The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-11
CHICAGO COAST MFENSES
Are Conspic nous Only by Their
Practical Absence
THE CITY WELL SITUATED
For Prompt Destruction by a Small!
Force
Plans for Fortificat to be 1ade When
the Hupdred Million Dollar Appro-
priation Becomes AvaiIabis
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CHICAGO, March 1O.-Lieutenant ]. f.
Thompson, chief ordnance officer of the
department of the Missouri, told Chicago
people last night how utterly defenseless
their city would remain if the So 800, 900
for coast defenses intended for lake fortifi-
cations should, as q matter of economy,
be cut out of the bill now before congress.
Lieutenant Thompson made public for the
first time in paper read before the New
England Congregational church just what
it is that the ordnance corps. acting with
the other departments, intends to accom-
plish in the way of making seaports i'm.
pregnable to attack when the appropria-
ton of nearly $100,O00,00O, reported
favorably in committee, would he available.
Touching OH the question OF lake de-
Tense, the officer said: There seems to
be prevailing impression that in case war
broke out between America and Great
Britain all the United States would have
to do would be to keep English vessels out
of the Great Lakes. Declarations of war
do not come like thunderbolts from clear
skies. AS soon as it was known trouble
was brewing the Weiiand canal would be
fortified. Canadian troops would man the
works and Great Britain would have her
gunboats on the spot. That nation has
100 men-of.war which can pass through
the canal. Once in Lake Erie two or three
of these vessels could, as things are at pres
ent, destroy the Great Lake cities. No ely
is SO we'll situated for destruction as Chi
cage. A gunboat or two could, off the city.
send few shells into the waterworks and
paralyZe the water system OF the city, and
could then, with their explosive projectiles,
set the city on fire.
1.-The Canadians are projecting a canal
fir ON the St. Lawrence to Georgian bay. 1t
is to flank the Welland canal, and in case
of war the new canal could be used as
passage for gunboats into the great lakes.
There should be at least fifteen American
torpedo gunboats on the lakes for the pro.
lection of the cities. If we cannot keep the
boats in commission in times of peace on
account of our treaty with Great Britain,
let them be kept in the drainage canal,
when it is completed, or in some other in.
land waterway. from which they can be
can defend Chicago and other large cities.
"Chicago spends about $4,OO0,OOO in
fire insurance premiums every year. 1t
pays large amount for police and ire
protection and for its national guard. In
comparison to amounts thus spent, ~
100000 seems but little to be expended
when it is known that the judicious piac-
ing would secure the safety of our great
lake cities almost beyond doubt.
Two Notifications could be erected on
the ST. Lawrence river. They could be
supplied with IL, 10 or S-ipch guns, with
disappearing carriages. With fifty or
sixty feet of sand or with thirty feet OF
concrete these forts would he proof against
any guns which could be carried on gun
boats whose draught is light enough to en-
able them to come up the river. The gun
boat which succeeded in passing one OF
these forts would not be likely to get be.
You'd the second. Notifications of the
game kind should be built mt Detroit"
Lieut.. Thompson illustrated with draw
ings the new heavy ordnance with which it
is proposed to defend our sea coast. He
described the manufacture CT our heavy
steel breech-loading rifles, the fortitica-
tons, etc. 1t is proposed to make alto
gether 700 rifles of )6, II, 10 and o-inch
calibres. The appropriation is to be avail
able at the rate of S10,00O.000 year.
There are twenty-eight ports to be fortified.
The speaker showed a map giving his solu-
ton of the defense Of the New York
harbor.