The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-18

Washington. Nov 1.-THE annual re-
port of the board of ordnance and for
tifications. composed of General Nell
son A. Miles. Colonel Royal T. Frank,
First artillery; Colonel Peter c. Haines,
Corps of Engineers; Major F. H. Phil
lips, ordnance department.; Captain ].
C. Meyers and x-Representative j. H.
Cultivate, was made public today 1t
says:
Under the increased appropriations
of the present fiscal year the work Of
placing our coast in proper state of
defense is making good progress, and
if only the same sums are appropriated
annually for a few years our principal
ports will present a formidable front
to an attacking fleet. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that even more liberal appro-
priations will be made in order that
we may sooner be ready for an emer-
gency that might arise at any time.
In view of the present serious aspect
of European politics it is only common
prudence for this nation to be on its
guard, for, should a conflict arise we
are liable to be embroiled with some
power whose navy, in the defenseless
state of our coasts, might destroy or
exact enormous ransoms from our chief
cities.
"A war if it comes at all, will come
with no warning and no time for prep
aration. China, with undefended ports
and an Inadequate navy. was defeated
in a few months. In the last war be-
tween the great military powers of
Germany and France the surrender at
Sedan occurred only 10 days after the
declaration of war.
THE wars of nations occur in cycles
of varying length. but seldom does a
generation pass without a great con-
flict. Already more than 80 years have
elapsed since our last great war and
another may soon, if the past be a
guide to the future, terminate one of
the longest intervals of peace we have
ever enjoyed
Our engineer department is ready
with the most modern plans for fortifi-
cations and our ordnance department is
prepared with designs for guns and
carriages that are equal TO any in The
world. If congress will but increase
the appropriations to the capacity of
those departments for useful and eco
nomical work, it will not be long before
our coasts are secure against the at
tack of foreign powers. An effective
preparation for war is the best Safe
guard against war
To the report is appended the report
of the board on the regulation of sea
coast artillery fire. which recommends
that in the construction of the en-
placements for the batteries now being
placed in position, due consideration
be given to the importance of provid-
ing for a system of fire control and
communication between batteries and
for all other necessary appliances; and
that appliances for this system be pro-
vided at Fort Monroe, Fort Hancock
and San Francisco harbor. where
higher power guns. pneumatic guns
and mortar batteries are now in posi-
ton or under construction.
The board visited the various estab-
lishnents doing ordnance work for the
government and was impressed with
the lack of economy that resulted from
the irregularity and uncertainty with
which the work is carried on under
the present system of making appro-
priations.
The board is more than ever con-
WINGED of the wisdom of the recon-
mendation it made in its last annual
report that regular annual appropria-
lions be made for sea coast defenses
and their armament.