New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-02
POOR STATE OF AMERICAN DEFENoEs.

POOR STATE OF AMERICAN DEFENCES.
TALKS WITH COMMODORE RAMSAY AND GEN.
ERAL RELTON-NEwYORK ToLERABLY
SAFE FROM AN ATTACK BY SEA.
Washington, April specian.-Commodore Ramsay,
the Chief OF the Bureau OF Navigation In the Navy
Department, to-day made some interesting observations
on the Naval force of this country to local inter-
viewer Said he: q How many battle ships do you
suppose we havc9 Just one-the doube-turTeted
monitor Mlantonomoh, now at the NewYork Navy
Yard, and she is not completed Only of her
urrets is equipped with guns However, by pressing
forward, we might finish her IN month. Tho old
monitors which fought during the late War would be
Of little value against the powerful battle ships OF
European navies. The guns carried by these vessels
could send proectle through side aud out Of the
other side OF any turet Oh the monitor feet, which
now lies below Richmond on the James River.
We are building two battle ships, but many months
will be required In which to complete them and many
more to arm and plate them with armor. The armor
has not yet been rolled. IL is idle to talk Of building
n Navy In few months. The views set out by
senator ingalls, in his Naval article certainly not
believed by himself. 1t is ridiculous TO Naval experts
to hear and boast of repeating what did during the
War. Then we were ptted against people without
a navy and almost without the possibility OF one. We
swelled our Naval list rapidly to over 500 vessels
hut what did they amount TOT Anything that would
serve as a gun platform carry gun wns bought
or built. 1t not necessary that they should be
able to resist attack, because there foe afoat
TO oppose them. We could get many Of this kind OF
craft of course, but they would be of no service as
against foreign Naval Power The tin plates, the
vessels protected with boiler iron were called on our
Western rivers could also be easily procured but they
would be worthless as the Others They could
barely resist the fire Of old-fashOned firearms and
would be knocked to pieces by small feldpiece fire.
"our new cruscrs-abOut q dozen in number-wouid
ba of hn for oil
worth. But they never Intended to stand before
armorcd battle ships against any thing else than
such unarmored vessels as their own class. They
would however, be useful to destroy the lines OF water
communication by which a foreign Naval force on
our coast must receive their coal and supplies"
In conclusion, Commodore Ramsay said that he did
not feel that New-York in imminent danger even
In the event OF war. The heavy draft Italian war
ships could not successfully lombard the city without
entering the harbOr and they were not likely TO enter
the arbor because, aside from the perls Of navigation
certain precautions could and would speedily DO
made to render the water untenable for them. Sub
marine mines conld be arranged, although it did not
follow that hostile vessel would be obligng enough
to pass over them. Torpedocs could be foated, but
the history OF Naval operations in the James River
showed that they did not make river impossible to
a feet. But these devices were al OF use and sup
plemented by other defensive measures that could be
adopted, but which could not now be described, they
would probably make New FORK City tolcraby safe
from n Naval attack.
General KeltOn, the AdjutlntGeneral Of the United
states Army, secuted the idea OF war; 1t was hard
to imagine any for any substantial
result to accrue to either party from it. Certainly
the United States would not send over to attack italy,
and Italy could not land army In the United states.
The distance between the two countries presented an
almost unsurmOuntable obstacle to land operations
Even the Italian naval vessels could not probably
operate far from base of supply of fuel and stores
lie did not hesitate 10 say that Newl ork Guy would
be safe in any event. Even though the projected
fOrtfcatiOns not yet in existence and the modern
guns were lacking, he had faith In the ability Of the
hostile naval force The Americans were an In
ventve energetic race, and could be depended on TO
mest any emergency. hostile fleet could not lie
within twenty miles of New York. There would be
lack Of men forthcoming who, like Gushing, would
be willing and ready TO be blown up with their
tOrpedOes II they could have even small
chance Of destroying the foe. As for the land forces
in the United States, the General confident that
they could be depended on 10 prevent any hostile
army naval force from setting foot Oh American
soil.