The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-11-18
DEFENSE OF OUR HARBORS.
Increased Appropriations Urnc ntly
Recommended
TIE COAST PORTS ARE DEFENSELEss
should War Occur the Enemy C,.,.,
invest An! city and Demand nm
Indemnity of Any Size.

Washington. November 1.-THE work OF
pacing our harbors in state OF defense
is summed up In the report of the board OF
ordnance and Notifications, signed by Cen
eral Miles. Coionels Frank and Haines. Ma
tor Phpps and Messrs. Cultivate and
Alyer, and made public today.
1t says: Under the increased appropra.
tons OF the present fiscal year the work OF
placing our harbors in proper state of de-
tense is making good progress, and II only
the same sums are appropriated annually
Tor a Few years our principal ports Will
present formidable front to an attacking
fleet 1t is hoped, however, that even more
liberal appropriations will be made In or
der that we may soon be ready for an
emergency that may arise at any time
In view Of the present serious aspect of
European politics 1t is only common pru-
dence Tor this Nation to be on it's guard,
for, should a conflict arise. we are likely
to be imbroiled with some foreign navy.
winch in the present defeuseless condition
OF our coast might destroy or exact euor-
nous ransoms from our chief cities. A
light, If 1t comes at ALL will come vita no
warning and no time for preparation Chi
ma, with its defended points and Inadequate
navy Was defeated in few months. In
the last war between the great military
powers OF Gerinany and France the sLrcn-
der at Sedan occurred only forty days after
me declaration of war The wars OF ma
lions occur In circles of varying lengths
but seldom does generation pass without
u ron sal
general conflict Already more than
thirty years have elapsed since our last
great war, and another may soon. If The
rust he guide to the future terminate
on one OF the longest intervals of peace we
rave ever enjoyed. our snsit epring de-
paftment is ready with the most modern
plans for Qualifications. aud our ordance
department Is prepared with designs for
defense that are actual. IL congtoss will
nut increase tie appropriations 10 the ga
paclty OF those departments for use IT will
not he long before our coasts IRE secure
aSainst the attack of foreign powers An
effective preparation for war is that safe
guard against war"
Inc summary closes with an exhaus.ive
report covering every detail of The progress
OF Notification, the examination If ,nnu-
merahle devices of attack and defense th.
testing of guns, gun carriages. powders
arms. mor'ars armor etc. 4 long lis Is
gwen OF devices which have been exam
med and approved and lists of those APP
proved or under consideration.
me report contains letter from Score
tary Lamont, in which he points ont that
the board Was created at a time when con-
sress was taking the first step in the ex-
ecution OF Il project that involved an an
nual expenditure of more than 500, orO 900
the purpose being to have a body of OK
hn al,
armament. Recent years, the secretary
writes, had witnessed rapid revolution
in war material Many nations had armed
and rearmed at short intervals Costly
material had been manufactured much of
IT to he thrown out as defective or because
outclassed by superior inventions on the
part of n possible enemy
Mr.. Lamont suggested that the work
would be expedited if the board established
certain definite types" of implements and
engines of war. In answer to this the
board specified the following list of imple-
ments and engines of war for which salts
factory types have been determined:
Twelvc-inch b. L. rifle, now under con-
structoil. model 1SSS and model 1891 To-
inch. steel Il. l.. rifle. model 'ss; s-lnch
steel b. l.. rifle, model 80: Pinch steel
Is. l.. mortar; l2-inch cast iron mortar
hooped with steel; finch seige Howitzer
model 1890; 5-inch siege rifle, model 800
3.6-inch field gun. model 81; S.2-inch field
gun. model 80; 3-inch IIotchkiss mountain
gun; Finch non disappearing carriage:
l0-inch disappearing barbette carriage; s.
inch non disappearing barbette carriage:
l2-inch spring return mortar carriage; s.
inch disappearing carriage: Crozier- Buff
ington type; l0-inch disappearing carriage,
Crozier burlington type carriage FOR 7-inch
siege lIowitzer, carriage for 5-incn siege
rifle; carriage for 3G-inch field gun, car
riage for 3.2-inch field gun; carriage for
3.6-iuch field mortar; carriage for 3.inch
Hotchkisa mountain gun; caissors for field
guns; combined battery wagons and FORCES
for field guns; armor piecng proiectiles for
seacoast guns. shell and sharphuel for field
guns, torpedo easements and cable CALLER
les,
The work being done at the various gun
works and arsenals is reviewed in detail.