Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-27
Report Of The Board Of
Ordnance.
WAITING FOR TIE MONEY
The Present Inefficient Codnition
of Our Ports Against a Foreign
Enemy Clearly Pointed out
Engineering and Ordnance
Department Report.

The work Of placing our harbors In STATE
OF defense "a thus summed up in the report
Of the Board of Ordnance and Fortihcations,
signed by General Miles. Colonels Frank
anu Haines, Major Phipps ana MesSiS'
Outhwaite and Aver, just made pubic.
"Under the increased appropriations OF
the present fiscal year the work OF placing
our harbors In q proper state OF defense Is
making good progress, and II only the saH'
sums are appropriated annually Tor lew
wears our prir:dpal ports will present foT-
midable front to an attacking fleet.
Only Common Prudence.
1T is hoped, however, that even more
liberal appropriations will be made In order
that we may sooner be ready for an emer-
gency that may arise at any time. In VIC"
Oh the present serious aspect OK European
politics It Is only common prudence Tor tnis
nation to be on its guard, for should a con-
nict arise We are liable to be embroiled with
some power whose navy, in the present de-
fense.ess condition Of our coasts, might oe-
stroy or enact enormous ransons from our
chief cities.
Waiting for the Money.
"Our engineer department is ready with
the most modern plans for Notifications eno
our ordnance department is prepared WIZ
designs for guns and carriages that are
equal to any In the world. II Congress will
but increase the appropriations to the capac-
ity of those departments for useful and
economical work, it will not be long before
our coasts are secure against the attack OF
foreign powers. An effective preparation
for war is the best safeguard against war.
A Rapid Evolution.
The report contains letter from Secretary
Lamont, in which he points out that the
Board was created at time when Congress
was taking the first step In the execution OF
a project that involved the ultimate oxpendt-
ture of mare than s1OO, 900 900, the purpose
being to have a body OF experts to pass on
the advancing stages of armament. Recent
years, the secretary writes, had witnessed
rapid evolution In war material. Foreign
nations had armed and rearmed at short In
tervas. Costly material had been manufac-
tured; much OF it to be thrown away as de-
iective. or because outclassed by superior
inventions on the part Of a possible enemy.
Mr.. Lamont suggested that the work would
be expedited II the Board established certain
definite "types" OF implements and engines
OF war.
Implements and Engines OF War.
In answer to this, the Board specifies the
ollowlng list Of implements and engines o.
war for which satisfactory types have beer
determined
Twelve-inch steel B. L. ri1e now undel
construction, model 1888 and model 1891; 10
inch steel B. L., rifle, model 1888; 8-inci
steel B. L. mortar; 12-inch cast-iron motar
hooped with steel Finch siege howitzer
model 1SO'; inch siege rife, model 1890
S.6-inch field gun, model 1891; SO inch flel'
gun. model 1890; 9-inch Hotchkiss mountaiI
gun; 12-inch disappearing barbett
carriage; 8-inch non-dIsappearing barbett
carriage, 12-inch spring return mortar car
riage; 8-inch disappearing carriage, Crozier
Burlington type; lo.inch disappearing car
riage, Crozler-Bufington type; carriage 70
7-inoh seigs howitzer; carriage for 5-incf
ride; carriage for 6-inoh field gun; carrlas
) for 8. pinch field gun; carriage for 6-incl
field mortar; carriage for 9-inch Hotchkis
mountain gun; caissons for field guns; com
bined battery wagons and forges for hel
guns; armor-piercing projectiles for Be-
coast guns; shell and scrapdel for field guns
torpedo classmates and cable galleries.
The work being done at the various gu
works and arsenals is reviewed In detail