The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-16
Coast and Lake Defence.

Some time ago British military author
ity, the United Service Gazette. in discussing
the Behring Sea- controversy. declared that
1.-THE capture Of our only toaling station in
that part of the world. ut Esquimau!t would
cause our fleet to be dependent upon the
next nearest. namely. on the coast Of Cen
trail America. Is not this" it added. "in
itself an eloquent appeal to the responsible
authorities in this country to deal with this
pressing question
The British Parliament has. in fact. re-
Gently been considering the defences OF
Esquimault. and the discussion did not
prove the less animated from occurring
just when the dispute about the seals had
again become acute. The proposed imperial
defences include strong works at Van
couver. the western terminus Of the Cana
dian Pacific Railway. and on the islands
commanding the approaches to Vancouver.
besides shore batteries in Victoria harbor.
on Vancouver Island. These Notifications
were planned years ago. but their compile
ton was postponed for the purpose of Sc
curing from the Dominion share in the
cost OF constructing them. There might
have been more hurry. save that these
places could obviously be defended by war
ships from such forces as we have thus far
had on the Pacific, while the ability to re-
enforce them with guns and troops by way
of the Canadian Pacific Railway was also n
source Of reliance. In fact. their proposed
completion is now again postponed.
II England Is astir about the condition OF
her Pacific coast defences. there is certainly
much need OF energetic action by Congress
to improve ours. We are better of than a
few years ago. when there was not n mod
ern ship or gun on the coast and when San
Francisco was at the mercy even OF Chill.
The recent trouble with the latter country
has pushed forward defensive work on the
Pacific. and now we have few high-pOwer
rifles at San Francisco and the emplace-
ments for them and for big mortars. Work
has been we'll advanced. too. on the Mon
tercy. our heavily belted harbor defender.
whose two 12-inch guns are ready to be
mounted. and. meanwhile. are available for
shore defence. We have also large feet
OF modern unarmored cruisers some on and
others near the Pacific, efficient In speed
and battery power.
But this is only the beginning OF the
preparation needed. Puget Sound Is open
to naval invasion from Esqumault. having
not a gun in position Yet the Pacific coast Is
capable of providing its own protection. If
Congress will say the word. Let that body
call for half dozen torpedo boats. and they
can be furnished speedily In Pacific ship
yards: let it erect gun factory at Benicia.
and such establishments AS the Pacific
Rolling Mills and the Union and Risdcn
Iron Works will furnish tho steel ingots for
the heavy ordnance.
Tha poniAo CT Ia ha Npl1y From ftar
requiring the attention OF Congress. The
line Of the great lakes Is practically unde-
Tended. On the Pacific high bluffs are found
almost everywhere. to give plunging fire
from guns mounted on them. whereas the
lake shores are generally flat and the cities
stretched along the waters edge. Naval
defences for them are barred by the Rush.
BAGoT treaty OF 1917. Still in operation: and
while the British also cannot maintain war
ships there beyond the trivial treaty allow
ance. yet they have scores OF light gun
boats and torpedo vessels that could pass
through the st. Lawrence and the canals.
Still. a proper armament for Fort Wayne
on the Detroit River would. with submarine
mines. efreotually close the upper lakes
against hostile feet. A like armament
for Fort Montgomery at Rouse's Point
would protect Lake Champlain. A new fort
on the st. Lawrence would command the
approaches to Lake Ontario. On smaller
bodies OF water In the interior could be as
sembled torpedo craft to be sent by canal.
when needed. to one or other of the great
lakes. Finally. preparations can be made
to block the use OF the Dominion canals.
For this purpose 1t IL necessary to establish
posts In the neighbOrhood OF Lake Cham
plain as the headquarters of forces Of light
artillery. cavalry. and infantry. to be de-
spatched promptly across the frontier in
case OF war. One step for this purpose was
taken by the Fifty-first Congress. In au-
thorizing the enlargement Of Pittsburgh
barracks. while bill to establish new post