The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-08
sEA-coAsT DEFENSE,

During the past year rap,d ,~..
peeh made toward the comv,,s. :,
scheme adopted for the erectIo, j.,
ment of Notifications along on
WINE equal progress has been ~
viding the material for ,ubm,r,. !.
IN connection with these worn I,
culiarly gratifying at this tim. !, ],
great advance that has been v.a
important undertaking since n. Z
my annual message to the piitsts.
gress at the opening Of the ~ ~
IN December, 1893. At that Tim Y.
the congress of the approaching ~.
OF nine Finch, twenty iO.Iur6 al h
fcur S-inch high power steel nm, n
enty-tve la-inch rifled mort,n ~
seemed insignificant when counnJ
the great work remaining to b N.
II was none the less a source of az,
to every citizen when be reflesrs n
represented the first installusni d 4.
ordnance of American desisn al i,
can manufacture, and demoo.u1i1
ability to supply from our ON M
guns of unexcelled power and ac.rnr
that date, however, there were p,rtI
no carriages upon which to MONT
guns, and only thirty.one empl.sus,l
guns and sixty-four for mortar yr
all these emplacements ID coudl,ln i.
ceivo their armament. Only oce Llsa |,
gun was at that time in po,ltIoa n
defense Of the entire coast. Since In =
the number Of guns actually ecn,l.,
been increased to a total Of twsay u
fifty-six l0-lnch. slxty-one siaA
power breechloadIng steel guns, Ia /
fire guns and eighty l2-lnch fifl.d ID
In addition. there are In process 4 |
struction one lG-inch high power nj
sixty six l2-inch ritled mor,afs-h !
guns and mortars, During Tie mm
Immediately preceding the maxRI
ferred to, the first modern gun hsriie
been completed and eleven mon n
process of construction. All ba; " |
of the non disappearance typ, T6a |
ever. were such as not to secure m
cover for the artillery guuuefs ap's
intense fire OF modern machine MI
and high power guns. The iuve,nn
ius Of ordnance and civilian elMs |
been taxed in designing ariia
would obyiate this fault, resulting
lieved. in the solution Of thi
problem. Since 1898 the nunN
carriages constructed or bulldlnss
raised to a total Of l29. Of which w
are on the disappearing prinripA
number of mortar carriages 70 y
the nlnety-tlve emplacemenIs xaia
provided for prior 10 that time ~
increased to $50 built and hulldl,t
improved situation Is largely cv
recent generous response Of congress
recommendations Of the war tsEt
Thus we shall soon have compiler
one fifth of the comprehensive yssn]|
first step in which was noted y "
sage to the congress Of December '
when IL Is understood that 4 inis.'.
placement not only furnishes piiila
the heavy modern high power Gun M
in every particular serves ths paipa]
takes the place OF the fort o. iorpS
the Importance OF the work scco1pa.1
better comprehended. In !M ~
the work will be prosecuted vllh Y
vlgor in the future, the seclsuH y
has submitted an estimate uhoH ~
allowed, there will be provides - y
built and building by the emo = y, ~
fiscal year, such additional gu, -
gun carriages and emplacelislu !, 4.
represent not far from one.tana '.
tai work to be done under he ~ Y \
for our coast defensss. thus lS ~ !.
prospect that tho entire WORK w y,
stantially completed within ~ An
less time than that, however, se -
attained a marked degree Of ssu "
experience and repute Of the p.S \
onstrate that with a contlnua! ". -.
careful methods the cost q %. I, y 4
work will be much less than ~
estimate, We should always 49,
that of all forms Of mliiIa, am ~, Y,
coast defense alone Is essenllsis !. IN
It's nature. While 1t gives tne !, NJ ,.ri]
eurity due to a consciousness IS y ~ Il
is neither the purpose nor The . satrHi
permanent !. Notifications to ,. 'a ss,,,,,s
complications, but rather =, ~ ,ssr,vats
against them. They are ~ Stu
war but a security against ,i \ n ID IL
are ma thoroughly in accord i,v Win y :
ditions of our National ,DEPiRlS
Am GENERAL