New-York tribune., 1895-12-14

HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON WOULD SUFFER.
Lieutenant Erasmus NJ. Weaver. United States
Army in The Boston Transcript.
Roston is only twenty-fou hours from ST John
n n and but twenty eight hours from Halifax; "
course large fleets would rendezvous at one OF pvth
oP these p7aces during the preliminary heated dis
cnsson OF the diplomats and when the thread OF eX-
changes between he foreign offices should snap the
boist hoist the anchors Off the Nova scotian coast
Suppose for example, this present question iS wers
TO become more and more acute and that we should
have to face England as an enemy Marcn !, sg'
What could DO 10 protect Boston; As reneiai -,
Miles says in his annual report it Is known at tne
seat of every European Government II not by our
newspaper editors. that we offer no resistance
worthy the name. In such communication as this
n is unnecessary to specify the details OF our weak
ness in defensive armament but II can IN genera
way be said that there Is no possibility that ei'ner
the coast defence artillery or the warships or our
Navy could by March prevent British fleet
anchoring In Broad Sound, between Nahanf ana ana
Green Island, and between Outer Brewster Island
and Point Aerton, closing the harbor ana bonn
II would be possible for varship TO stand 5000 to
10000 yards from Fort Warren beyond me limit & OF
accurate fire of our guns. and lombard Boston Inc
eleven miles at thirty degrees elevation Their p
shins Would. Of course, keep in motion during the
bombardment, and thus practically neutra.ize the
for while it is not difficult to nit ships in motion
by the direct ow-trajectory fire OF guns 1t Is very
deed. there is only a remote chance Of hitting.
Furthermore as Green and ana vona tne Ire
bic for the enemy to construct strong bomoproor
works there. and thus lombard the city at leisure
without danger TO his ships In view OF the ranges
Of modern hlgh-pover naval ordnance. Il would
advisable II extend the line ot fortilcatons. as
at present Planned. to include cmplacementS on Ma
hant, Green Island. Outer Brewster and Point Al
lerton.
one point should be made clear In the combat
between shore fort defending n city from bonn
bardment and q warshp bombardins the city, the
former has a small moving target to fire at at .ong
range; the latter has the immense target OF the
entire business part Of the city to fire at Ii would
be necessary only TO point the ship guns at high
angles I'm the direction OF the city TO be effective
tfe chr Ia Int faI fhaf
the damage done by bombgrdment Is not chiefly
loss of life; indeed the loss Of life would be- very
small, but rather, the greatest Injury would result
from fires started. and from the paralysis OF all
business, retail and Wholesale; the first shell explod
Ing in the streets Of Boston would serve only
clear the stores, but the city sef of all residents
within range OF the guns.
1t has seemed to the writer that if our citizens,
voters and legislators appreciated fully some of
these realistic features OF the logical chain depend
ing from The Monroe Doctrine and all other qucs-
there would be either more interest shown In the
matter of coast defence e.se an abandonment OF
all policy and interests. whether they have pub
lie bearing, az the Hawaiian and the Venezuelan
and Spanish tarf differences, or the sufer,nRs of
missionaries or imprisoned citizens in foreign coun
tries
At a recent meeting of the Chamber OF Commerce
developing the capacity OF Boston Harbnr for ship
ping, and deepening the channels to the While
earnestly forwarding all such pans. II ought TO he
kent In mind that "A day Of severe reckoning may
unless suitable provision be made defend the
harbor against naval attack. General Sherman said
In OF MS best speeches: mo Is wise enough
to foretell when soldiers may be in demand again
II is very true. \ city exposed like Boston should
see 10 It that Il rs thoroughly protected against
naval attack fortunately II can easily be defended
beyond all danger Of attack.