New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
FEEBLE COAST DEFENCES.
A WEAKNESS WHICH THE WAR TALK"
HAS BROUGHT OUT STRONGLY.

oy,crNAI RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GUNS AND
ARMAMENrs UNHEEpED ALMOST ALTO
GErHER-JUsr WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE TO MAKE BULwARK
FOR ATLANTIC CITIES
AND HARBoRs
T, tina message Of President Cleveland regarding
tho issue in Venezuela has accomplished nothing
else II has at least directed attention to the crying
need Of this country for adequate coast defences.
Everywhere business men talking about 1t. IN
the principle that country is never so sure OF
neace as when thoroughly prepared for war, or. at
least when 1t is safe from attack by reason OF The
mpregnable character OF It's defences All the mill
tarv men who have discussed the situation during
the last week have been unanimous in decrying the
war spirit. while at the same time not few OF them
have been swift with suggestions as to the best
methods pursue in case hostilities should be
forced upon the Nation. Many of these suggestions
have illustrated that military authorities in America
have not been diatory in thinking about the mat
ter and with especial regard to Great Britains
usurping tendencies
Oelclal documents are seldom read with any de-
gree OF care II they are read at all, by the mass
of thinking Americans. Yet the last report OF the
Secretary OF War shows conclusively how the pres
ent defenceess condition OF American ports OF entry
might have been avoided AS long ago as lsS" the
Endicott Board made recommendations which II
carried out would have perfected the coast de-
fences Of the country just in time TO meet the issue
which is the single topic of discussion Ihat
plan contemplated system OF fortihca,ions AT
twentv-seven ports-twenty-eight In fact. as Puget
Sound was afterward included This plan required
81 Guns and SPA mortars of modern construction at
q cost of Ss7 1872 500 This estimate was exclusive OF
SS5G.OOO for floating batteues BY an immaculate
appropriation of s2l.5o0oo at that time and an
annual appropriation of 100000 thereafter as
recommended. the system of coast defences couid
have been made complete this year.
The actual expenditures for gun emplaeeneh's
and armament however, since that date have been
only sOe3,Ooo The first appropriation for guns was
made only seven years ago and the first appropria-
lion for armament was made five years ago. Inc Inc
Seen less tnan S5oSvU. Quite a difference this
from the bright perspective Of the Sa anproDria
tons for the engineer work are TO continue a. LIZ
Iou,pe seventy Years to Complete the emplacements
and platforms for this armament lot the p0i" ~
CHANGING at the subject for moment, IT is easy a
10 what has been actually brought 70 o MN
nineteen ports considered These are P9ria hi
Boston Narragansett Bay, New-York Philadelpin,S
ton, Charleston savannah, Key West Psn saSTm
Moo RyeT Pssei soma ana
and n there sp6 fe
being built New-York has nine out OF a Pro)eete objected
nneythree built and two are being om OF ae are
projected sixtyfour have been built and sixteen
ar
e. as 4a'00r an" r,r ns alone there
IN Standardization or constructed ninety-three, and
i7s mortars the last all of the Pinch type OF the
inch cannon None have been built. OF the l2-inch
type there are 70 be hftytWo Two are IN have
been protected two have been or mnh smtoo ne With I
them is lying IN eb ' to mount an it, ana the other is
somewhere and there is no emplacemeni Tor Or IT. Od
the snch variety nine been protected Five have
been completed and is being quilt. Inc gum
tet will be mounted within two weeks al fort Wads
with the officers. and the guns have been promised
The DISPOSITION Of the mortars is well known Six
teen are at Sandy Hook ready for business or nearly
be borne in mind TOO. that in the sound me torpedo
system has been as completely perez. a. - ~
lists in the Lower Bay and the Narro"s OF 'he MAN
harbor
SCARLET FEVER ~ TRAINING SCHOOL.
IN the Bellevue Hospital Training School for Male
Nurses which IN the grounds of the hospital
scarlet fever made its appearance in mysterious
way last week. There are no children In the train
ing school. and there was much surprise when one
of the inmates OF the place was found to be Ill
with the fever on Tuesday. Since then fourteen
other inmates of the school have been attacked with
the fever. Al of the patients have been removed to
where they were reported to be doing well yester-
cay Other inmates Of the training school have been
The training schoo, is remote from the hospital
ana snnear in any Of the chidens wards Thorough
fumigation and disnection Of al OF the rooms IN
the training schoO. We're ordered by the Board OF
Health as soon as it was ascertained that scarlet
fever had appeared in the building ana tne utmost
precautions have been taken TO prevent iur'her
spread of the disease there , . 49,, .,ou
The following statement In regard 10 the matter
was given out last night -,
ION Monday. the 10TH one OF the nurses IN the
throat on tuesday the physicians in charge to-
gether with another physician Of the hospI;a oe
DAY the Board OF Heath informed and that
IL tfal He had school
when two sore Threats We're dlscoVercG anu
the next day SIN three ng m3f q that the
five patients be transferred 10 the Willard farKe5
Hospital on rraay ana ave one Of the shambermada
was also discovered to have symptoms OF scar1et
fever These were sent immediately TO the SANE
pace as the others. on Saturday another person,
and on Sunday two more; were found win the same
found tina; OF the doctors in the hospital proper
who has had no connection win the sshQo' mao
the same symptoms the others, and ne, too
was sent to the Willard Parker Hospital iesier-
Willard parker Hospital suffering from diphtheria."
None Of the names Of the nurses taken SICK OF
p1yen P out as the oftica,s at Bellevue think that
publication OF the names OF these persons , Woun
genera ,aro rney y iSe Willard Parker Hospital are
doing we'll and that many OF them were reported
as being much improved Yesterday
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AT THE MAJESTIC.
The evening of to-day is the one regarded by
children the proper one TOT Sala Nidus ~ coiie
down the chimney, in defiance of flame ana siioAe'
and distribute presents with lavish hand Ihey
also recognize Christmas eve as family aiair anu
the hanging stocking. the expectant creams
and the Joyous awakening are all best done or eA-
perenced al home.
The nropretors Of the Hotel Majestic. Seventy
second-st and Central Parkave, respecting the
family associations Of Christmas Eve decided 10
have the Hotel Christmas or. the evening peioie,
LET the little ones have two Santa Causes ana
two Christmas Ewes there can't be TOO many IN ono
wear was their motto and asst night was rec
o.,,z.d as the one on which the hotel should act
&c Santa Cans TO make the little ones merry
- -. -. o,,e,l, nrena red and last evening