New-York tribune., 1895-12-27
SEABOARD DEFENCELEoS.
FOOD FOR SERIOUS THOUGHT IN GEN
ERAI. MILES'S REMARKS
THERE IS NOT CITY on EITHER COAST NE
SAYS. WHICH COULD NOT BE SUCCESS
FULLY ATTACKED BY HOSTILE
FLEET-NEEO or \ CoMPHE-
HENsIvE SYSTEM OF FOE-
TIrICATIONS,
lar TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuNE.l

IRY ~EIESrApH THE TRIBvNEj
washington. Dec 26- General Miles IS watching
with much interest what is being said ana done re-
lating 10 TIE pending controversy with Great bri'-
ain The General finds In the discussion food for
much serious thought by Americans He has eN-
pressed his ideas Of the situation as follows:
The presert aeitstion growing out OF the Pres-
dents message on the Venezuelan aHalr teAus' III
my Judgment 10 counteract the general impress
sion which has been prevalent in THIS country io'
years that the two great English speaking Ma
tions canno( TO blows. Engands pohcy mas
never been one that would indicate that she Wouid
be Influenced by the friendly relations she might
have WITH some Government in treating foreign
questions in all matters she has watchtu' eye
10 British Interests chiefly, ard with US there Is
more or less sentimentality about the mo'her
country. This country. however. should not resaru
England as the only Government with Which II
Nigh, possibly be brought 10 va, ard should not
continue the mistaken theory iHd' We are 'oo
strong to be attacked.
The policy OF the United states for years has
beer that there was no. the renIoest poSsioih'!
OF war and for this reason there has bceh Iess
progress in fortfcat tons Of all kinds and III adj
vancng the naval establishment than has been
made by other countries far less preteHtious as
military or naval powers. There are to-day de-
Tending the United States only three frst-caes hlgh-
power guns OF large calibre mounted on proJec'e'
defences and there is city on either coast
which could not be successfully attacked py an
enemy from the sea. From Portland. 10 Galveston
there has been little or nothing accomplished low
ard the defence OF the countrys important coh''
mercia centres but extensive plans hav' Deeh
drawn IN involving large expenditures which. II
carried out. would effectually prevent inc entrance
Of an invading warship or fleet or hoS'lle men
of-war Some little work has been done a New
York and San Francisco. but at nelther OF these
cities are there fun batteries OF big modern rifles
or sufficient mortars properly TO guard the city
from the sea The tweve-inCh guns. some smaller
t,o1bp mo-
but these would play serious part in az en-
gagement with a fleet Of great batte-shPa ana
CAIsers.
A WESTERN 1DE%.
Then. too. there has been mistaken idea that
submarine mines and torpedoes, in an emergency
can be depended upon TO close port. Iorpedoes
are al very wei when they work. but no country
can Mace absolute reliance in method or type
OF destructive instrument. There must always
be a combination of heavy guns moriars. mines an"
torpedoes working together TO make great COM
lnercial cities on the coasts absolutely safe from
an enenys nee; Submarine mines can be located
quickly ana are unquestionably valuable adjunc;s
10 forts and mortars, but there are frequently az
impossible for fleet knowing the location ot these
mines to approach them With TedsSlapI Sh, yaxsh
"a ssp Francisco the Arm has mounted one
,w1Ive-inch gun. three dynamite guns and sever,
inortars. but this defence seem: ilsgnincaht WI.
signgd for lis protection hy The authorities A
Boston there have been Paced sGe G ne dreco G
q actual and defences. and this Is true OF Fort ara
aneake I3av' with Norfolk Richmond. Baltimore and
Washington its tributary waters, has no means OF
single fortress in this country is about OF as nun
ysue IN IT, pssn, condition for The pretee13 o,, %
Wadsworth and Hamilton would be for New, York
These latter fortitcaiiOns have long been useless IN
a modern yenso and are no; considered in the plans
for The protection OF these cities. as outlined some
ye1pI aSo o Ea W Shown that thcrc has been no
where nee % warships has been able to capture
ish tried this in the Crmean War ana tn" JapapeSe
were unable to take Porc Arthur without the help
Ss tco.one2@tior between the two military branches
i,s seaboard cities and there is just great nec.s-
s,y for erecting forum IONS a. there is for N
crcasinC The naval establishment.
WHAT THE GENERAL RECOMMENDS.
There would be no necessity for the Govern
men, 10 approprate Sl0ooooO0 70 pat the country
beyond he reach OF any power from the sea. Eighty
million or probably less could accomplish the de-
sired result BY authorizing the adoption of Il reg
Sar M m m Zach daT Within seven or eight Years
every one of the twenty yrighl cities which are now
WITHIN reach of an invading fleet could be made in
ylilncrs bic attack from the ocean. On my recent
tour Of inspection Of Southern posts ioun1 that
than it seven or eight years ago In this time
TO the heaviest vessels. and the commerce has been
in dredging this channel the Government was com.
PEELED 10 remove Of sunken ships which had
been left there during tho war for the purpose OF
blocking the entrance to d"cn drauSh; ships. Nhi'
il would not have been possible FOR vessels drawing
twenty feet Of water to approach Savannah seven
years ago by the removal Of the sunken wrecks II
is now feasible for q British fleet to sail right mp
10 me wharVcs As 10 defcnces. Savannah has
none The old fortiications have gone TO ruin and
what there is LEFT Is Of no value as means OF pro-
lection 10 the place.
"Charleston Is also without protection. and
Mobile. New-Oreans and Galveston. The establish
ment of strong Gefcnces at these points would of
course necessitatc an increase in the strength of
the Army The Department for years has recognized
that the artillery branch demands increase in its
strength, and that something should be done to
leye the stagnatinn in promotion. There are lieu
tenants this corps Of thirty years service, and
win retire without ever reaching higher
grade than captajn. The artillery would necessari-
ly be employed In garrisoninG new fortiflcatons at
such nOints FOrr Hancock. Portland Boston,
Eew-Yovk and all other important cities"
MOHAMMED WEBB'S STYLE OF ARGUMENT.