New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
ppoposEp RoA1ER SHOALS rURRErs

with tho FISCHER bill, before any appropriation is
sdv,sed nv Mr. Ha.ner two questions will be par
.,cularly studied: First Is 1t necessary to build
Notifications Of any kind on Romer shoaisf Dec
ond Is the proposition as outlined IN the Fiscnei
bill feasible and economical? The Ffscher Dill pro-
ydes that subject II treats OF shall DO reierreo
20 a board Of Army engineers which Is to report
a, MA practicabillty Of the plan. Five thousand
dollars are appropriated to pay the expenses OF
such examination.
AN IMPORTANT STRATEGICAL POINT.
A general proposition officers OF the Army
favor the idea Of constructing at or near all the
important coast cities OF the country fortihcatiohs
which In the event OF war. will guard snch ci'ies
from hostile shot and shell. AS to the putting OF
derences on Romer Shoals. IL is SAID that 'ho
shoals lie directly north Of Sandy Hook and sou,h
~ co,ev Island They are about four miles IN
length and range from one-eighth 10 nearly one
half mile in width. At low tide they are coNeieu
nv water ranging IN depth from three 70 thir'!
Eve feet They nearer the New-Jersey coas'
,han Long Island. On the two sides or the shodis
run the Swash and the East channels Inc main
sh,n channel leading 10 Ncw-York which is used
~, majority Of the vessels approaching inc port
would be close under guns that might De piaceu
nm the shoals Therefore thu shoals are an I'M
nortant strategical point. occupying a commanding
,o<,,ion midway in the path Of vessels between
Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook and Forts Waos"or'h
and Hamilton ,.,.
At Fort Hancock there are now IN posi'ioii
rurnber Of powerful guns. Others are 10 De piaceu
there and In the future the FORT VIII oe oiio
=. .he strongest on the Atlantic coast for's
Uad.worth and Hamilton ere also being modern
,,,d and mt IN condition prevent the entrance
., an enemy through the Narrows If MIDWAY
hetween these strong defences there shouio DE p"'
on Romer Shoals the heaviest modern guns. pio-
.ected by the thckest-plated revolving turrets 10
,os,us shin could get near New-fork City me ne
would
Wsonock They could also be fred ri rroi Ur ,dv
.noas .h iav Of the ground and the direction OF
The channel giving clear sweep 'o"a''
from the guns on the shoa's'
THE PLANS FOR THE TURRETs
W r,.cher ha. laid before Mr.. Hainer plans IN
49,, g. ~ location on the Romer Shoals Of the
,,o,o.ad ,urrets as we'll as drawings and other H.
formation concerning the shape. size thickness '
a. ,ha turrets themselves. According 10 lh's "'''
the ,urre,s would be novel in design AS propose ~
n shane and the outside or lower secuon - ~
project under ground ten or we've ss. Of the de-
Sacne arrnor is 70 arise a crown-top section wh IN
to move Independently OF the iowe1 This gun
s ss snow a. sfG Be- css Tsvoys on ne
powsr Only four viii be necessary 70
each turre: Thus. as Mr Fischer mas exp i nr
p1ovded without the Of expensive
hui and machinery and the important
e 81 cost of the WILL Of cours. be
consSderable-iust how much will nave 10 pc oe,e,
mined bv experts Once they are erected, however.
the expense Of maintenance VIII be trnng. "a feT
sodiers viii he required TO operate them ana re"
repairs viii needed ships it Is srgssa eSpn In
In 'Gs se ease Is Of pra aanp
caiv ~ ,,-,it RI The thickness Of the armorplate the
may be made Of On batss.shPs pi iss can
b. arIract,,red OF twice that thickness. they coud
k employed the proposed tusses ss ane ,o sn ee
a. s deerees Mr. Fischer estimates that twenty
mon with no: exceed three onicers. is All me
forca required In time OF action 10 night the tnree
turTe,s Ire scheme provides for placing Of the
magazines o. each turrst below the surface OF tne
ground TIE MAGAZINES are TO be covered with
kesvy crown top arrnor- plate OF such thickness as
struck by the heaviest protec'iies wouid keep ou'
The shot.
THE IDEA TRIED ABROAD.
The idea Of revolving land turres for military pur
poses Is not a new one Many similar to those which