The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-26

f'COast Defenses, Including 933S ,OOO fol
Approaches to wilmington n. C-Forti
That VIII be Ready for Occupation b,
the End Of the Year
Washington, October 22-GeneraI
Miles. major general, commanding the
army. has made his report to the sec
rotary of war. In it he makes refer
ence to the reports Of the general and
other officers subordinate to him in
rank. General Miles says in part:
The army, although inadequate in
point of numbers, was never in a higher
state of efficiency, both as to the char
acter and qualifications of it's officers
and intelligence and loyalty of it's sol
diers. Important changes and i'm
provementS have been made along the
Atlantic and gulf coasts, especially in
the mounting of modern artillery and
the appliances adopted for the defence
of the coasts"
Attention is called to the condition of
affairs in Alaska and a number Of re-
concentrations relative thereto are
made. Continuing, the report says:
During the last ten years much at
tention has been given by the govern
ment to the subject of coast defense.
and most beneficial results are now be-
coming apparent. Approximately $26,-
DOC, 900 have been appropriated by the
government, which is nearly one third
Of is required to put the country
in a safe condition of defense. AL
though the general desire of our peo-
pie is to maintain a condition of peace
with all nations and the policy of the
government is one of good will and
peaceful relations with all others, yet
nothing could be more injudicious than
to remain in a condition Of insecurity
and permit the lives Of millions and the
accumulated wealth Of many genera
lions to be destroyed or endangered by
any foreign power with which we are
liable to come into contact"
He recommends fertilization appro-
priations a. follows: Hampton Roads
$463 900; approaches to Wilmington, N.
c., $780,, 900; Charleston barber, S. c..
100000 approaches to Savannah, Ga,
s415,OOO; Key West, Fla, $50, 900; Pen
sacola harbor $4,000; approaches to
Mobile, Ala. 1897, 900; approaches to
New Orleans $319, 900; Galveston, Texas,
$412, 900.
He recommends strongly an increase
in the army of at least two additional
regiments of artillery, saying that by
the 31st of December next, the follow
ing positions will be armed in part or
fully with modern appliances of war.
and that in these important positions
there are no troops stationed and none
available for assignment to these posi-
tons, without taking them from other
stations where they are at present i'm
peratively required, viz; Portland Head.
Portland, Me-; Great Diamond Island,
Portland, Me-; Fort Constitution,
N. H; Growers Cliff, Bos-
harbor; Paddocks Island. Boston
harbor; Long Island Head, Boston har-
Dor; Dutch island, Narragansett bay.
X. L.; Great Gull island, eastern en-
trance Long Island sound, N. Y;
Plum Island, eastern Long Island
SOUND, N. T.; Fort Hancock, New York
habor; Finnis Point, approach to Phil |
North Point, approach to
BALTIMORE; Hawkins Point, approach |
Baltimore; Sheridan Point, approach |
Washington, D. c.; Fort Caswell. |
Wilmington, N. c.; fort Sumter, Char
lesion, 5. c.; Tybee Island, Savannah. |
Ca: Fort Morgan, Mobile, Ala: Fort
Phillip, New Orleans, La; Fort |
Point, Galveston, Texas; Fort Baker,
Francisco harbor; Fort Stevens.
mouth Of the Columbia river Washing
ON.
He also urges the necessity of ad-
ling five infantry regiments to the
army and recommends tina congress
TX a standard of strength on a basis
II total population. This standard, he
hlnks, should be a maximum of one
man to every 1000 population
md the minimum on soldier to every
200 population.