The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-05
OUR COAST DEFENCE SYSTEM
The Psrts Played by the Army and Navy
IN Nnrbor Protection.

Tho Parts Played by the Army and Navy
IN Unrbor Protection.
WARRINGTON. March 4.-The expenditure OF
the money annually voted In the Notifications
bill is intrusted to the army Harbor defence
has always been an affair OF the War Depart
nent. because it 40 largely concerns fixed
forts: and whilc the new Board OF Ordnance
and Fortif,c1tions is not exclusively composed
Of army officers. yet tho latter control 1t. and
1t reports to the Secretary OF War.
It Is true that the Notifications Bonrd OF
| 1855 decided that tho defences OF our ports
should DO " fixed and floating. one or both. ac-
coriing to locality" and In fact at New Or
leans they proposed to expend upon floating
defences three-fourths OF tho entire amount
which they estimated "a necessary for tho de-
fence OF that port. and at San Francisco nearly
onehnlf. At tho former place they proposed
$S.15O.OOO for floating batteries and S72O.0OO
for torpedo boats, out OF total OF S11. 7lO.5OO;
and Mt the latter SlO.725OO for floating bat
tories and sl0S0.00O for torpedo boats. out of
n totnl OF $27.Si2 100. For no fewer than
thirteen ports and places they proposed tor
| podo boats at an aggregate expense OF
S0.720.0OO: and these were to be supple
| mented by submarine mines to tho extent OF
$4.334OOO.
Nevertheless. the Board explained TINT by
floating defenccs It did not refer toarmorod sea-
going ships. but to floating batteries. "nrmored
moro heavily and armed with heavier guns
than any probable adversary" They were to
be OF less draught than soa-Roing ships 80 as
| to operate among shoals and to avoid ram
ming. and even torpedoes. Tho sacrifice OF
speed would give the extra thickness Of nrnor
and superior gun power: but the costlincss OF
such batteries must restrict them to cases OF
necessity. "as where the port Is 80 near to
| deep water that bombardment may not
otherwise be prevented: also in localities where
the nature OF tho foundations forbids the con-
struction Of fixed defences or where tile width
OF the channel Is too great to be we'll swept
from shore batteries" Hence. besides Sun
Francisco and New Orleans the Board sug-
gested the eastern end Of Long Island Sound
and Chesapeake Bay rs suitable places for
| floating batteries. tho former being au outer
| Hampton ioads. Washington. and Baltimore.
| Then we have the general argument for land
for coast .tectlon. One Of its latest express. .
sions WIS in the last report OF Secretary Proc
wasl as s ao r sG Of agd as
are not only the chsspest to Child H but on es
t. Se il tS ns
| good foundations ns heavy guns can be mount
| heavier. and to carry heavie charges, or throw
heavier sa Ero1ectiles than ship ordnance OF the
,Neycrtheless. tho navy is beginning to think
about its relations to coast defence. and To- di,-
co6rdinate part in managing tho system. This
ambition is natural II view of its eNtraooTdi-
practically reconstructed its fleets on the best
| modern basis. so thut our country has ulready
resumed its former place as y naval power
| 1t built scores upon scores of heavy guns.
| while the army was limiting its labors chiefly
to type guns Of only few calibres. although
bers are beginning to come forward. some
En- besn to sadS ports
the. first seemed to take hold OF the building
rs No sps Ea asscs
year after year and the beginning of the work
WAS wrunE from 1t only with the greatest ex-
G IN tha taa.so1s 81
Still, the favor of Congress has naturally in.
srired the navy with ambition and con-
ndience. and in addition it finds Ger.
coast defence in the practice OF some foreign
nations, Ill, Lieut. G Rogers; who nude
Intelligence. found that while some European
Govcrnments put coast defence under the
Or less completely to the navy. as its function
Is to fight tho enemy nnoat: not necessarily on
se otheI ons 6 h M n r
naval element thus constituting the inner as
well stn op le tP o. dssRsS VIE
o 1s Ths denes sad the
1877 at which time the naval artillery was or
ior ths Line ose OF the
earrisons ~ forts at Kiei ana Wiihelmshaicn.
WesGr EGst years ago the following decree
. IS H. VI. S h: s s: Fl"
thr navy !. to be ntrn.ted no, only with The defence
defence F".;s
a Il a ,1a
IN Trance tho forts fnring tho sea are
manned by the marine artillery. which how
eyer. is Y corrps for land service only. The
defence Committee. On which tho naval clc-
M, ment is strongly represented, The army mans
defence in general. after tho fall Of Napoleon.
Who al Hiy r,a. 1t TO- naval officer passed I"
somewhat larger shar" IN It:
Under present ARRANGEMENTS the defenc" OF the conss
Lsrr f1fefRs 's r an. Gs n"r'
who have under ;h"ir command the military element
T St R"f's
rom. aa ali 81 sns cl "s"s d. by
Mim.,s; m M'rne snc rs signal. ,orpeio boats. sub
Of c ~'' tho enss Of
however Inc section commander requires the services
OF more thar three Dataons q troops the army oic"r
commandns IN the section viii take charge OF the OPP
orations On lnEi.
A little less than two years ngo a decree vas
issued by tho President roe ,gnizing tho Wnr
Department as charged with tho const defence
proper. And in ordor tn bring about harmony
and tho best use Of naval and military for.cs
i was 'c",rel TINT: in, az matters affect
H.. the land forces nf their districts. tho mari
time .nrrl"cts should bo under the orders OF
tn" Minister Of War Tho ,commandants Of
vested By tn" Ministry OF War with authority
nveT, mattors un.ler i.s jurisdiction and hy
tho Ministry OF Mnrno over matters within
its province.
In Italy the principal element Of coast do
fence is naval, In general. Italian forts "rcu-
pyins elevated positions ara. gRrrisoned by the
army. while I'll" cONst batteries. and those COW
Ing submarine minos and obstructiona nre
manned by the navy: and mt Mallalnnn and
laramie all the tiilcations are in tho hands OF
the latter; In Austria coast defence il intrust
I'D to the Wnr Department. which. in fact. also
,ndml9tstsrs the navy: and the forts are usual
~ undor tho orders OF the commandrr Of tho
army corps in tho cOast zone. IN England tho
coast Is divided into nine districts. enclI under