The morning times., 1895-12-21

1t has been learned at the War Depart
nent that in the last two years 1t has pre-
pared an extensive plan for the defenses OF
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltl-
more and Washington and other larger
cities close to the ocean through submarine
mines and torpedoes, recognizing that at the
present raIe of progress on fortnieations
and the lack of sufficient funds no adequate
defenses could be secured inside OF ten years
and that should We be attacked from the
seas, there would be ready mines loaded
with tons of explosives which would eff
rectually block til L enLranc eofahy Iieet, now
ever strong
such deIenses however, cannot be used
to advan nlage except at ports where the
channels are narrow aud the entrance I'M
fted. New York is fairly well protected
through this means, although II is a pro-
found secret where these mines Fave been
located or the Land casemates where the
wires to work the batteries have been sta
toned. Boston has been similarly pre-
uared To resist attack. while Washington,
twelve miles from the city has, at n mar
row point in The river, perfect system OF
these submarine volcanoes. Besides, the
National Capital has emplacements Tor
several twelvc-ipch gu u.s. but The guns are
vet to he completed.
Consideration of tn euueStion of New Yorks
defense has been carefully worked outat the
Naval War College. and on paper 1t seems
practicable. Theplan nprovidesfof warto De
declared, sa V on January and twenty days
later the euemy's fleet makes s..ndy HOOK
entrance. Force is six OF the line, ten heavy
cruisers, six scouts, ten torpedo boats
The forts and mines OF New York forbid
attack Coal base, Delaware Bay-tenl-
psrary rendezvous for eneny's Golfers.
EneuIy's scout vessels watch force IN
GARDENERS Bay. Enemy also assemblies IN
Halifax a force prepared to descend upon
our coast between Boston and New York,
with New York as the ultimate objective
ENEMY's PROBABLE PLAN.
This force will consist OF len line twenty
heavy cruisers, twenty torpedo boats, ten
deslroyers and scout class. also corps OF
10000 of all arms in one hundred trans
ports. Our entire force. except some local
defense vessels at New York Bay the
entrance TO the Chesapeake and elsewhere,
asserubl at Gardiucr's Bay nd New Lon
don and orga anizcs. This force is live line,
1--WE heavy cruisers. ten light cruisers, one
ram. five scouts, two dynaIniters, aBd ten
torpedo boats. The enemy'S probable plan
being ultimately TO approach New YORK
with its Halifax fleet via Long Island
Sound.
In the solution OF the problem different
views were DEVELOPED, resulting in more
than one strategic plan of defense. Coz
cerning the tactics of the defense the dll-
rerenccs Were slight, and certain deductions
as to preparation and general methods We're
identical. hcprincipai divergence ofv views
OF naval officers is in the disposition or
the American fleet ON the approach Oh
superior enemy.
The opinion most generally accepted ny
them is to withdraw the American fleet
I'D the SouEd within the deIenses OF New
York: thence to harrass the enemy ateither
entrance, as opportunity afforded, ana zeal
a decided blow with cur fleets, strengthen
ed by the local coast defence monitors,
against one of the detachments, II from any
cause it should he temporarily weakened.
This plan is considered very fine by naval
Officers, but it seems to involve the use OF
a larger fleet than there is now, and places
complete reliance in the efficacy of sub
marine min"s and torpedoes.
The fact that Great Britain and Germany
are in possession of maps and charts of our
coast has recently come to the knowledge
OF the Naval photographic Office, ard also
that Great Britain in the past two years
has prepared a most exhaustive ard extern
sive campaign on paper which IS to be fol-
lowed should she ever be brought in con-
flict with us.
1T Is stated at the Navy Department that
her Charts are accurate. md the information
aration is very reliable, considering the eff
forts made TO keep such things not only
from foreign military and naval attaches,
but from the American public.
For years England has assigned in this
plan certain vessels to alta OK certain Amer
can cities. and even when a new ship iSadded
to the American navy she has added an
other to her prospective attacking squad
roH. 1t is even claimed that certain officers
havebccn selected, and could, on short notice,
have rull and explicit orders 10 guide their
course. This government, however, is
without knowledge of the Chara cter Of
England 5 defeases, even i'll the West indies
In connection with further appropria-'
tions for the Navy, which are to bc Urged
this session, i determined effort Will be
made to secure, without delay, an appro-
priation of 81 600 .0Oe 10 euable the Wash
ington gun factory to begin at once the
manufacture OF four and fve-inch guns for
auxiliary cruisers, and n reserve for
vessels whose gins may be injured