The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-24
DEFENSE OF sEA-PoRrs.
What Has Been Done TO Protect New Yorl
Easy Matter tn She'll the City.

New YORK, Jan. 2a-The prospect of
war with Chilli has made the matter of
coast defense O very interesting one to
everybody. The defense of the maritime
cities of this country. in case of an attack
from hostile feet is subject of great
importance. not only to these Cities but
the country at large, since there is hardly
q town or hamlet in the United States that
would not be effected in some detrimental
way were the ports of entry of the
country or any of the most important ones
to be closed for any length of time,
as would be the case were an enemy to sue
ceed In capturing one or more of them.
Their capture is by no means the only
thing to be feared. nor perhaps is it the
worst. With the modern artillery with
which the vessels of most of the European
navies are equipped. IL would be possible
for the ships to lie.of Rockaway beach and
drop shells into the heart of New York
city, not to speak of Brooklyn. which Is
mile or two nearer. and this with the hos
Forts Wadsworsh and Hamilton. In fact.
the harbor and city of New York are utter
ly defenseless. This condition of affairs
was recognized by the War Department
ton years ago, and steps were taken to
The Brooklyn Standard Union reviews
what has been done to strengthen the de-
fenses of Brooklyn and New York, as fol-
lows: THE first thing to be done was TO
tind out the best mode of defending the
harbor. and to this end corps of engineers
under Gen. John Newton, who gained
great deal of fame through his en- ngineeriDg
operations in the blowing up of He'll Cato.
was detailed to make an examination OF
the lower bay and the approaches TO it. and
h. hUc& q a - Ia e. 80.
shore. There is a deep-water pocket ap-
preaching the coast of Long island from
the ocean. from which the channels nayi-
gable to vessels of great draught run MP
through the narrows. It's in this pocket
order to shell New York or Brooklyn.
and. therefore. it was this pocket that the
engineer studied to command with de-
fenses which it was proposed to erect.
This anchoring Is less than six miles away
miles from the East river and one mile
further from New York. From this spot
hostile iron-clad with q modern gun could
infiict incalculable damage upon the two
cities. unparalleled In the history of war.
General Newton and his engineers found
that this deep waterspocket. and. in fact,
all the water surrounding it which. by any
possibility would float an iron Glad, could
be commanded by battery erected at or
near Coney island. The erection of bat
tcIy III OOuey leiauQ OI any ObucI
tected part of the coast was not feasible.
however. as it would be q plain and easy
target for the guns of the enemy.
PLUM ISLAND SELECTED.
General Newton and his assistants, there
fore, decided that Plum island would be
the proper place for the battery. They
found that the oeep-water pocket could be
brought under effective fire in circle hav-
;alo in xrif N
radius of SIX miles. They therefore recon-
mended that the government acquire Plum
island and the construction of battery on
it at once. This was not done at once. how
ever. But recently. having secured the
title to the property the government Is now
endeavoring to secure absolute control of
the same by having IL ceded to the United
States by the State of Yew York.
1.-The gun to be used at Plum island 10 to
be q new pattern of twelve-inch mortar
that Is known az Q howitzer. 1t is. as are
most of our heavy guns, the result of re-
poated trials ana experiments, aud IL was
only after many failures that tho present
gun was evolved. The proiectile used in
this mortar weighs 625 pounds and costs
vessel-the most vulnerable part-and
will 60 right through tho best iron-clad IN
existence. Eighty pounds of powder will
send this projectile Q distance of eight
miles. The gun will also throw shells con-
sIycerine can be deposited upon the deck
Of a vessel to blow it into thousand pieces.
In connection with Plum-island bat
terry. 1t is the intention of the War Depart
men. to complete fortifications on Sandy
on Plum island. as the appropriation has run
ont. 1t Is likely that mortar batteries will
also be placed at Fort Wadsworth, which,
with the Plum islano battery. will defend
the narrows, ano on Davis island, which
land at the entrance of Long Island sound.
This would control the entrance by the
sound to New York harbor. and in time
additional batteries will be placed at Hew-
lett's point. which is the next promontory
point on the sound. The present line of de-
fense for the city on the north, or
by way of the sound, runs from
Fort Schuyle on the lett to Willct's point
island on the left and Sands point on the
right, supported by Hewletts point on the
rear will carry the defensive system at
least six miles further out into the sound.
and dlminish the chances of q successful
bombardment of New York by a hostile
feet.
Mortar batteries will also be planted for
the defense of Boston. San Francisco and
other large coast cities. After the large
and most exposed cities have been we'll pro-
fense will be taken up, and mortars planted.
and guns erected at different points
along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
as fast as they are received by the War De-
partment from the factories. Gen. III. l..
Abbott. who is president of the board OF
engineers having the matter of coast de-
fense In charge. has done much to en-
tighten the public at large on the necessi-
ties of the times. in addition TO pointing 9
ont the correct lines upon which the engi-
IL. hots q
is no doubt as to the ultimate success of
these mortar batteries. and declares that a
few years will demonstrate that increase of
mortar batteries will prove more effective
In repelling hostile fleet than ANY of the
rified cannon now in use."