The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-30
Progress Made
in National Defense

As bearing directly upon the subject
treated in an editorial on this page yes
terday, the following information ex-
tracted from a Washington letter in the
Providence journal is timely and inter-
csting: Our steady progress towards the
rank of n strong naval power is known
of all men. our ability to raise a prac-
tically invincible army is denied by none.
y third fact, less notorious, is that we are
rapidly making our scaboard cities invul-
nerable. For several years the War de-
partment has been at work upon plan
which contemplates the adequate de-
fence of twenty-cght of the most i'm
portant cities on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. The llberality of congress during
the last two years in appropriating some
S2j, 600 900 for coast fortlfiCations has en-
abled the work of erecting coast de-
fences to proceed very rapidly. As re-
CARDS the construction of emplacements
for gun and mortar batteries, and the in
stallation of ordnance therein, the Work
is much further advanced than is gen.
orally supposed.
During the last year the War depart
ment has awarded contracts for the con-
struction of the defcnCes for twO-thirds
of the places comprised in the system of
coast defence, and at each of these work
is now progressing steadily. Should con-
ErCSs continue to respond to our needs
in this direction as literally as it has in
the past, it is safe to assume that five
years hence our seaboard will be fairly
safe from successful attack from any
naval force that can be martialled
against us.
The scheme of defence may be roughly
divided into two classifiCatiOns one APP
plies to such ports as San Francisco and
New York, where the channel is so wide
hot Il. ft,,,, ..y,+fy \,
with torpedoes and submarine mines
The other has to do with ports 70 which
the approaches are narrow and where
the channel can be effectually blockaded
by explosives strategically distributed.
In the former case reliance for repelling
attack must be placed chiefly upon guns
of the highest power and efficiency. In
the latter the fortiicatons on shore are
supported by submerged torpedoes and
mines.
Tho great guns that are being pro-
vided for coast defence purposes are
among the most powerful engines of de-
structon ever devised by man. Most for
midable among them is the mighty pneu-
matte dynamite gun, which hurls it's hiss
ing projectile three miles through the air
with such force that the most heavily
armored battleship afloat, if fairly struck,
would be shattered like an egg shell.
only, however, where the port must rely
for its protection solely upon land de-
fences, Three of these dynamite guns
are already installed, two at San Fran
cisco and one at New York.
A very good idea of the system of coast
defence which is being carried out in the
case of all our seaboard cities may be
obtained from a description of the de-
fences of Washington, which are further
advanced than those of any other of our
leading cities. The capital is even now
safer from successful sea attack than any
of the others, and within the brief space
of two months will be in a position to
hold at bay the most formidable fleet
that could ascend the Potomac river.
Work Is progressing rapidly, not be-
cause any immediate danger is feared
but because the guns and emplacements
being ready, the authorities believe that
the work of completing the defence
might as well be carried along with dis
patch. On the Fort Washington side of
the river three great 10-inch guns are
now installed, ready for action, while en-
placements for the remaining guns of
the battery on that side of the river are
nearly ready for the guns, two of which
will be in position before the warm sea-
son closes. This will form the main bat
terry on the Maryland shore, from which
the fire would be directed on any foe at
tempting to pass up the river to attack
the capital. Just beneath this powerful
battery IS mining easement protecting
| the delicate electrical apparatus to con-
troll the mines and torpedoes that are in
readiness for planting on a few hours
notice. This emplacement is masked, and
| its locality known to few but the mill
| tary authorities. Across from Fort WASH
| ingtOn, and one mile further down the
stream, work is going on at Fort Sheri-
| dan, where three guns are to be mounted.
| Emplacements are being constructed by
| a Baltimore firm under contract to finish
| them early next year by which time the
| heavy guns for installation there will be
| delivered by the Watcrvleit Arsenal.
| These two mammoth defences would
| give a good account of any attacking
fleet, and even should few vessels sue
| cessfully run the dreadful gauntlet of
| guns and torpedoes, they would be power
| less to proceed within striking distance
| of Alexandria and Washington unless
| they drew less than twenty feet of water,
| which Is the extreme depth of the chan
mel from just north of the forts to the
city docks. This shallowness of the river
| Is of itself a safeguard to the capital
| from naval attack, and as there is COM
| paratively little commerce here, or de-
| mand for a deeper channel, congress is
not expected to grant authority to in
|
| tol and the White House i'm further dan.
| ger of bombardment from the piers of
| Alexandria, If once the forts were sub.
| dued. Major Shaler, the chief assistant
| to the ordnance head of the army. is an
| officer who does not question the capac-
| ity Of Washngton's defences adequately
to protect TIE city, no matter how hume :.
Gus or powerful the fleet that may be
sent against them.
The new century will be but a few
years old when our whole long seaboarc
| will, II is believed, be almost as impreg.
nable from sea attack as Washington 1.
now, on the coast of the Atlantic ant
the Gulf of Mexico, every important city
| will have its system of powerful de
| fences. At Portland and Mobile, at Bos
ton, Newport, Providence, New York
| Norfolk, Charleston and on to Calves
ton, and at San Francisco and Puge
Sound on the shores of the Pacific, garri
sons will stand ready night and day foi
instant service, with forces of destruc
tion at their command which will shak,
the resolution of the mightiest powers o.
| tho sea, no matter how great theil
strength nor how just their cause.