The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-09

at the mouth of the harbor, and such
battery when put up, will, of course, re-
diers. / shall examine especially as to the
place for the location of such a garrison,
Its healthfulness and other matters in that
"A sudden war" Gen. Miles continued
''might mean the destruction of COM
merce and the loss of all these coast
cities. Few of them have any modern
guns at all upon their Notifications, and
none of them have such batteries as they
should have, and with which they might
be easily defended Galveston, New Or
leans Mobile, Key West, Savannah.
Charleston, Wilmington and Baltimore
are without these modern guns and the
with. AT most of them there is now moth
ing building. The government is spending
millions of dollars in improving its har-
bors and increasing the facilities for COM
merce, but not dollar in modern prep
Rrations to defend them from the coast"
What is the plan of the defenses con-
templated for this harbor?' Gen. Miles
You now have a channel twenty-six
feet deep, l believe, from the city to the
sea, and that would admit quite a good
size war vessel Gen. Miles said, and he
referred to the government reports for
accurate information as to the contem-
plated defenses for Savannah harbor.
According to the plans of the war
department the battery at the entrance
20 the harbor here is TO con-
Est Of six high-power guns, or
and four eight-inch, and sixteen twelve
lnch mortars, making altogether twenty
TWO pieces, the cost of which is esti-
mated at $4,000. There has also been
made provision for two mining casemates
at cost Of $I244.91; this including only
one ~ ADDITION to that built recently
near Fort Pulaski. The appropriation al
ready made, believe is for the purchase
S g. the property for the location of these
Can you say where these new fortia-
cauons are to be placed?
That, I believe. has been decided, &"
Gen; Miles said, but it has not been
mace public yet, and it is not the policy to
say anything about ii at present. The
construction of the other mining case
mate Will probably begin within the pres
ent nscal year, and believe some Of the
guns 10 be placed along the coast have
been made, but it will be sometime before
the batteries will be put up, as 1t would
not 90 TO place all the Notifications at
one port at the expense of another. Ii
usually takes year 10 make one OF
nose Dig modern guns, and it takes about
the same length of time TO make the
tools for it before it is made. so it is not
matter of possibility to do it all at
The important thing is the protection
OF the twenty-eight principal harbors OF
the country" Gen. Miles said. The ports
Oh entry are the keys Of commerce. There
are four ways of defending a harbor. ''
Gen. Miles explained. First hy
sinking loaded ships and OBJ
structing the channel but this also Oh
structs commerce, and it takes a lonp
time to remove them Then torpedoes
may be used, but it takes some time Ia
place them. They have to be below the
low water marx, and even then vessels
OF light draft can get over them. me
thlrd Is by land batteries and the fourth
by ships of war. These two last are Inc
modern methods, and the last one is the
most expensive"
Are the, old guns now at Fort Pulaski
OF any value in defense?' was asked
None whatever" was the reDIv- CHI
use of them would be like tbrowfno
paper balls against a wooden board'
zen. Miles seemed impressed with tn,
4tnportance OF SaXannah as port. anC
the necessities of building the prOpel
modern Notifications for the defense m
its harbOr. He spoke, too of the neeessif,
OF these fortfcatiOns at all the coaq
cities. He will 90 down the river tni,
morning on Capt Carriers steam vacht
the Angler, for a look al the fOf'tifca
tons, especially at Fort PULASKI. wher,
some recent Improvements fncludfne IA,
construction of a large mining casefna ~
nave recently been made He may TAX,
a look at the probable location for III,
new batteries, and also at Fort Ogle
thorpe pelore returning 70 the city.
Gen. Miles VIII leave Savannah. prob
aply tonight TO go 90 Charleston. HI
SAID ne had not fully determined whethe
ne would 20 20 Charleston bv rau o
~ sea, nut mat he would probably Z.
by sea IN order 90 get better idea OF rs
coast between Savannah and thar civ
After his visit 10 Charleston ha usfu q,
On north, stopping AT Wilmington. BALD
more anq other coast cities
zen Helfon Appleton Miles wus bori
at y ~ munster, Mass aug. s. ls3s HI
ancestor settled iu Mawachlsetts colon,
ll 1853 They were amonu tf. eerii.-
tlpurffs ana explorers. and their daerar.
es.is we're among ihe patriots who SIM =
var and the war 81 re N
~, issRtle parauits Do Boston Inner
''"s ne spirit ~ patriotism. b. devote,