The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-21
WE WOULD NEED $50, 100000,

assignment"
WE WOULD NEED ssO,oOO.Oo0,
And Two Years Time To Prepare Our
Coast Cities For Defense.
WASHINGTON, Dec 21.-General N A.
Miles, commanding the army, has given
out a statement by request, in regard to
the ability of the United States to defend
herself in case of war. He said: 81 have
just returned from an inspection of the
harbors of the southern coast, and like
those Of other sections of the country l
found them in an entirely defenseIess
condition,
IF war should break out at the present
time, all We have in the south. or in fact,
anywhere else, with a few exceptions,
would be lot of obsolete guns i'll rotten
carriages which would fall over We
are in a deplorable state for defense.
There are only three modern high power
guns in position in this country. Two of
these are at the entrance to New York
harbor; the third is at San Francisco.
"If congress- would make liberal ap-
preparations the coasts can be placed in
a condition of defense in two years. The
work would cost in the neighborhood of
$50, 900, ,0G0. 1t would take in the neigh
borhUod of year to manufacture The
tools for the construction of the guns
and then another year for manufacture
of the guns.
There are four ways by which the
coast cities could be protected. The first
is by floating batteries, that Is by battle
ships and monitors. The second way is
by land batteries, which could be built
quickly and would be more effective.
The third way is by torpedoes and min
ing casemates.
I'll
ever, it would be possible for an enemy
to land force and explode the mining
casemates, thus obviating this danger for
its fleet.
There is another way of protecting g
the har bors but that involves destroying
the commerce of the cities lying upon
them. This method is 10 load vessels
with stone, iron, etc, and sink them in
the channels. This would naturally pre-
vent either ingress or egress and would
destroy the cities commerce after a war,
as much as during il,
"Regarding tho land forces, no diff
Guilty would be experienced in getting a
million men in month. The small army
we have would be in the nature of a
nucleus for other troops. What we need,
however, is not men, but coast fortifca-
tions. After we get the Notifications,
we could get the men to operate the
guns.
Gould the United States be invaded?
No; nor would any enemy dare to invade
it. All that would be necessary would
be for him TO place ships off our coast
and fire shells into the cities. The fire
would drive millions of people from
home and cause untold distress.
"The wealth of 300 years is stored in
Boston, New York and other great cities
and their loss would be very severe. We
could not afford to lose them. They
should be protected.
"On the Pacific coast the same de-
fenssless condition exists. Not shovel
fui of dirt has been thrown up around
Puget Sound for the protection Of cities
lying on its shores. The British have q
naval station at Esquimal and it could
be used as base against this country.
"Senator Squire has introduced i bill
in the senate for the protection of our
coasts which meets my views. 1t makez
provision for the establishment of forti-
tications and other defenses recommend
ed by the board known as The Endicot,
board, witch was appointed by the pres
ident in 1886. The bill appropriates
$87, 900, 700 for this work"