New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26

tiers OF the Department OF the East on Governors
Island. yesterday. Colonel Barber Adjutan-Gen-
era OF the Department left his ONCE In the care Of
another member OF the staff and took the Ordnance
on her regular trip to Fort Hancock. at Sandy
Hook at 1890 returning late in the afternoon
The report that the infantry at Fort Mcpherson
where General Merritt is making his annual inspec-
ton. would be sent the seacoast discredited
at headquarters.
Said an Army officer yesterday: ~ the sugg.s-
tons made by the Endcott Board twelve years ago
had been carried out this country would have moth
ing fear from any foreign ironclads and could be
peace with all the world In any emergency But
the comparatively defenceless condition OF our
coasts Is incentive TO any fourth or fifth class
Power with money enough to buy big warships te
seek 10 lay us waste
This Board on Fort!hcatons and Detences was
appointed by the President, under authority OF Con-
gress. IN 1856. when William c. Endlcott was Secre-
;ary OF War. He was the chairman. and associated
with him were two members OF the Engineering
Corps two OF the Ordnance Corps. two officers Of
the line in the Navy and two civilians. They were
appointed 20 report what forts foruhcations and
other offences most urgently required the
character and kind Of defences and the OF tor
pedoes mines and other defensive apparatus. The
report was made In 1856. In Il the Board said:
Without enlarging upon this subject. 1t sufces 10
state that tho coast fortfcations which in 1860
not surpassed by those OF any country for efficiency
either for offence defence. and were entirely COM
petent resist vessels of war OF that period, have
since the Introduction of rifed guns of heavy power
and OF armor plating in the navies OF the world be-
come unable to cope with modern iron steel clad
ships OF war far less prevent their passage into
the ports destined for attack
THE report set forth that since lsso the weight
Of Drojectiles had increased twentyfold and that
the ports along our four thousand miles Of sea-
coast not including Alaska, invited attack and the
richest ports tho most defenceless. The prop
erty at stake was valued billions OF dollars and
the contributions which could be levied by hostile
fleets should be reckoned at hundreds OF millions.
This country had acquired great riches and appar-
emily dreamed that prosperity should inspire
friendship forgetting that the plumber Of one Of
our seaports would amply reimburse an enemy TOT
the expenses OF a war conducted against US.
The Board went on to say that the ports mos most
San Francisco Boston. the lake ports. Hampton
Roads. New-Orleans. Philadelphia. Washington;
ports in Narragansett BAY. The defences needed
included both fixed and floating batteries armed
with heavier guns than any probable adversary.
The shore batteries should be Of armored turrcts,
armored classmates and emplacements IN bar1ettes'
ally possible to bar the entrance OF an armored
fleet by the fire OF battery. some obstruc-
ton should be put in position suincisnt 10 arrest
the ships within range Of the forts For this tor-
pedoes. arranged submarine mines. were usually
so ged that the operator on shore could either
shin to explode II by contact Bombproof operating
rooms and tunnels for the electric cables were
To defend these rapd-ire guns were needed. ana
every mine-held should be commanded by search
lights to detect any attempt 70 tafnper with the
mines. An instructed body Of men must be IN
readiness 10 take charge Of these defences The
Of torpedo boats and self-moving torpedoes
also recommended
For New-York the report OF the Endicott Board
set forth the need Of defence as follows:
This Important port must be fortified at both en-
frances in the most thorough manner. Fortihca-
tions needed are turrets armored casemates bar
bette batteries and mortar batteries. Submarine
will form part OF the defence. Eighteen
torpedo-boats are recommended for service In this
harbor."
The guns proposed included eighteen l6-inch 40
ton guns TWO finch s0-ton guns. forty Pinch
Cotton guns twenty l0-nch E-ton guns. fifteen
tars The cost OF these estimated 81 $500
of which nine two-gun turrets would cost f68p'm
thirty IN classmates would cost $4,000. eight on
lifts 5000 thirty-nine disappearing and nOn-dis-
appearing s.. $1,000 and IA mortars i2S.0J The
submarine mines FOR this port were estimated 70
cost Ali 100 and the eighteen torpedo-boats N.0SO-
90 The entire total for New-iork was placed AT
SO as 800. and for the whole country tl2jH7.so
.'In 1870 said the officer quoted with popula-
property 81 900 900 the amount expended for de-
fence S51.l3l5il. and ia 1856 with population
OF Nifty millions and valuation Of fi3,ci2eyl.gD the
estimated expenditure was 10 be about S9eriyn
showing that the advance IN the amount asked Tor
was not great as the material growth cf ITO
country. II the amount called for nad been tN-
pended Newly Harhor would be unassaiiabic
along the lines Of the report Of the Endicot Board
IN all parts Of the country. ana so Tar az the
money has been appropriated. II has been spent as
the Board suggested