Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-27

lenses will make our great cities safe from
any naval attack.
Second. Such system can be constructed
for sum many times less than the cost
OF navy like the great navies Of Eu-
rope, and for sum that may reasonably
be expended.
Third. Land Notifications are much more
efficient for coast defense than a navy,
and when once constructed are durable,
cheaply maintained and easily strengthen
Fourth. The defense of our cities cannot
be left to the navy alone, however large.
Fifth. A navy that would equal the great
navies of Europe is unnecessary, and its
cost makes such q navy impracticable.
Sixth. A navy quickly deteriorates, and
is expensive to maintain.
Seventh. The construction of land de-
lenses should always precede the building
of a navy.
The Senator proceeded to support these
propositions. After reviewing the initial
efforts of the fertilization board, convened
by Secretary Of War Endicott, Mr.. Proctor
continued:
''Since the time Of rendering this report
the engine eTing authorities have modified
the details somewhat, the tendency being
to decrease the number of heavy guns and
to increase the number of mortars, until
1t Is now proposed to have 36 16-inch guns
2o3 Finch guns, $50 10-inch guns, 9s S-inch
guns. 3GO quick fire guns, 1852 Pinch NOR
tars, and "a 10-inch mortars, being total
of 353 guns and mortars. 1t has also been
determined that New Haven and New Lon
eastern entrance to Long Island sound
by Notifications; but these changes in the
plans of the Endicott board have not SUBJ
staEtially changed the cost Of the work
as estimated by that board The increase
in guns and mortars has been divided prih-
cipally among southern and Pacific ports.
The Navy Appropriations.
''The total amount appropriated up to
date from and including the third day Of
March, 1888, for the increase Of the navy Is
$11O,3T, 1910. In giving the figures in re-
gard to the new navy, 1 treat as complete
all ships authorized Or in process of buili-
irg. 1t, therefore, appears that the amount
H1lO,3n, 11O.1O) spent on the new navy
would have entirely completed in the mi
rutest detail the most perfect system of
land defenses that the art of the engineer
can devise, including the armament, with a
remaining. surplus of s1O,O05,71O
From the last report of the Secretary of
War we find that in the same period we
have expended only $40, 631 600 on coast de-
tense. According to the report of the E;ndi-
colt board, which was approved by Com
manders Goodrich and Smith, two naval ex-
perts, we ought to expend SIS, 10000 on
floating defenses and $97, 600 600 on land de-
lenses. Instead of keeping up this proper
ton, we have expended $4,000 600 on lard
defenses and many times that amount On
floating defenses.
I'VE have also spent millions in deepening
the approaches to our harbors to make
tcally nothing for their defense
We have neglected the work which
should have been done first, and which
would have been more than completed for
the sum spent on the navy. while the navy,
still far too small to protect itself, Is left
without the protection Of a system of har-
Dor defense which should have preceded its
construction.
in the matter of defense. Only by under
standing our needs will we be aroused to
provide for them. None need fear that this
will give valuable information to possible
war office and admiralty have not plans in
detail of our partially constructed mine and
torpedo systems. There is little else in our
preparation or incorporation for war that
they DO not understand. There is no dam
ger of exposing our weak points. They are
well known. The need is to realize them
ourselves and to apply the remedy.
Compared With Land Defenses.
1T becomes necessary to- make some COM
parison between the relative expense and
efficiency Of the land and floating defenses.
but shall do this in no spirit Of unfrtend-
Illness to the navy. Our navy according to
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Navy in 1888 was rated as standing sew
enth on the list Of the navies of the world.
Assuming that the minor powers have
made no progress in this respect (Which
Is not the case), and taking into considera-
ton the increase Of our own navy, appro-
priated for during the past two years, the
United States would, perhaps, in respect
OF naval strength be at the head of the
second-class powers. That is, admitting
that we have caught up with or even sur
passed little Holland, which is doubtful.
we will still be separated by a vast interval
from the five great naval powers of the
world.
For the sum Of $11O.371, no the United
States will have, on the completion of YES
sells now under construction: battle ships.
double-turreted monitors, 1 barbette
coast defense turret vessel, harbor de-
tense ram, armored cruisers, protected
cruisers, 6 partially protected cruisers, 20
cruisers, II gunboats, dynamite gun YES
sci, 8 torpedo boats, dispatch boat / ma
val cadet practice vessel. Upon the fore
going are to be mounted 50 S-inch guns,
10 10-inch guns, IL Pinch guns, "a 13-incfl
guns, dynamite guns. 1877 b-inch and G.
inch rapid-fire guns.
"Of the ships thus obtained there is prob
ably not one that naval officers will not ad-
NIT is overmatched by foreign ships. Ad-
miral Walker stated before the committee
that England has ships that outclass ours
and that other powers have such ships
The one admitted superiority is the quail
ity Of our marine engines and armor, Civ
ing speed to the ship and resistance to pro-
jectiles. But foreign navies, like those Of
England and France, on the former Of
which Is expended annually nearly as much
money as our entire new navy cost. will
soon have utilized all tho idear vh;oh ma