Evening star., 1895-09-14

sea, her screws revolving in the air as she
disappeared.
In case of war 1t IL likely that the old
monitors would be of good service. Ope-
rated under cover of forts and armed with
high-power guns, they would make first
be Well protected inside of the turrets.
The turrets, being the only parts above
water. would be hard to hit. Each vessel
would be provided probably with one mod
ern six-inch rifle, weighing eight tons.
There are thirteen ofothese monitors. four
Of 2,1O0 tons and nine. of l,S75 tons each.
Six of them, which have been rusting
away. in the James river, were ordered
recently by Secretary Herbert TO be taken
to the League Island navy yard, near Phil
adelphia, there to be- restored TO respecta-
BILE condition. They are to be held ready
Tor an emergency, being utilized meanwhile
for training purposes. Their sides are full
OF dents made by shot and shell, ard to
Keep them in their present state has cost
the government great deal of money.
Two OF them cost originally Sl27,O00 each,
whiie the expense for building the remain
ing Tour was something over S62o.O00 each.
Torpedo Boats.
In the event of a conflict a great fleet of
torpedo boats would be built. Their effec-
tive work would be done at night. If such
a craft can get close enousn to deliver a
torpedo she can sink the biggest iror-clad
that floats. So tremendous is the destruc-
1--WE power OF little vessel OF this :ype
eii'' hei iioi dl eject may be SAID to be FER
most important attribute AT the same
time II exposed for two minutes to gun fire
she is as good as sunk. The small torpedo
boats sucn as We would depend upon in
war, could not cross the ocean, because
they are too light to carry enough coal.
rms, OF course, does not apply to torpedo
boats or the larger class, such as the Cush-
s ing ana the Ericsson The Ash" torpedoes
They are fired by a small powder charge
the concussion starting little engine in the
torpedo Itself, which is run by compressed
ait anu causes a propeller to levolve. Such
torpedo travels at the rate OF thrty-two
miles an hour-much faster than any ship
SO that IT Is almost out of the Question to
aodge 1t carries nitrc-glycerine or dyna-
mite, exploding on impact or by q clock
work time fuse.
Inc coast defenses of the United States
are under the direction of the Notifications
poafd' OF winch the general of the army is
CHAIRMAN. The board meets once a month
IT mas one civilian member, usually an ex-
congressman, who draws 5000 a year and
has almost nothing to do. Congress appro-
PIRATES from $3,0OU,009 to 5000, coo annually
10 De expended on fortifca tions. At Sandy
HOOK Tor the protection of the harbor Of
New iork, a good deal of work has been
oone, including the planting of formid-
aple battery OF mortarS. Recent tests show
!hat these mortars are able TO throw pro-
Jectlles distance of three miles with suf-
heieht accuracy to hit a ship. The shells
are cohlcal, contain high explosives, and
sion and not penetration. Such a projectile
describing a trajectory high in the air, is
intended to drop upon the deck of a ship
A Big Gun ut Sandy Hook.
Up to date only one great modern gun
has been mounted at Sandy Hook-a l2-
inch rifle. Two dynamite guns also have
been set up there. They are able to throw
$1,000 pounds of dynamite three miles with
accuracy, it is said, but as yet they are le-
garded as experiments. Navy men say that
they would be of no real use in war. Their
accuracy is not to be relied on, ana the
flight of their projectiles is so slow that
torpedo boats could easily dodge them. 1t
Is not difficult to get out of the way of an
object as big as a hogshead tossed into the
air. Furthermore. ships could with safety
come near enough to batter the dynamite
guns to pieces with their rapid-fire guns.
One dynamite gun Is to be mounted soon
at San Francisco.
An army ordnance factory was establish
ed half dozen years ago at Watervliet. 1t
is now turning out twelve-inch and thir-
teen-inch rifles for the coast defenses, and
preparations are being made for the pro-
ductio@ of similar ifteen-inch guns. Up to
date the largest rifles built in this country
have been of thirteen-inch caliber. Some
OF these guns will be placed at Sandy
Hook, while others will be mounted at
San Francisco and other coast cities. Nor
tar batteries also are being prepared for
various points. Fort Monroe, which COM
mands the harbor Of Norfolk and the ap-
proach to Washington. Baltimore and Rich
mond, is to have some big guns and bat
terry of mortars before long. This is the
biggest single fortress in the world GibraI-
tar, of course, Is a series of forts in tiers.
Fort Monroe is obsolete and would be CT
little value for defensive purposes. Tho
smallest of the high-power guns carried by
a modern warship would knock her massive
walls to pieces.
Around Washington and Baltimore.
Half a million dollars has been spent
recently in preparing Fort Washington for
the mounting of several twelve-inch rifles.
This is another obsolete structure, and has
had no garrison for years. 1t is situated
a short distance below the national capital
and has clear sight of twelve miles down
the Potomac. 1t is believed that ample
protection could be given to the river with
mines and torpedoes. Anyway, no modern
feet could get beyond Fort Washington.
the channel not being deep enough. For
the protection of Baltimore no surveys
have yet been made. Its sole defense,
Fort MciIenry, in the harbor. is an old and
useless structure. Great sums have been
spent since the civil war on Fort Carroll,
seven miles south of Baltimore. but the
money has been wasted. and this big ma
sonry fortress Is not considered in the
be erected on the west shore of the bay,
but the location decided on IS a secret
as yet. Years. perhaps, will elapse before
It is built; For the southern coast cities
little has been DONE Doubtless a formida-
BILE line of fortifications will guard New
Orleans a few years hence.
The Notifications at Sandy Hook will be
among the strongest In the world. Until
their batteries shall have been silenced no
hostile fleet can lombard New York city.
Taking the Atlantic, gulf and Pacific coasts
together, and excluding Alaska, we have
total outer seaboard 5,55S miles in length
certainly a great water front to protect.
In the event of war. however. much for
our defense might be expected from what
the English have called our internal YAM
kee ingenuity" RENE BACHE.
Not Adapted for Carriages.
From tile American Machinist.