The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-07
ruo SHALL DEFEND OUR CoAsTs'
The CLAIM or the Navy 90 no the "srA
hitherto Performed by tae Army.

The CLAIM or the Navy TO no the "srH
Hitherto Performed by tae Army.
WASHINGTON. Sept Gin our military sys-
tenn as in that OF Great Britain. the manning
Of tho harbor forts is intrus'ei TO the regular
nrmy. The mr. illery is, in fact almost exciu-
siyely distributed along the setboard as tno
carrjsons OF tho forts there. Tow light ost-
terles ore found at isterior points sucn Is or
Riley and Fort Leavenworth. In Kansas WhHe
Fort Mcpherson. near Atlanta is an Important
artillery post containing seven foot batteries
h.side, A mounted company. But the main
duty assigned to this arm is that OF garrison
ing the coast forts.
or late. however, the question has been
raised by some naval officers as TO whether the
coast defence ought not to DO turned over to
the navy. Lieut. c. c. ROGERS has maze an
elaborate study OF the practice OF the ieadinR
nations OF Europe on this subject. England
follows tho rule adopted In our own country
and regards the army as adeiending loree.
However. II appears that five years AGO inc
British War Offce and tho Admiralty discussed
the expediency OF turning over the coast iofts
10 the control OF the latter. The war authors
ties are said 10 have favored the scheme. while
tho Admiralty opposed IL on the ground that
they already had enough 20 do and might not
be able to seasonably perfect an organiza-
ton for the Dur pose in the then disturbed con.
Iition OF Europe. During the last year an At
temnt was made In Parliament 10 put
at least the foreign coaline stations held for
naval purposes under naval CONTROL Lieut..
Rogers cites Sir ". Jervols as urging that the
change would avoid division OF authority ana
official friction between the floating defences
OF port and Its shore and channel defences.
consisting OF heavy guns and submarine mines.
The coast OF England is now divided into nine
districts. each o. which has ship OF the re-
serve assigned 10 II. with Captain OF the
royal navy commanding It An Admiral has
supervision over these district Captains. and
there are subdivisions which bring In tho
coast guard. recruited Voluntarily from those
who have served in the navy. still. the FORTH
flcations. a. in our country. are under the con-
troll OF the army. and also the submarine mine
defence.
On the Continent. however. the navy In sew.
eral countries has immediate charge OF tho
maritime forts and the shores between them.
Seven years ago Germany made this arrange
ment not only for the two great dock yards.
but for the Prussian coast forts. The Ian.
guage OF the imperial decree for this purpose
embodies the general argument on the sub
Isct. and 10 accordingly worth quoting:
on. 10 g. .y9Sr s. NINE:
and troops. heretolots Al TN. work h.v,ns leen in.
.. %css.. ss s.I. os.sssIs:ssa
ss nsy Srots @ saa ns Sp.n for 81:
70 he s ana
q proper into ss e;a ar,
;ervSs a. has Teen show in operations with minsa
army Of a. e1a:, D1s: .ond md
in any ease necessary Tor the service and b. could
E
HSu S SsP: tho ..
VIC. Esqa.,!ior. FOR as,ss.u, ys..s. and ma:r.s
and a hsrtor Once block Cd by mine. :. movements no
s.s .rr1tos At .peei.
| between the army an the navy.
This plan caused the forts not only at Kiel
fI and Of the lower Weser to be garrison Cd
By naval artillery. in which three-fourIhs Of
the privates are eunners taken from tho navy.
boring eonserip,ion, districts The War Mins.
approved It, while the reasons urged were that
the guns and carriages In the coast forts were
Ike those ,H 1sed IN the nayy that sea@e1
| the mauu'uvres of hostile ships and o! naval
landing parties rs we'll a. the points Of weak
| deiences consisted largely OF turrets. moved
by steam or HYDRAULIC power. class OF men
N The
that seamen were better fitted to take care Of
The Of ves and to
POINTS. These submarine 7. deteness were. Of
II France 81 system 81 coast defence was
| originally under naval Administration, but
Var. Once, has hal charge Of it except at the
chief naval stations. In later years the ten
Immediate admiSisira,ion. The i've Chief
are put under ts cmnfrFs Of Iaya pre-
a:r aSem sre nar
m.uas, rsGoses the ssrTsss Of more than
hi s sni sssI Z.
coast ,proper. Still. while he has the Una! re-.
sponsibility. under him are the maritime pre-
the marine artillery Italy s. as a someWha,
systsS% s Ths ,Ts In general The
petitions and the navy the coast batteries. ''1
The conclusion seems to b that In Germany
tries there are ORGANIZATIONS OF marine artil-
lery aud infantry, which are exclusively di.
itary services. The idea suvgss,ed psrhsps
t. that the force in some Europe.n N coast
forts more nearly resembles our marine corps
Work tho heavy guns and to sofpsdS
service. In Austria the War Minister has
o. me 81 q ws a. t
pr II IN European countries. so
20 great is the difference In the circumsIanees s
armies there maintaiued, which must aIxsgs
bo ing nation, and our little cstabIishmcn.
which hardly has that contingency 10 view
foot batteries OF our regular artillery were
they relieved from service in tho forts. Prob.
ing put in charge OF the marines under III,
Navy Department VIII continue under ths
army. and II Is also not likely that the Euro
array OF division anil section suhordlnaies
will DO established here. Still. 1t is inierestns
| on this subject.
She Was Speechless for Eixht MontAs.
MERIpES Sept. 6.-Miss Hattie Gnvin's all
L IL A.