Evening journal., 1898-03-10
PROMPT ACTION URGED.
President Signs Cannon Bill Giving
Him S5O,OOO,OOO.
SENIOR BERNABE HAS ARRIVED.
The Navy Department Expects That the
Report of the Naval Court of In
quIry VIII Come to Hand
Next Week.

WASHINGTON. March 1O.-General
Greely, chief signal officer, has written
the following letter to the secretary Of
war, who has forwarded II to Chair
man Cannon OF the house committee on
appropriations:
"The estimate of $4,000 for cables TO
connect electrically the fortifcatlons In
the harbors of New York Boston and
Philadelphia has been omitted in the
sundry civil bill as reported by the
house Of representatives The chief
signal officer would be derellct In his
duty did he not call the attention OF
the honorable the secretary OF war to
the necessity Of urging upon the senate
such an appropriation. For seven con-
socutive years the chief signal officer
has unavailingly recommended the i'm
portance of this matter, reciting the
fact that some of our most important
defenses can only be reached by mes
senger
1.-THE destruction of the military ca
bles between Alcatraz, Angel islands
and the mainland long since left the
fortifcations In San Francisco harbor
Isolated and entirely unconnected cleo
trioally, and Fort Warren, in Boston
harbor. Is also without reach by tele-
phone or telegraph. In New York har-
Dor IL Is true that several posts can
communicate with each other over cir
cuitous commercial routes, but such
complicated methods, inadequate in
peace even. would inevitably break
down IN case Of actual hostilities
"These estimates have been recon-.
mended both by you and former secre-
taries of war. have been repeatedly
urged as military necessities by the
commanding generals Of the depart
ments affected and have been heartily
approved by the commanding generals
Of the army.
Never more than today have time
and cooperation been more potent ele-
ments Of strength, whether in the in
austries Of peace or the art OF war. In
the business world the most acute
minds Of the century are applying
themselves 20 the development Of
speedy and increased communication,
especially through the electrical devices,
and tho failure Of any country to util-
lie In this direction the highest in
ventivo skiii must materially lessen it's
chance OF success in war.
TN every other country Of the world
the entire system Of harbor defense for
each port Is connected electrically, so
that not onlyis ntercommunication and
the transmission OF orders constantly
maintained, but the fire control and the
direction of the defense rest under one
master mind. IT must seem hardly cred
ible to either business men or to ex-
perts that congress, after authorizing a
system of coast defenses to cost mil
lions of dollars. should for years refuse
TO connect the military forts around
the great cities OF New York, Boston
and San Francisco either electrically
Or telephonically.
I'm critical emergencies, such as arise
In all defenses, military operations at
those points would under existing con-
ditions be necessarily conducted with
out concert or unison, thus needlessly
leopardlzing lives by the thousands and
property to the value OF hundreds OF
millions of dollars.
1.-THE present situation is parallel ia
that which would exist If our great
cities, after spending tens Of thousands
Of dollars in thoroughly establishing a
fire department, should refuse TO JIM
stall Herewith am electrical signal sys-
tenn. or insist that alarms OF fire should
be sent either by messengers or by the
nearest commercial telegraph line"