The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-22
THE GUNS AND THE FORTS
what shall Now Ne, Done for Coast
Drfsncee

N-sF 'N'oas s~s ~~@ss
Defences
WASHINGTON. Juno 21.--It Is now the turn Of
the Senate to consider tho problem OF the
coast defences and to determine what shall be
done Tor them during the coming year.
ltcan no longer DO said that our shores arc
without protection. The first installments OF
modern hish-power guns and mortars for har-
Dor defence are coming forward. and en-
Placements are under construction for them ut
New York. Boston. San Francisco. and else
where. The building up OF the navy has also
been source OF const protection. Yet the
present Congress should not find In this fact
any excuse for faltering in this important
work. which should DO carried forward MS
promptly and vigorously as possible.
Tho action OF tho House last week on the
pending Fortlncations bill was thoroughly
commendable in many respects. although It
is open to the criticism OF not quito fully
utilizing all the facilities ut command. The
House granted tho full amount asked for Ivy
Gen. Flnglor. Sl5l 900. for the enlargement OF
tho heavy gun carriage works at Watertown
Arsenal. and that Is q valuable piece of legis-
lation. since tho carriages to be manufactured
there will no needed for guns now actually
under construction. 1t hns also granted in
fuil the amount estimated for completing the
equipment Of the south wing OF tho Water
vliet gun factory. This will permit the manu-
facture each year OF fifteen pinch and three
16-inch guns In addition it has given S125.-
600 for finishing and assembling heavy guns
at this factory, and as n consequence during
tho next twelve months. beginning July /.
there will bo com pleted. for sea- oast defcnce,
eighteen S-inch. fourteen 10-inch. and six L.
Inch guns.
Taking together these guns. and those that
have already been completed, and the NOR
tars now built and building. there will be
ready for mounting in one year from the
present time. as nearly as cnn be estimated.
forty-two heavy high power guns and fifty
seven big mortars making In round numbers
100 such modern cannon. This is certainly
gratifying prospect. after long period Of
dangerous neglect.
Still such u prospect brings into stronger
contrast tho somewhat too scanty appropria-
ton OF S5U0.OO0 for tho construction OF bat
teres into which to put these guns and NOR
tars. Cen Cascy's estimates for this purpose
were S2,84T.OO0. Such reduction seems ex-
cessivo. and it will not be strange to find the
Senate increasing tho amount Mt least to tho
S75O.0O0 devoted to it last year. But 1t Is only
fair to say that reductions cnn bet
ter como in this item than in
finishing guns and carriages. These
cannot DO extemporized. They take n long
time to build. But with tho guns and car
riagos once ready. as Gen. Flaglcr has said.
" If war should break out we should be able
to rrcnnrc some kind Of fertilization in a few
and night OF carthworks. Hence. if there is
place. for IT. s e IS hae
the accuracy Of fire is nowadays so great as to
rsuuirc machinery for the disanpe9rance Of
the guns below tho parapet except when they
are raised for firing. it is we'll not to rely on
merely what Gan be done. in extenporizinE
works Of sandbags and earth.
The same reasoning applies to the purchase
OF sSs 9r our u, nnx Whsf tb receives an
n" ee ." I ast The nrser Sum m
is recommended by the War Department as
an H" all n% ne tTa t ftss
is an uneypended balance on hand. and time
Is required Tor ths contamination Of sites un-
purchase. 1t cannot Go positively predicted
that S25U00o will prove tool little. yet the safer
plan is to continue the annual sum Of 100000
The total estimates OF the War Department
for the present bill wero much more than
never tho case with this BILL, but the actua al
s34i3s ani tbs IS 81 f less than ' ths
hill Of last Year such a reduction would be
totally at the present stage Of
Offset has been made in authorizing the Sscro- |
tary Of Var TO enter into c"3tra , INVOLVING
ingly. should those contracts be made. the ac-
tuai liability incurred under this bill would be |
just about equal to that which WAS contein- |
plated by last years appropriations.
Taking the bill as whole. 1t Is certainly |
more, LIBERAL than there had been reason to |
fear i might be made. Tho ext,ayagance Of
some objections. where greater outrys could
have been desired. But through the legitl- |
mate device OF authorizing the War Depart |
nIcnt to make certain very large contracts. |
provided In its judgment they IRE required. |
the work ofcoast defence will then efficiently |
be carried on at a very moderate current ap- |
propriation. Tho senate is likely to make |
some increases. but. there should be no DIM |
Guilty in rsaehingn fair compr9mise. and Sc