The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-03

to its arch enemy, Prussia The French,
however. did not take the hint, and the
terrible catastrophe which befell the coun-
try in 1891 was the direct result of this
neglect. Today the United States should
take warning from the complications IN
which this country has lately been involved
with Italy and Chill.
The navy is being rapidly strengthened,
but Uncle Sam has practically no coast de-
tense whatever, and the wealthy seaports
of the great commonwealth might fall an
open prey to the cannon of its enemies.
The guns which at present form the
armament OF the United States fortifca-
tions situated along the Atlantic, the Pa
cific, the Gulf of Mexico and the lake dis
trict mum Der all in all /, 51S pieces. They are
withous exception old cast iron guns, and
consequently utterly worthless at present.
The majority OF these cannon are not even
mounted bat lie about in the bitches and
on the parapets of dilapidated forts which
could not Withstand a single shot from a
modern steel built up breechioader. Of the
mounted guns 30 have been converted
into riffed ones, and these practically rep
resent the whole available coast defense
artillery of the United States. But even
these are no match for modern guns or
armor and hardly answer the purpose Of
target practice, for which they are now
chiefly used.
Among all the seaports of the Union
New York is by far the most important, as
it is the greatest receiving and distributing
center, yet the forts which now protect its
harbor could not prevent strong invad-
ing fleet from running the city in less than
three days. The only fortified places which
guard the entrance TO New York bay are
Fort Wadsworth, Sandy Hook and Fort
Hamilton st Sandy Hook a few new
mortar batteries are in the process of con-
struction- The few modern test pieces,
namely, The u, 10 and S-inch breechload-
ers, besides the 12-inch steel mortar and an
old east iron 15-inch gun, would soon be
silenced in case of an attack, as they are
not in protected batteries, but form on
their carriages an open target to an enemy
passing through the main channel.
Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth,
which defended the Narrows, are armed
each with about 10 cast iron guns the fir
ing Of which, even if it could do any harm to
a foreign feet, is hardly safe for those who
would have to train and serve them. To
Fort Wordsworth must, however, be award
ed the palm of superlative situation. The
actual date of establishment is unknown,
but it was used as military station prior
TO the war of 1872. From its turrets, 146 feet
above tide water, may be enjoyed the finest
land and water view around New York.
Situated as it is in a most favorable posi-
ton, it could easily command the waters
of the upper and lower bay If it were a
strongly fortified place. On a clear day
nothing can be finer than the prospect to
be obtained from the upper works of the
fort Below there is the great sweep of the
lower bay, with Sandy Hook to the right
and the Coney Island shores to the left,
and beyond both the stretch of the ocean
itself. Above is New York looking like an
enchanted city through the haze of light,
but showing clearly the outlines of every
familiar building with wonderful distinct
ness.
The military advantages OF such posi-
ton are almost unique and of incalculable
value, yet AZ present the whole armament
of the fort on which one could rely in case
of need consists of two converted" 10-inch
rifles which can only throw shells that
have very inferior penetrating power at
short range. The layman who visits
Fort Wadswo rth and looks at the old cast
iron guns and nortars imagines them for