The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07

anu . ~ 10
The weakness in cruisers. twenty-three
against fifteen. Is more than compensated by
the demands for convoy and protection both at
the scouting duties. This is without considering
the effect Of proposed divisions and the absence
THE chances noes are re that the home feet. which
tack, will have vessels, with cleaner bottoms
the blockading force, with the fall and winter
gales. The equality will be sufficiently estab-
the interior fleet make its attack. and the best
results may be hoped for:
with nearest refugees for large vessels at Card.
pers Bay and an interior one at Delaware
n he of l9ns and the
work Is possible at ali seasons. but ccompanied
operations to Sc diecait and hazardous. Vessels
must coal. and very often Il Is impossible to coal
have no reserve-no allowance for vessels to be
repaired. Gales are particularly severe off
Eternal vigilance and ACTIVITY are necessary TO-
the blockade, and should be imposed upon them
by the activity Of the defending force. Activity
goes with this aggressive and offensive defence,
including torpedo boat work. dashes of rams
and anything to destroy unit OF the enemy.
Bay, upon their communications by the sound
BY the south shore Of Long Island, to and from
made without diminishing the force OF the
main feet. Coal can come only from the mari
time provinces to the enemy. and there must be
long string OF golfers to keep up the supply.
controlling element OF modern naval strategy.
French naval writer of eminence In discuss
ing combined operations that take the form Of a
maritime siege Of a fortified port, estimates that
ply OF 800 tons Of coal day Win be NECESSARY.
which would employ the constant services OF
% British sas ~ us ssfsoe tax.
practical case In point, occupying only period
to oes and RRe services
twenty seven colliers. . number OF these making
As to other supplies. It has been said by Eng
lish authorities that, whatever the future of
Canada may DO as q wheat-growing country.
in that respect. In four years out of the ten
ending in 1891. the wheat crop WAS barely suf
suspended production arising from war. much
In the way or food supply must be brought TO
NE Eng Ensshh, forSss y from pesond the Aanac
Of Nova Scotia all the year around give oppor-
tunity 70 our predatory cruisers to cause alarm.
IF possible. there should be an attack on Hall
fax by a combined maritime xpedition-getting
mot direct attack through the entrance chan.
mel. but turning movement by short overland
defence. = destruction OF the forts and guns.
THE above is submitted in advocacy of the
plan of resorting to the waters OF and about
New York, plan advocated not for the safety
OF the heet, or for the purpose Of consigning the
defences, but for the purposes OF securing
interior strategic position which would compel
diversion of the enemy's force. and allow tho
naval forces Of the United States to assume the
constant. untiring. and. believe. successful
offensive"
Such Is this interesting review Of the proper
base of naval operations and supplies In con-
nection with the defence Of New York. or
course IL is made 10 conform 10 the liked con-
ditions of the problem In actual war England
might be able 10 send a larger, or, at all events
different fleet TO the attack. On the other
hand, should such a occur several years
hence, the practical problem would be greatly
varied perhaps, both by the increase In num-
Der OF our own battle ships and tho mount
ing in the mean time OF many powerful guns in
the forts. IL Is worth noting, however. that the
problem as IL stands approximates To conditions
OF the near future, provided We happen to have
strong home squadron available. For example,
the solution Just quoted gives our line force, in
GLIDING coast defenders. as eight ships, and with
the approaching completion OF the Massachu-
sets and Indiana, and the Maine and Texas, to-
gether with the Puritan, Terror. Amplitude.
and the existing Miantonomoh. the estimate Is
not unreasonable.
One thing clear Is that the summer at the
Naval War College may have yielded rich fruits
In the investigation OF data connected with this
most important problem.