New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
DEFENCES FOR THE HARBOk.
WHAT is NEEDED TO MAKE NEW-fohN
FORTIFICATIONs COMPLETE.

ONLY A BEGINNING MADE TOWARD THE END
THAT MILITARY STUDENTS REGARD AS I'M
PERATIvELY NEcEssARY-DEs OF
THE VARIOUS POINTS OF VANTAGE.
THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR
PRESENT CONDITION.
For some time there has existed a hay notion
among a good many people that thanks 10 the eAo
crate system OF dofences perfected at SANDY hoon'
New-York is safe from attack by Foreign hoH'''
force. Ii seems pity 10 shatter this fohu u'ea''''
yet the facts dscouraging, and about ,ne mos
discouraged set OF men to be found anywhere al
the officers OF the Army. who have IN cha'se Wv
important matter OF seacoast defences. They see tue
actually OF it ALL and while they are not eXpec'le
a war Immediately. 1t is their business 10 DC q" '"e
lookout for one. and to be constantly anu .''
sistently preparing for II.
An officer prominent in the artillery branch OF the
service speaking of Sandy Hook. described II as "'
from complete in means OF defence The guns arc
there. but there are no range finders, there II no
coming tower from which an enemy cou'' "
watched and signals given the men In the depths
OF the rifle pits. and 1t would require year ~
place the battery in an efficient state
However that is only the outpost OF the system
proposed to be erected. Next in importance as d
site for effective battery work is Fort Wadsworth
on Staten Island. From It's commanding he's"t
this fertilization could be made to command every
foot of the lower bay. from the Narrows 10 the
Hook. and from the deep incurve OF the jersey
shore TO Norton's Point on Coney Island or course
1t would have to cover so wide range lo'
an attacking fleet would have to follow the tortuous
channel where there il water enough TOT ue'p
draught vessels. From the top OF the inner pa'dp'
il Is $50 feet to the level of tide water peio"' 81
that the eve of the observer takes in vast sweep
OF shore and bay and sea
IT'S NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
The advantages of the position various one
can see as he wanders about amid the chambers
and the open ground or the barracks In Fort Iomp-
kns the great possibilities for defensive work Yet
the place has a deserted appearance. AS the
visitor approaches the gate or entrance from 'ns
landward side along New-York-ave he meets al the
gate a solitary sentry. Up the central drive 'he
visitor passes unchalenged, for the sentry speaks
only II addressed The visitor goes on between TWO
rows of officers residences and up TO the turn IN
the roadway between the outer and inner parapets'
and Just at the turn lie two immense fortihcat'oh
guns OF the later pattern, now useless Ihey were
brought to Wadsworth during the late war at d
time when New-York Harbor was threatened anu
were carried part way the hill for location III
glacis battery The fright passed, and they re-
mained in their transit frames The wood OF the
supporting timbers rotted as time went on the
guns rolled out into the grass ana weeds anu III NC
clearing-up process of few years ago were car'eu
down the hill blocked up and painted. ana are H""
reckoned bric-a-brac. .
Round sold shot and shell. the latter of the old
"hsh kettle" mould adorn the turns OF the ROAD
WAYS or find place in ornamental pyramids Tnere
ire tons of the stuff useless even for scrap IRON
GUNS OF OBSOLETE DESIGN.
Far over on the shOre-line OF the Narrows ana the
Bay guns OF Obsolete pattern on ancient car.
riaaes FIJI the embrasures, to no effect in case OF
need In tho water fort there is a lot OF the same
sort A SINGLE twelve-inch shell Of the modern type
would sweep the entire outfit OFF the face OF the
earth There Is just ore modern gun III the pace
II is an eight-inch rifed gun ana arrived oh'S
short time ago. 1t Is on the low ground at the
southern end OF the grounds and s in course OF ta
st IN IFS Mace in one of the new.y competed EN-
placements on the top OF the buff FACING the o"e'
hay The carriage for II IL stlll resting oi INC
Notifications wharf. 1t is expected that III aOou'
fen DAYS the one solitary defender OF Ne"-ho'h
approaches through the ,ower bay Will DO Ia
position TO do damage. The officers nave worn
path in the roadway their scings back ana forth
10 view their newly acquired prize
Fort Wadsworth is somewhat ciVerslneu ia ''s
topography. on the highest point OF the mn ~"
the barracks for the artillerymen These are known
o. For, Tomnkins Here the live and In tho
centre space they hold daily dress parade ana IN
snectton guard mount and all that They have their
messrooms readng-room, biliard-room' sieep'Hs-
rooms and their schoolroom
The walls OF sold masonry and earth would nave
70 he v,dened thirty feet 10 make room for modern
gun emp,acements Looking down the hill to tho
south from the top Of Fort Tompkns, the eve rests
upon the dlsmantled forthcations for cannon ana
mortars One OF these was known as the sniith
mortar battery The grass-grown parapets and
emplacements look farm-like
ANOTHER LINE OF BATTERY OPENINGS.
Far off to the southwest toward South Beach and
lust above the water-iine. is another line OF bat
terry openings The guns have all been removed
Along the waterfront, and reaching north. les
South Cin battery. This ends at the masonry work
in the centre Of the waterfront and this masonry
work it is which bears the name of Fort Wads-
worth From It's deep embrasurss old-time cannon
dogs OF war. To the north and still hugging the
runs another me q estend ihs sops
to the top Of the hill. storming party would have
slight hope of success up this ascent even II II ever
This dsposes Of the old fortinca; on and /,
and what has been accomplished, for some work
has been done NewYorkers. for the most part, re-
the westward from the entrance to the Narrows.
For space the immediate water front is fiat. but
Hooded biuT on the summit Of which stands the
Old Appleton homestead That high ground mas
York-ave now cuts in two the Notifications as
they exist and as planned for extensions ~ Is
continuous line OF batteries along the face OF the
bun and back IN the woods tnese y 9es5raDs
and electric connections for firing from the
Signalling so that the fire can be distributed. one
group. turning its attention 70 single vesse. an,
other to a second OF any advancing fleet, and go
on. Another trick In contemplation Is that or
training guns over torpedo line anu connecting
the dscharglng apparatus with that line by wire:
The moment the line is disturbed by WORKING
party from the enemy at night the connection IS
perfected and after the explosion few spiinters
Will float the water TO tell the tale In audl-
ton this electric power can be MADE 10 not only
destroy the enemy. but to turn on the searchlighs;
and all this while the artillerymen are sleeping
peacefully behind the ramparts
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
II should not be assumed that nothing has been
done the venerable fort 10 something Ike
wartime efficiency little work has been accom-
plshed, or there would be place in which to
locate the eight-inch defender recently received.
Emp,acemenis for a battery OF five elgh-inch guns
have only recently been completed. after four years
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