The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08

pie public and private resources should
pe SO employed as to privide within a
reasonable time sufficient number to
supply the State militia with these
modern weapons and provide an ample
reserve Tor any emergency.
STATE MILITIA.
The organized militia numbers 49,
oi' men. The appropriations for its
support by the several States approyi-
mate S2,SOo0GO annually, and $500, 900 is
contributed by the general Government.
investigation shows these troops to be
usually well drilled and inspired with
much military interest but In many in
stances they are SO deficient In proper
arms and equipment that sudden call
10 active duty would find them made
quately prepared for field service I.
therefore, recommend that prompt
measures be taken to remedy this condi-
tioh' and that every encouragement be
given 10 this deserving body of unpaid
ana voluntary citizen soldier, upon
whose assistance we must largely rely
IN time of trouble.
COAST DEFENSES.
During the past year rapid progress
mas peen made toward the completion
OF the scheme adopted for the erection
anu armament of fortified lions along
our seacoast. while equal progress has
peen made In providing the material for
submarine defense in connection with
tnese works. II is peculiarly gratifying
at this Time to note the great adj :
Vances that has been made In
TINS important undertaking since the
udte OF my annual message to the Fifty
thlrd Congress a the opening of its sec
ohd session in December 1893 At tina,
time informed the Congress of the ap-
prnachlHg completion of nine twelve
men. twney ten-inch and thirty-four
eiSht-inch high power steel guns. and
ScVehty-hve twelve-inch riflcd mortars
ms total then seemed INSIGNIFICANT
when compared with the great work
remaining TO be done. Yet II was none
ene less source OF satisfaction to every
cltizen when he reflected that 4, rep
resented the first installment of the
new ordnance of American design and
american manufacture. and demon
strated our ability to supply from our
own resources guns of unexcelled power
ana accuracy.
AT that date. however, there were
practically no carriages upon which To
mount lhese guns, and only thirty-one
Improvements for guns and siXty-four
Tor mortars. Nor were all these en-
placements in condition to receive their
armament. Only one high power gun
was at that time In position for the de-
Tense of the entire coast
Since that time the number of guns
actually completed has been increased
70 total OF tWenty-one tWelve-inch
htty-six ten-inch. sixty-one eight-incI
hieh power brecch- loading steel guns.
zen ranid,iir guns. and eighty twelve
are In process OF construction ono
SLNleen-lnch type gun, fifty twelve
men. iifty-six ten-inch, twenty-seyen
eight-inch high power guns and sixty
SIX twelve-inch rined mortars; In all.
auur hundred and twenty eight guns
Durins The same year, immediat ely
preceding the message referred to. the
hFSt modern gun carriage had been
completed ana eleven more were in pro-
cess or construction. All but one we're
OF the on-disappearang type. These.
however were not such as to secure nee
essary cover for the artillery gunnars
against the intense fire OF modern ma
chine rapid-firc and high power guns.
ne inventive genius OF ordnance and
cNiiiah exports has been taxed in de-
signing carriages that would olivia @
ul,s Iauit' resulting. II Is believed, in the
solution OF this difficult problem. since
1898 the number of gun carriages con.
structed or building has been raised 10
total or l29. OF which 90 are on tbs
disappearing principle and the numbe,
OF mortar carriages to 152. while the o.
tnplacements. which were provided for
PRIOR TO that time. have been increa sad
to $50 built and building. This Improved
situation Is largely due to recent gene
rous response of Congress to the recon
mendations of the War Department
mus we shall soon have complete about
ohe-mlth OF the comprehensive system.
the first step in which was noted in NV
message To the Congress of December
:. 1893. When 1t is understood that a
masonry emplacement not only fur
nishes platform for the heavy modern
hlsh power gun, but also in every par