The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-04
QUE PACIFIC COAST DEKK1Es


Possible Astaeks.
WARRINGTON. Nov 3.-The suggestion that
San Francisco might DO bombardod By the
war ships Of Chill ought to carry lesson to
Congress and the country.
As matters stand. there 10 really little dan
ger OF such disaster. and our Government
has probably given this remote possibility no
weight whatever In determining It's dealings
with Chill. That country would have its hands
more than full in protecting from our cruisers
its own extended coast line. which stretches
from below Yaldivia up to and beyond
africa more than 1900 miles Near one ex.
tremity Of that line is the nitrate region. its
main source Of income. and thousand miles
distant Is its main centre OF population and
seat OF government It's crippled feet would
have to be divided for the protection Of these
two main regions. Besides. war with the
United States might revive domestic discords
and stimulate Peru and Bolivia to recover what
Chill took from them.
Before Gillian expedition could reach San
Francisco we should have defending naval
force there. The San Francisco is already on
her way thither: the Charleston will probably
be there this month on her return from China.
Other ships in the Pacific would be summoned.
The first ipstallments OF our automobile tor
pedoes must soon be ready. and might be sent
by rail across the continent to be used on i'm
provised torpedo vessels for harbor defenca
The high power guns which the Navy Depart
ment is accommodating for cruisers now under
construction could also be despatched by rail.
as the batteries Of the Charleston and the San
Francisco were sent These guns have great
range and penetrative power and could be
mounted to the best advantage for plunging
fire from the bluffs around San Francisco A
supply OF Pinch breech-loading mortars Of the
best modern type could also be forwarded and
mounted.
But while these considerations may reassure
some who have been unduly alarmed about
the perils Of San Francisco. 1t is well to draw
the proper moral from any feeling Of anxiety.
It 10 serious fact that San Francisco would be
While existing a facts would enable US PROBABLY
to prevent tho approach OF such q feet and
IS aone to psp dar S p s s seas S
proper state OF defence. Chill Is not the only
or the BE- And
Il for the Atans and pe,h
the right moment to attack.
an San fs do1s to
the present affair with CHI ii can be safely tided
at Benicia. or elsewhere In California. Of Gov.
at West Troy Tor the army and at Washington
for the navy. Testimony was given before the
who ass u1
listing Wateryl.st establishment. admitted that
fences would have to be sent around to San
Francisco BY sea unless the rairnad bridges
answer to the question whether it would not
be better to found another gun factory on the
Pacific coast. he made this answer:
the Gotefnmen, to make ali the guns |Sud be svery
e sa 'li In
Esr yo on tina, sSse IN
when completsdI and we want some money Iris yeai
,as @ ~ oSsS
s eIpiss, % dSnK ssa @ I'd g, having
ouKh. 70 erect another which win the necessary
chinery could turn out about 100 guns syear
mittee on Coast Deiences that the Pacific Roll.
stss! xsishnE thiTtyssyen tons. These arg
enough Tor i2inch guns snf Practically. the II
the sspsssa Ss
grounds at al the important harbors consti.
se
four l ;infh guns. twsntX l2;ineh guns. saw saw
l2s l2- In mortars: for Columbia River.
mortars. and for San Diego, four l0-inqh guns
SINCE then We have hadthe important defences
few minor points, namely Yaapina Bay. Coos
But there Is nothing In those to attract un enc;
n ny; and the four places first mentioned are al
number of guns and mortars there required.
and tho growing Importance Of the Pacific
coast. 1t would seem wise to assist that coast
to provide its own guns. ms 1t is already pro-
vding it's own ships.
But should it be- decided that the. specdier
and more economical plnn is to enlarge the
facilities Of Waterviiet this, should be Done
with liberal hand. In the last Congress the
needed supplies for this, purpose were partly
withhold. although prodigious extrayagance
public defence; The coming Congress should
that are not ioII the Interest "a the peopl. and
our coasts Had our navy to-day been loft In
the deplorable condition Of half dozen years
PInity. Fortunately enough, q our nsWE fleet
now, an increased vigor In harbor defence Is
the lesson Of the hour.