ten
denotes of the age" and that any State or
city is rich enough to pay the fifty or one
hundred millions that may be eXaCted rs
the price of immunity the danger does
not stop here The terms of ransom
would undoubtedly include the surrender
of all the shipping, naval or mercantile,
IN the port. In the case of New York, 1t
is hard TO say what limit would be fixed
to a ransom, and Brooklyn and Jersey
City would contribute their shares.
But the calamity would not end with
the payment of money and the surrender
of ships. An enemy's fleet once in the
waters of New York would remain there.
Commerce would be annihiated. Com
munication would be absolutely cut off.
The ferry boats would cease to run. The
Brooklyn Bridge would be closed to traffic
rs the condition of its preservation.
Finally, the railroad communications
would be cut and the food supply of two
ard one-half millions of people would
C me to an end. Capitalists might afford
to pay ransom, but famine would fall
fl st on the homes of the poor. The ran
| 81 IN paid by that population would be
| anything which IL was in their power to
give and which the fleet in the harbor
would accept as the price for its depart
ure."
In summing mp the reasons why this
other great nations of the world the Secre-
| tary said:
II would repeat here the proposition
| that was laid down at the opening of my
report last year, that the purpose for
which the United States maintains Navy
is not conquest but defense" The best
| guaranty of peace is u iudicious eXpendi-
ture for the Navy, such as will l-meet the
necessities Of the country. AT the present
| time il has not such a force, nor will it
have the force required even when all the
ships now authorized are completed.
| 'The problem of naval construction has
been simplified almost beyond belief in
the last eight years. 1t only remains to
add to the number of vessels of types al
ready in existence.
"The price is not too high to pay ii it
affords the means whereby the United
States for the first time in many years,
may be enabled TO preserve and defend its
rights. War is great calamity, but it is
not the greatest calamity that can befall
a free, intelligent and self-respecting
people"