Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-10-25
SOUTHERN ATLANTIC SEAPORTS.
The Proposal 10 Richardson Them. Begin
ming at Once With Key West.

WAsuINGroN. oct. 2t--bnc of the most
interesting announcements III The report
lust rendered by Gen. Schoiirli is that hey
West is to have Il garrison. It, vast STRAIT
egic Importance and the necessity of max
ing it safe haven for the mercantile ma
rinc in case of the sudden outbreak of VIII
have caused the army authorities to act
without waiting for Congress, an to pro-
vide for a garrison out of the current APP
preparations.
Twenty wears have passed since the gar
rjsops were removed from Fort Tay Tor, at
Kew West, and Fort Jefferson, at the Dry
Tortugas. and these works, once deemed
so important are now in the charge of ord
nance serpeants But the arguments for
properly terrifying and manning them are
as strong rs ever. Key West is less
than hundred miles distant from the
coast of Cuba, and could he quickly
reached by Spanish fleet starting from
Havana or a British lect from Nassau. 1t
is on the main enirant" 10 the Gulf OF
Mexico, being the southernmoot of the
main KEYS of Florida; it has IA capaCiou-
and deep anchorage, where the largest war
vessels either of our navy or an enemy :
could enter Thus the port becomes inn
portant alike for an enemy to seize and for
our country to retain
Again the pcculiarities of the winds and
currents cause merchantmen III passing in
AMI out of the Gulf To keep rather toward
Kew West than the Cuban side OF the pas
sage. 1t is, therefore, evident that Key
West is very valuable as n haven to which
all our Gulf merchant vessels could run
for shelter in case of the sudden outbreak
of war while it is also of great use rs
a basis of naval operations
against the Gulf commerce of AT enemy.
These facts were recognized under Pres.
dent Franklin Pierce. when works were be-
run at Key West on Il large scale. and Fort
Jefferson was constructed at the Dry
rortugas. OF course the civil war en-
pbasized the Importance of Key West, and
two martelio towers were then begun there.
But the end of the war found them uniin-
islled and without guns aud nothing more
has been done about them. However, two
water batteries were built and supplied with
lJ-ipch smoothhores, AT that time the leayl-
est ordnance in the country.
The Notifications board of lss5 proposed
for Kew West two l6-inch il0-ton guns in
+, ,urret. 10 Pinch guns in barbette bat
teries, - l2-inch mortars, half dozen
torpedo boats, and supply of suhmarir e
mines Their estimate Of expense for this
defence was 81, I0t.50O. 1t Is therefore
evident that they fully appreciated the value
of this place. But ten. Scho6eld, seeing
that wears must clapse before even small
portion of this armament would be availa-
bic has determined to get garrison there
ANYWAY 1t is not Il very covetable station
to be assigned to, for one cause aDd an
other but it is one that il is considered I'M
portant TO occupy.
This, however, is only one of several
noints on the south Atlantic coast that it is
proposed TO garrison. 1t is an extraordinary
fact that on the whole coast. from Fort
Monroe TO Fort Barrancas, MANY hundreds
of miles, there is not a solitary garrison.
At Fort Barrancas. Pensacola, there is one
battery, u, of Col. Blossoms regiment and
that is the ony force of artIllerymen found
on the seahoarfl from Norfolk
to the mouth of the Rio Granie. This
is a neglect of the south Atlantic and
Gulf coast. Gen. Scbofeld. in his current
report. notes that the Delaware river and
several important harhors upon the coasts
of North Carolina, South CAROLINA. Georgia.
Florida and several other seaboard states
are without garrisons and defenceless.
He recommends that at the approaching
Session of Congress the necessary appro-
prisiions should he made for the cunstruc-
ton of the barracks for gsrrisons at various
places on this coast.
If we look ut our southern waters We
shall see that Great Britain has facing them
three important insuiar bases of operations
s.lti fortified stations. These are at Ber-
uaG., Kingston aud 81. Lucia. 4 second
arv base. still nearer. is at New Providence.
These points furnish not only important
places of rendezvous for fleets. hut coahng
stations for operations in these waters.
Thus while We talk of a broad ocean
separating Us from any powerful sdver-
sary, these stations bring Great Britain
within two or three days steaming
from our ports in the Caroiinas, Georgia
anil Florida. Gen. Howard recommended
a wear ago the defence Of Tybee Roads at
Savannah and Port Royal sound on Broa'i
river by works on Tsbcc. Hilton Head.
Parry and St. Helena islands with stbma-
rine mines gunboats and torpedo boats as
accessories Tho navy has new dry
lock opposite Port ROYAL on Parry Island
and this gives an additional reason for q
modern artillery station there.
II il curious reflection with what peril
uaeiiy the possession of Wilmington.
Charleston. and Savannah was contested
during the civil war. and now how conf
pIetely they are abandoned military
stations. Charleston, in particular, was
thought to be tari,or which, when it fell
into the hands Of the government, would
he powerfully gsrrisonei As fact.
ii was soon leff without any troops at all.