The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-28
THEHEADOFTHEARMY
Gen. Schofield's Views on the
Defenses of the Sound.
TIE MAGNOLIA BLUFF POST.
Commander of Uncle SANS Forces Dis
cusses Military Anairs-coon
TO Revisit seattle.

Lieut.. Cen. John II. schofeld. OF the
United States army. spent a short time In
the city yesterday morning on his way 10
Alaska with a party OF friends. and spoke
freely of the great future Of the Puget
eoEnd country. Of the government H.
teBtion 20 fortify the strategic points OF
the Pacific coast. of the great Importance
OF Magnolia bluff the cite for the Puget
sound army post and OF the military
policy of the United States In general
lie promised TO make longer stay here
On his return from Alaska In about ten
dzys.
The general and his party arrived OF
the Queen and did not leave the steamer,
and are now On the way to Alaska, the
Queen only stopping a short time TO load
freight. On his return from Alaska the
general will stay ia this city and inspect
the proposed site at Magnolia bluff for
the new United States military post. He
will also run over 20 see the government
dry dock ar Port Orchard and other
points Of interest In the vicinity of Sc
attic.
A reception committee consisting of
Gen. A. V. Kautz. r. o. Graves. J. ".
elise. I. A. Nadeau and c. j. Smith called
on Gen. Schoneld on the boat and passed
- half hour IN pleasant conversation.
Gen. Schofeld returns here in about ten
days. He will probably be entertained at
friend OF his. II was thought that Gen.
6ehofeld might have several hours in the
city and suitable preparations for his en-
tertainment had been made. but lack of
time prevented their being carried out.
Dispatch however. was received by
Mr.. Graves early yesterday morning from
Lieut.. Col. ]. r. Sanger the generals
military secretary. saying:
Lieut.. Gen. Schofield will visit Seat
tie on his return from Alaska. He win.
however. see your committee today If
they choose TO CALL
Those Composing the Party.
The party with Gen. Schofield consists
OF Mrs. Schoiieid and her sister. Mrs. Kill
bourne. Lieut.. r. NJ. Schofield son of the
general. and his wife and her sister Mrs.
Smith OF Portland Lieut. Col G p
Schoneld. brother of the general. and
Lieut. Col. J. +. Sanger, military secre-
tary. Lieut.. Col. schofeld is aide 10 the
general. The lieutenant general of the
army Is the only officer who Is allowed a
military secretary and the title expires
with his own.
Gen. Schofeld Is q spendidly preserved
man of 81 years of age, robust in form
and has a healthy. rudy complexion and
white hair and heard which he wears cut
short. lie lis rather inclined TO be corpu-
lent. but Is perfect picture OF health for
man OF his ago. He talked freely on
general topics and seemed To be enthusi-
nstlc on the subject OF coast defenses,
particularly those to be established on
the Pacific slope.
Coast Defenses TO he Built.
/. Speaking Of the subject he said:
1T is no secret that the United States
government intends to place derenses on
her coast lines. both on the Atlantic and
Pacific. In such way that the commerce
of the country will not suffer in case OF
war with any foreign nation. The At
laniic coast is pretty well defended
though improvements are constantly he
ing made at different points The de-
lenses Of the Pacific coast are as vet COM
paratively In an embryo state but they
will he pushed as rapidly forward from
this time as circumstances will permit.
OF course the main points of defense will
be where the large centers of population
arc and where commerce and trade are
building up large cities which will need
protection in time OF war. san Francisco
harbor, tho mouth Of the Columbia river
and the entrance 70 Puget sound / CON
slider tho three important points on the
Pacific coast where batteries must be
erected and every measure taken to pro
tect the commerce and shipping interests
conferred along those lines. when those
points are properly defended merchant
vessels can have places of refuge and ali
soiute safety. and the cities themselves
will be protected from a hostile fleet.
How tn Fortify the sound.
The situation OF Puget sound is ad-
nairably adapted for shore defenses.
and will as soon as our batteries
are nut IN place and arc i'm work
ing order he absolutely safe from the
attacks OF any foreign feet in case or war
Batteries viii be erected on Point Wilson.
taet at the mouth Of the Straits Of Juan
de Fuca and also on Admiralty head, Just
across on WILDLY isianS These two
shore batteriese with another on Marrow
stone point Just south OF Port Townsend
VIII serve 20 render IL impossible for a
hostile feet - come into the Sound
through the straits. The two points com
handing the entrance so Port Orchard
Will also be fortified and batteries placod
50 as 20 protect the dry dock and naval
station from an attack by water
Advantages of Magnolia RIur.
Magnolia bluff on the north Of You
here. whore YOU wish to have the Sound
military post loeRted. IS a splendid noInt
81 defense and gums from there could rake
the waters clear across and protect Tho
city in ease OF Il hostile feet gaining an
entrance past the batteries az the mouth
Of tne straits
"rhe aegenses 70 DO placed on the Sound
As We'll as those AT san Francisco and
st the mouth Of the Columbia river will
consist OF mortar batteries and iong-ranxe
rifle guns. either 10 he used as circuu-
stances demand The mortar batteries
are very effective az moderate distance.
and n shin can he struck and shells ey-
rioded on her decks as easily and as Ger
tsinly as crack shot can bring down a
pigeon. Mortar batteries as YOU know
shoot explosive shells and are pointed
upward ana tho distance 50 calculated
that = she'll drors down or the deck % a
ship and as soon as ~ strikes it eNplodex
with terrific effect. The loug-range rife
guns generally shoot solid shot though
shells are also used In them or some occa-
slons'
The New Military Policy.
Speaking OF army posts. the general con
tiuued
The policy - the war department. Is
nov 20 concentrate the army as much As
possible In tho laFee posts near the large
centers Of population and whore railroad
facilities are such that troops can be
moved rarfdls fron1 one point 70 another
on she shortest Kind 81 notice The policy
IS rather Ia mass troops 30 Largo posts AT
sire more important points than 20 keen
them scattered At the smaller Places
where BE- IS dtffieuit 20 eet shen - artioa
when they are needed ar some distant
point. Another great advantage thar IS
derived from uasS1nE tho troops az large
posts lies ia the fact fhas there IS less
loss in the number az men Who mus. Al.
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Washington