Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-10
COAST FORTIFICATIONS.
Important Additions Made to Our
Means OF Defense.


During the past year rapid progress has
been made toward the completion of the
scheme adopted for the erection and arma-
ment of Notifications along our sea coast,
while equal progress has been made in pro-
viding the material for submarine defense
in connection with these works.
1t is peculiarly gratifying at this time
TIC note the great advance that has been
made in this important undertaking since
the date Of the opening of the second ses-
sion in December, 1893. At that time
informed the Congress of the approaching
COMP elton of nine 12-inch, twenty 10-inch,
thirty-four 8-inch high power steel guns,
and seventy-five 12-inch rihed mortars.
This total then seemed insignificant when
compared with the great work remaining
to be done Yet it was none the less
source of satisfaction to every citizen when
he reflected that it represented the hrst
installment of the new ordinance OF Amerl-
can design and American manufacture ana
demonstrated our ability TO supply from
our own resources guns Of unexceled power
and accuracy, AT that date, however
there were practically carriages upon
which to mount these guns and only
thirty-one emplacements for guns and six
ty-four for mortars Nor were all these
emplacements in condition to receive their
armament. Only one high-power gun was
at that time in position Tor the defense OF
the entire coast Since that time the num-
her of guns actually completed has been
Increased to twenty-one Pinch; hfty-slX
1O.inch: sixty-one S-inch high power
breech-loading steel guns, ten rapid nre
guns and eighty Pinch rified mortars.
In addition there are in process OF con-
struction one 16-inc' type gun, fifty Il
inch, Sc 1O-inch, tive y-seven S-lnch hlgn-
power guns and sixty-six 12-inch rl1ed
mortars; in all four hundred and twenty
eight guns and mortars.
Modern Gun Carriages.
During the same year Immediately pre-
oeding the message referred to, the nrst
modern gun carriage had been completed
and eleven more were IN process Oh COLI
etruction. All but one were of the non
disannearing type. These, however, were
not such as to secure necessary cover Tor
the artillery gunners against the intense
fire of modern machine rapid hre ana nlgn
power guns.
The inventive genius of ordnance and
civilian experts has been taxed IN ue-
sioninp carriages that would obviate this
fault resulting it is believed, In the So
1ution of this difficult problem Since
1Se3 the number OF gun carriages con-
structed or building has been raised 10
total OF 129, Of which ninety are On INC e
disaDnearing principle and the number OF
n,ortar- carriages to 152, while the ninety
Eve emplacements which were provided
for nrior to that time have Deen increased
tn $50 built and building.
This improved situation is largely que
IN the recent generous response OF Con-
cross TO the recommendations OF the war
department ,,o+o about
ona-fifth of the comprehensive system, the
tirst step in which was noted IN my
message to Congress December 4, 1919.
When il is understood that masonry
oo,niacement not only furnishes plat
e,.i, for the heavy modern high power
LIN hut also in every particular service
e,,o.s the purpose and takes the place
~ fort of former days, the Importance
% the work accomplished is better COM
pretended
marked Degree of Security.
r, Tho hone that the work will be pros
,.aa with no less vigcr IN the 1ulurs'
eeu'eo oorotarv of war, has submitted an es-
.ne ~ Nv which. if allowed there Will pc
Inc and either built or building by
p,a cf the next fiscal year, such add
49,, o,,ns uaortars, gun carriages, anu
1.Iaoements as will represent not Iar
s.ap, one-third of the total work TO pe
49, WIDER the plan cuopted Tor our coas
u...to,,ses--tfr,,s affording prospect eHat
~ antire work will be substantially com
nle+ed within six years. IL less .t l. 10 =
hat however, we shaii nave
,,,arte5 degree of security.
THE experience aud resuits " 80 ',t;ao
,,aar demonstrate that Wilt . oo s. IS +h,,
Srasent careful methods the cost u .ne
remaining WORK VII -
tbe original estimate ,nd +ba+ Of
:" of military preparation coast