The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
III An ENEMY CvME,
Portland will be in a Bad PrediCa-
ment,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAMS Elk.
PLAINS OUR SITUATION.

How the Old Forts have become Use
Iess-The British at Halifax are Pre-
pared to Pounce on PortIand-A Very
Defenceless City is This.
1t is not probable that we shall have a
war with Chill; and if we should have one
it Is even more improbable that any harm
could come to Portland from it. Yet If
CHILEAN man-of-war, like the Captain Pratt,
now in French port preparing for sea,
should by some chance get to roaming
about the North Atlantic, as the Confeder-
ate cruiser Shenandoah did in the North
Pacific, there would be no earthly thing in
the way of defences to prevent her laying
Portland under heavy contribution, or
even of bombarding and burning her, as
did Mowatt's fleet more than hundred
years ago.
Yesterday PRESS reporter talked with
Lieutenant Colonel Hams. the army en-.
glneer officer now in charge of matters per-
tanning to coasts and harbors in this dis
trict. Colonel Hams has had charge of
the defences of Hampton Roads, and is
thoroughly acquainted with this branch of
his profession.
Portlands Rank StrategicaIIy.
Colonel Haines says that Portland ranks
tenth among the coast and lake potts in
strategic Importance. New York, Boston,
San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans,
Hampton Road, Washington and a few of
the Lake ports are deserving of attention
before Portland; but Portland's claims
are of great Importance. In the first place
this is most important harbor, one Of the
best on the Atlantic coast; and in the
second place this is terminal point of two
great lines of Canadian railroad, the Grand
Trunk and Canadian Pacific. In addition
to these points. the situation of the city,
with SO many deep water approaches, Is
such that an enemy could easily come into
the harbor in the absence of adequate for
tiications and armament.
The British Watching at Halifax.
In case of war with England, and
England is our most probable enemy-a
descent could be made from Halifax in
few hours. Halifax is splendidly forti-
lied post, one of the strongest In the New
Worlds and the British authorities at Hall
fax undoubtedly have plans all figured out
to the smallest details. for the descent
upon and occupation of Portland, or for
bombardment if possession should not be
desired They would intend TO, and could
as defences are at present, occupy or bonn
bard Portland in very few hours.
The Old Defences.
Portland people have in summer sailed
often by Forts Georges, Scanned and Preble
and admired their apparent strength. But
talk with Colonel Hams would soon sat-
isfy anyone that these forts are really of
very little account. With the improve
ment OF cannon the requirements for the
defence of city like Portland have ad-
vanced steadily. When Mowatt lombard
ed the city he must have ranged his ships
right In front Of the wharves. In those
days fertilization on the Eastern prone
made. at what is now Fort Allen Park,
situated so that its guns could play down
into the harbor, was the proper defence
AS guns increased in power the defeDces
had to be moved further out; and the next
step was to stop the entrances to the har-
Dor. There are four entrances practicable
TO an enemy: The main channel between
the Cape and Cushing's Island; the White
Head channel between Cushing's and
Peaks; the channel between Peaks and
Diamond Islands; and the channel be-
tween the Diamond Islands and the Fore.
side.
The Stone Forts.
The stone forts were built to guard these
channels; and up to 1860 were excellent
defences. Properly manned and equipped.
Preble, Scanned and Gorges could proba-
bly, have defended Portland as we'll as
Sumter-the twin of Fort Gorges-and
Moultrie did Charleston against the Fed
eral fleets. Vessels could not, except per-
haps after long siege. enter Portland har-
Dor by either of the four approaches.
But the improvements in cannon have so
changed conditions that hostile feet need
no longer enter the harbor. 1t might lie
outside the island, out of reach of the forts,
and lay the city in ashes; or it might with
Its superior armament silence the forts.
New System of Defense.
These conditions have all been consid-
cred by the army authorities, and their
scneme OF defence for Portland Is planned
70 meet the danger. Forty modern. high
power great guns forty-eight 12.inch
lifted mortars and a large number of
quick fire gnns. are to be mounted in
Proper positions, and these are to be sup
plemented by torpedoes in the channels.
All modern plans of defence combine tor
pedoes with heavy guns. The torpedoes
prevent ships running by the guns into
harbor, and the guns prevent the enemy
tearing up the torpedoes. Already work is
progressing upon the torpedo system, the
casemate at Portland Head having been
commenced some time ago.
The Torpedo System.
The torpedo system is arranged in this
way; A subterranean casemate is made
near the sea, so constructed that cables may
be laid from it across the bottom of the
channel to be protected. From this cable
torpedoes are suspended, connected by
electrical appliances with the casemate,
These appliances enable an operator to
know when vessel touches a torpedo,
which may be exploded by him with anoth-