The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-07


appropriations. have resulted in reducing
TO "A minimum the cost OF maintenance
OF our military establishment During
the past year the work OF constructing
permanent infantry and cavalry posts
has been continued at the places hereto
fore designated. The secretary OF war
repeats his recommendation. that appro-
priations for barracks and quarters should
more strictly conform to the needs of
the service as judged by the department
rather than respond to the wishes and
opportunities OF localities.
Ii is imperative that much OF the
money provided for such construction
should now Se allotted to the erection OF
necessary quarters for the garrisons as
signed to the coast defense. where many
men will be needed 10 properly care for
and operate modern guns. 1t Is essential,
too that early provision be made to SUD-
ply the necessary force OF artillery TO
meet the demands of this service.
The entire army has now been equipped
with the new magazine arms and wise
policy demands that all available pubic
and private resources should be SO em-
ployed as TO provide within reasonable
time a sufficient number TO supply the
state militia with these modern weapons
and provide an ample reserve for any
emergency.
The organized militia numbers 112.s79
men. The appropriations for its support
by the several states approximate &Soo,-
600 annually. and 100000 is contributed
by the general government. lnvestiga-
ton shows these troops TO be usually
well drilled and inspired with much mill
tary interests hut in many instances they
are so deficient In proper arms ana
equipment that sudden call TO active
duty would find them inadcquately pre-
pared for field service. l therefore rec
| ommend that prompt measure he taken
| to remedy this condition. and that every
mt hn o. n
| ing BODY Of unpaid and voluntary citizen
soldiers, upon whose assistance We must
| largely rely In time of trouble.
SEACOAST DEFENSE.
| During the past year rapid progress
| has been made toward the completion
| of the scheme adopted for the erection
| and armament OF Notifications along our
| seacoast while equal progress has been
| made In providing the material for SUBJ
| marine defense i'm connection with these
| works.
| 1t is peculiarly gratifying at this time
| to note the great advance that has been
| made In this important undertaking
since the date of my annual message
| to the fifty-third congress at the opening
| of it's second session. in December. 1888.
At that time / informed the congress
| OF the approaching completion OF II
inch. 20 10-inch and 81 s-inch high power
| steel guns and IS Pinch rifled mortars.
This total 10 seemed insignificant when
| compared with the great work remain
ing to be done. Yet 1t was none the less
| q source of satisfaction to every citizen
| when he reflected that IL represented the
first installment OF the new ordnance OF
American design and American manufac'
ture and demonstrated our ability TO sup.
| ply from our own resources guns or un.
excelled power and accuracy.
At that date. however, there were prac-
tically no carriages upon which to mount
>xxlx aln AffaA Z
for guns and GA for mortars. Nor were
all these emplacements in condition to
receive their armament. Only one higk'
power gun was at that time in position
for the defense of the entire coast.
Since that time the number of guns
| actually completed has been increased To
| a total of 2l 12-inch. 66 10-inch, 6l S-inch
high-powcr breoch- loading steel guns, IL
rapid-fire guns and SO l2-nch rifed NOR
tars. In addition there are in process OF
construction 16-inch type gun, 80 l2-inch
5s 10-inch. 27 S-inch high-power guns anc
66 Pinch rifed mortars. In all 42s guns
and mortars.
During the same year. Immediately pre-
ceding the message referred to, the mrs,
modern gun carriage had been compie,ec
and IL more were in process of construc-
ton.
All but one were of the non-disappear-
ing type. These, however, were not sucH
| as 10 secure necessary cover for the ar
tillery gunners against the intense hre
of modern machine 'rapid-fire ana hlGh
| power guns.
The Inventive genius or ordnance and
civilian experts has been taxed In design
ing carriages that would obviate TINS
fault. resulting, II is believed. in the
solution OF this difficult problem. Since
| 1893 the number Of gun carriages con-
structed or building has been raised 10 a
total of 129. Of which 90 are on the disap-
| 81, bar xDe n r.
tar carriages to 49, while the So emplace-
ments which were provided for prior to
that time have been increased to $50 built
and building.
This improved situation is largely du'
to the recent generous response or con
gress to the tions OF the wa
department Thus we shall soon have
complete about one-fifth of the compre
| hensive system, the first step in whicf
was noted in my message to the con
gress on Dec. 4, 1883. When II Is un
derstood that a masonry einplacemei
not only furnishes platform for th'
heavy modern high-power gun, but als'
in every particular serves the purpcs
| and takes the place Of the fort OF forme
days, the Importance OF the work &C
| complished Is better comprchended
In tho hope that the work Will be prose
cuted with no less vigor In the future
the secretary OF war has submitted ar
estimate by which. If allowed, there will
be provided and either built or building b,
the end of the next fiscal year such ac-ii
tional guns, mortars, gun carriages ane
emplacements. as Will represent not IA
from one-third of the total work TO o'
done under the plan adopted for our coas
defenscs-thus afyording n prospect tina
the entire work will be substantially
completed within six years. In less time
than that, however, We shall have at
tained a marked degree of security.
The experience and results OF the pas
year demonstrate that with a continuation
OF present careful methods, the cos
of the remaining work VIII be much les
than the original estimate. We shoult
always keep in mind that Of all forms
Of military preparation coast defens
alone is essentially pacific In its nature
While il gives the sense Of security du'
to a consciousness of strength II ~ neithcl
the purpose nor the effect OF such per
manent fortincation 10 involve Us In for
eign complications. but rather TO guaran
tee us against them. They ere not temp
tation 20 war. but security against 1t
| Thus they arc thoroughly In accord will