Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-23
A PLAN OF DEFENSE.
How 10 Protect tho Atlantic and Gull
Coasts in Times Of War.
REPORT by NAVAL OFFICERS.
Auxiliary Irus'rs Ava lablA ia Case
Of An tmtrg ncy-Gnns
for THIS, Ships.

w AsHiNGTONi Dsc. z5.-A report
hsa just been submitted to Secretary
Herbert by board OF naval officers
outlining plan OF defense OF the
Atlantic and Gull coasts in case OF
war.
Tho board met secretly and consisted
OF Admirals Ramsay and Buacu,
Captains Sampson and Taylor anu
Lieutonsn; Wainwright. In as much
as this board was organized by order,
dated August 10 last, and convened
by vittue of that order, the meeting
has no relations 10 the present state OF
foreign relations. The plans OF de.
fence considered were originally pre-.
pared at the naval war college al
Newport, II. L.
The order for the examination and
revision OF plans was Issued III view OF
possible trouble with foreign power.
The secretary of the navy denies
that the board wac assembled Oh ac.
count OF possible com plica,ions with
spain and declared that plans for
coast Geienses would have been pre-.
pared at this time, whether our foreign
relations were serene or strained. The
TACT that the board met anu sub
ulitted It's report while the Senate
foreign relations committee was ueclar
ing for the indepe dence ei Cuba LENDS
additional interest to the plans adopted.
The plane are Haid 10 have been in
preparation et the war college tor three
years amt nave now been revised il,
some particulars anu approved by the
highest authorities In the navy. They
provide for the defense OF the Atlantic
coast from Delaware to Cape Cod, from
Cape Cou TO ths PenObscot, Delaw are
ana Chesapeake bays, from Cape Hat
teras to East Port, Maine, anu Tor the
southern part OF the A llantic coast and
for the entire Gull coast.
1t Is also said that the bonrG consid-
cred and reported TO the secretary OF
the navy on the distribution OF the
North Atlantic squadron in case OF
war.
The strength OF the navy, including
the ships In commission and those
laid up, Is discussed 10 the report.
One OF the important features Of the
boaid's Celebrations was the question
OF auxiliary cruisers for use IN case OF
an emergency. There arc nIntt Q 4
ve.seis sailing between ports on the
| North Atlantic coast W hich have be N
subsidized by the government and are
available for means OF defense in case
OF war. These ships range from the
81. Louie, with IL ,629 tons uisplace.
ment, to the Philadelphia It'll IL 020
tons. The proposed batteries OF tneee
merchant ships include ali guns up TO
six iuches In calibre. But few OF these
an hqva heAn nj
number Is being increased each year
and the guns are stored at port
which would be convenient for the
vessels for which they are intended.
The conclusions OF this board are
undoubtedly OF great importance, but
will not, probably, be revealed by
Secretary Herbert, unless 1t should be
necessary 10 put the recommendations
into operation.
PROSPECTS OF HOsTILITIEs.
NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-Lieutensnt
Commander II. II. buckingham, u.
8. N, came from Washington anu at.
tended meeting Of the second pro-
visional naval militia battalion which
was held in Brooklyn last night. He
represented the secretary Of the navy.
In telling Of the great service the
naval militia might lend to the regu.
lar navy In case OF war, he said the
greatest danger in New York was not
that the ships OF an enemy's fleet
could pass the forts at the entrance 10
the harbor, but that they woulu lie
Of out OF range Of our guns and block
sue our port, putting a stop to com-
merce.
"The navy Department." said he,
"hHs been planning to have f1otilla OF
thirty or forty torpedo boats IN this har-
Dor and others at different ports along
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. These
could be differed and manned in
great part by our navy militia. The
navy department is counting on the
naval militia TO help in case OF SUD.
den emergency to protect our seabosrd
cities. In case OF an attack, 1t might
mobilize all the naval militia organi-
cations OF the country at one point.
Lieut.. Commander Buckingham's
words left no doubt in the minds OF
the militiamen that II was the pros.
pect Of hostilities which led him to
speak as he did.
WORK AT NAVY YARD.
VALLEJO, Cal, DEC. 23.-Though
work has slackened somewhat al the
navy yard owing to the discharge OF n
part OF the force because Of lack OF
funds there Is still fair amount OF
work in progress, come 500 men being
employed. Work still continues on
the baltimore, Concord, Mohicsn,
Ranger and Pensacola, for which ships
money was especially set asids by tue
last Congress. The cruiser Charleston,
however, did not come under this
head and will probably have to wgit
until appropriations from the present
Congress are available before her re.
pairs begin. The Petrol, which was
placed in com mission Dec. 18Th, 10 al
the dock fitting with stjres Tor three
year, cruise on the China station.
She will probably be here for two
months more during which time she
will be inspected by the board OF in.
spection.