Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-11-02

Washington, Oct. 25.-The annual
report Of Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson,
chief of engineers, United States army,
has been made to the secretary of
war. In consequence of the war with
Spain that portion of the report re-
lating to fortified tons is most inter-
esting. Upon this point Gen. Wilson
says:
During the fiscal year projects of per-
manent seacoast defenses were prepared
and approved by the secretary of war. for
Port Royal. s. c., St. Johns river, Fla,
Tampa, Fla. and Sabine Pass, Tex, maxi
Ing 30 localities in the United States for
which projects Of permanent defenses have
thus far been pproved under the general
scheme recommended in 1856 by the Endi-
colt board. At the close of the fiscal year
the construction of permanent modern de-
tensive works was in progress at rs locali-
ties.
Seacoast Batteries.
I'm consequence of the war with Spain
and the possibilities of hostile attacks
upon our coasts. urgent and pressing de-
mands were made by senators, representa-
tives and local business interests for the
immediate erection of seacOast batteries
at numerous points not contemplated in
the general scheme of national defense. In
the absence of any available modern arma-
ment, the secretary of war directed the i'm
mediate construction of temporary bat
teries, mounting old style armament and
siege guns, for the defense of a number of
exposed localities, including some which
are embraced in the scheme of national de-
tense. The localities at which temporary
batteries were ordered are Bar Harbor,
Me-; Stonington, Bridgeport and New
Haven, Conn.,; Port Royal and George
town. s. c.; Brunswick and Darien, Ga. !;
rix
Miami and Tampa, Fla, and Sabine Pass
lex. In addition to the foregoing tenn
porary batteries. preparations were made
against possible hostile attacks, by over
hauling, cleaning and putting in service
able condition the existing armament, and
by temporarily mounting within them ad-
ditional guns. at the following old-type
works:
Fort Knox, Fort Popham. Fort Trum-
bull, Fort Monroe. Fort Macon, Fort Pu-
laski, Fort Clinch, Fort Morgan, Fort
jackson. and forts in San Francisco bay.
Value Of Defenses.
while no hostile attacks were made
upon our coasts during the war with Spain
the operations of the American fleet on the
coasts of Cuba and Puerto Rico have am
ply demonstrated the value Of coast de-
lenses, including shore batteries and sub
marine mines in resisting naval attacks
1t may be confidently asserted that the
completion of the projects upon which
opera tons are now in progress will prac-
tically insure the safety Of our principal
harbors and seacoast cities against any at
tacks from the sea. One other important
deduction may also be drawn from the
results of the war. viz: the great value and
efficiency of the rapid-fre gun. 1t is graft
flying to report that not only has consid-
cradle number of these rapid-fire guns been
mounted during the year, but that pro-
vision has been made for the manufacture
and emplacing Of large additional num-
Der.
Plans in View.
Existing projects for seacoast defenses
contemplate the emplacement of about 500
heavy guns Of s, 10, IL and 16 inches caliber
of about 700 rapid-fire guns of various cali
bers, and of about 1000 mortars. These fig
ures are subject to slight changes as minor
revisions are made and additional local.
tiles included. The estimated approximate
cost Of the engineering work connected