New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
MORE ABOUT COAST DEFENCEs.
STATEMENTS OF ARMY oFFICERs-EsTIMATE' IN
THE CRAIGHILL REPORT.

STATEMENTS OF ARMY oFFICERs-EsTlMATE' IN
THE cRAIGHILL REPORT
General Henry l.. Abbot. who was recently retireu
for age from the Engineer corps OF the ARMY Vi
which he was chief seen yesterday at the ARMY
Ru.ding The General had just come from Mii"au-
kee by way Of Pittsburg. and ne expects 10 star.
again almost Immediately for the West lie visited
~ Army building 10 see his old friends Colonel
pohart who succeeded him; Colonel Gillespie ana
Major Adams He was asked for some information
regarding the subject Of coast defences' ana re-
n.lsd: II DO not think that that question shou'u
he discussed at this time. The situation mas oeeh
prettv generally understood on all sides. and the
fact Is well recognized that we are hardly IN po-
sition IN make a stand. Yet are no; so badly
off as We were three or four years ago. ana In three
or four years shall be in Vastly better shape
still OF course. more might have been accomplished
IT, saw we had had an appropriation OF sl"oVw d
ve,r buf a great deal has been done. 1t Is not
good policy however. TO enlarge upon any possible
weakness we may have at any time ana DO not
think as said before, that the question is sub
iect for discussion. l. for one, cannot discuss H.
Major Henry NJ Adams. OF the Engineer corps
stationed in this city as the successor OF Noohe'
Henry NJ Robert. seen for a few moments al
his office in the Army Building yesterday afternoon
He declined to discuss the general situation remark
ING that the only proper place az which TO ask ques-
lions on that matter was the War Department at
Washington. He thought it good thing. however
"A
lions for coas, defences He said: From this you
can see what We want. and ne turned 10 the .ast
Craighl1 report The table Of estimates therein
may be temiZed as follows;
For construction gun and mortar batteries 81 80 oV
For construction of gun and IN rar piafOrs o.,s,
or . fprtifcations -'"""
~ u '''' P'' '' ............. 10 900
!, ,ro,s, ions ~ man. for fortifcations 5000
.r ~ va wills and a,nba1krerts ............
well Fortress zoo
For purchase Of submarine mines and necessary
appliances operate them in closing channels 800,
leading principal seaports ......-.... "ooV'
For necQfu cable galleries, etc,
which to operate submarine mnes..'.''' 'o"S
The items regarding submarine mines cal up me
following paragraph In not recent report Oh the
Board OF Fortiiicaions or Other Defences:
Heavy batteries and submarine mines are cor
relative terms of good defence from shore. With
out powerful guns in the defence the armored ships
of the enemy would proceed deliberately 10 the re-
moval OF the mines either ignoring or siencng the
fire of the works and without the aid OF the mines
the enemy's vessels could not generally be pre-
vented from running past the batteries.
The Craghill report, only recently Issued, shows
that twenty-five classmates required for submarine
mines have completed for the defence or Port
land Me; Boston, Narragansett Bay, New York.
Philadelphia Baltimore Washington. Hampton
Roads Charleston. Savannah. Pensacola and San
Francisco Three being built now for Boston,
Wilmington \. c., and Noble. and one Is soon TO
be begun at Galveston