The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-15

u COAST LIME.

OUR COAST LINE.
The question Of coast defence is on
that does not touch the state OF Mon
tana very nearly, Neither Helena no
Fort Benton is likely to waken to tn,
thunders of bombardment by a foreig,
fleet, and the Nineteenth century hold
out little hope OF encouragement for TIL
Pizarro who would burn his ships
abandon his base of supplies, and at
tempt to cross the bulwark Of thu
Rockies. But, as an integral portion o
u great commonwealth, with an extern.
sive and valuable littoral to guard, we
cannot afford to whistle the subject
down the wind. This country is not
lying awake o nights, spell bound b.
the prospect OF war and its triumphs
Our citizens minds are not warped by
centuries of traditional greed and i'm
perial roguery. 1t is, in truth, well
| within the mark to say that, except in
tho very last resource, the popular
opinion Of this country looks upon war
as a gigantic blunder, as, worse than
tfldus q ClltLlCs buU oul BSaSS iiE
disposition should not permit us to de
velop a weakness that viii invite at
tack. A great country has great duties
to perform and great responsibilities to
bear. We have not only the home re-
sources of our citizens to protect. We
must guard their extensive and valuable
interests IN other countries, while we
cannot neglect the broader duties we
owe to humanity as a whole. To meet
these obligations, it is absolutely IN
cumbent upon us As a nation never to
allow our defensive to be on
tirely dwarfed by the efforts of any
other country, be that country who she
may. On the seas that guard our
shores we should be as strong as the
strongest, and the lack of neither coal
ing stations nor fortified harbors should
be allowed to impair the efficiency OF
our defence line.
Considerations of this nature seem to
underlie the annual report of the com
mander of the department Of the east.
Great Britain, he points out, has now
four harbors in neighboring seas, vel
garrlsoned, we'll fortified and connected
by Geographic cable. In the event OF
war with this country, Halifax, Ber-
muda, Kingston and st. Lucia would
form most important bases from which
to operate against the United States.
What have we to show? All to the
south of Hampton roads, the Atlantic
coast is practically defenseless. Boston,
New York and Hampton Roads we are
slowly fortifying, as annual doles per-
nit. Some day New Orleans may
boast of a dry dock and naval station.
Everywhere else there is a long array of
wealthy and important coast cities in
wiling attack and plumber.
The impossibility of rendering all i'm
pervlous to attack Gen. Howard is fully
prepared to admit. But, because we
cannot accomplish all, we need not do
nothing. In the generals opinion, the
more valuable because it is not extreme,
the gulf OF Mexico needs more protec-
ton than even New Orleans at its
strongest could afford. Galveston and
Tampa bay might form valuable add.
tons to the line of gulf defense. In
the Atlantic, with still more valuable
interests to guard, it is the generals
suggestion that as far south as possible
a good harbor-the deepest to be found
should be strongly fortified, made a
refuge for endangered commerce, and
created a naval coaling and repair sta
ton. The complete defense of the har-
bors of Tybee Roads and Port Royal
sound would meet his ideas. Works on
Tybee, H~iltonhead, Parry and st. Hell
ena islands, fixed torpedoes, light draft
gnnboats and torpedo craft would pro-
tect the most prosperous city and the
best harbor in that quarter, while fur
nishing the naval base required. AS we
have already pointed out, the modera-
ton of the report is most praiseworthy.
There is no attempt to create an alarm
list scare and no desire to the
squandering of the public mil
lions. It's one has recommended it to
Gen. Schoteld, who passes it on with
warm approval to his official superiors.
Backed by such expert testimony, &C
ton should soon be taken and public
confidence increased.