The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-22

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-General
Miles, commanding the army, has Civ
en- out q statement, by request, in re-
gard to the ability of the United States
TO defend herself in case of war.
He said: Il have Just returned from
an inspection of the southern coast,
and like those of other sections of the
country, found them In an entirely
defenseless condition. IF war should
break out at the present time, all we
have in the south, or, in fact, anywhere
else, with Few exceptions, would be q
lot of obsolete guns on rotten carriag-
es. which would fall over before they
would be OF any servlca. The country
is in a Ceplorable condition for defense.
There are only three modern high
powered guns in position in this coun-
try. Two Of these are at the entrance
TO New York harbor, and the third is
at San Francisco.
In Two Years. Time.
eff congress would make liberal ap-
preparations, the coast can be placed
5n condition for defense in two years
time. The work would cost in the
neiShborhood of $S0,000.O0G. 1t would
take in the neighborhood of a year to
manufacture the tools necessary for
the construction of the guns, and then
another year for the manufacture of
the guns themselves.
There are four ways by which the
coast cities could be protected. The
first is by floating batteries, that is
battleships and monitors. The second
way is by land batteries, which could
be built quickly and would be more
effective. The third way is by torpe-
does and mining classmates. Without
high powered guns it would be posi-
bic, however, for an enemy to land a
force and explode the mining case
mates, thus obviating this danger for
its fleet.
''There is another way of protecting
the harbors, but that involves destroy
ing the commerce Of the cities lying
upon them. This method is to load
vessels with stone, iron, ETC., and sink
them in the channels. This would nat
urally prevent either ingress or egress,
and would destroy the cities COM
merce after war as much as during
It.
As to the Land Forces.
Regarding the land forces. No diff
fculty would be experienced in get
ting a million men In a month. The
small army we have would be in the
nature OF a nucleus for other troops
What we need. however, is not men.
but coast Notifications. After we get
the Qualifications we could get the men
to onerate the guns"
Gould the United States be invad-
ed"
mo: nor would any enemy care to
invade It. All that would be necessary
would be for him to place his ships off
our coasts and fire shells into our cit
les. This would drive millions of peo-
pie from their homes and cause untold
distress
1.-The wealth Of 200 years is stored in
Boston. New York and other great
cities. and their loss would be very Sc
Yere. We could not afford to lose them.
%hev should be protected
Sfn the Pacific coast the same de-
Tenseless condition exists. Not SHOW
elful OF dirt has been thrown up
around Puget sound for the protection
Of the cities lying on its shores The
British have a naval station at Es-
duimault. and 1t could be used as a
base against this country.
Senator Squire has introduced a bill
in the senate for the protection of our
coasts which meet my views. Tt makes
provisions for the establishment Of
Notifications and other defenses by
the board known as the Endicott
board. which was appointed by the
president in 1886. The bill appropri-
ates SS7 900 600 for this work