The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-22
OUR DEFENsELEss COAST.
Gen. Miles says the Country l. Not In
Condition for War.

Washington City, Dec 2.-(ien. Miles,
commanding the army. has given out
statement. by request. In regard to the
ability Of the United States 10 defend her.
self In case Of war. lie said:
Il have Just returned from an inspection
tour Of the Southern coast, and like those
OF other sections of the country. | find II
in an entirely defenseless condition III
war should break out az the present tims.
all We have IN the South, or In fact any
where else. with few exceptions. would
be a lot OF old guns on rotten carriages.
which would fan over &foTe they could
he Of any service. The country is in a
depiorable condition on coast defensea.
There are only three modern high-power
guns In position i'm this country. Two OF
these are at the entrance TO New York
harhor. and the third is NJ san Francisco.
If congress would make liberal approprta-
tions the coasts can be placed in condition
for defense IN two years time, The work
would cost in the nPighborhood of $50 010
00o II would take in tho neighhorhood of
a year 10 manufacture the tools necessary
for the construction OF the guns and then
another year for the manufacture or the
guns themselves.
There ara four ways by which the coast
cities could he projected, The FIRST Is ny
floating batteries; that is. by battleships
and monitors. The second way is by land
batteries. which could be built quickly and
would be more effective. The third way IL
by torpedocs and mining casemates. There
IS another way OF protecting the harbors.
but that involves destroying the commerce
Of the cities lying upon them. This meth
OF is 20 load vessels with stone. iron. etc.
and sink them in the channels. This would
naturally prevent either inEresS or egress.
and would destroy the cities commerce
after a var as much a. during II.
Regarding the land forces. no difficulty
would be experienced in getting 1.o00o09
men IN a month. This small army we hava
would be IN the nature OF a nucleus for
other troop What we nre5. however. is
not men. but coast for.ihcations, After
we get the fortihcatious. We could get the
men 20 operate ths guns.
could the United states be invaded7 No:
nor would an enemy care 70 invade IL All
that would be necessary: for bin 20 DO IS -
place his ships of our coasts and fire shells
into our cities This would drive millions
OF people from 'heir homes. and cause un-
told distress The wealth of 3se years Is
stored in Boston. New York and other great
cities. an1 their loss would be very severe
We could not AFFORD 20 lose them. They
should be protected.
"On the Pacific coast the same defenseless
condition exists Not a shpVeifui Of dirt
has been thrown ND around Puget sound
for the protection % the cities lying on i,s
shores The British have naval station
AZ FsauimaIt and IL could be used as y.
base against this country. Senator Squire
has introduced a bin i8 the senate for tbe
protection Of oar coasts which meets my
views. II makes provisions for the es'ab-
lshrneat Of foTtiiications and other de-
fenzae recommended by the board known
az the End lco-s board. - Eiich waa appoint
"a ~ the president in 1856. The bin appr0-
PIRATES 2s7.00o 90 for this work