The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-27

Seattle is fortunate in having within
its limits one OF the greatest recognized
authority on modern coast defense. Col.
| Victor Won Scheliha. In his opinion the
| harbor of the Queen city OF the Sound
| could he so fortified within two weeks
| time as TO be rendered practically i'm
| pregnable to the attacks of an enemy's
| fleet. He is a man whose opinion on mat
| ters pertaining TO naval warfare and
| coast defense carries the greatest weight.
| His published treatise on coast defense
| Is referred to as an authority In the off,
| cial reports OF the United States, and he
| Is quoted In several of the standard
| works on that subject. In the civil war
| he was chief engineer of the department
of the gulf. for the Confederates. and has
| the name of having blown up moro
| Union gunboats than could be counted
on ones fingers and toes.
Inventor of Torpedo.
| Col Won Scheliha modestly refrained
| from stating In this connection that he
| Is himself the inventor OF a torpedo which
| is under the absolute control of tho
| operator. can be started. stopped and
| directed at will. Its great feature is tho
power of penetrating the curtains of net
| ting which now afford the great protec-
ton to battleships from damage by tor
| pedoes. The Monterey. oregon and other
| battIeshps which have visited this port
were equipped with steel supports resem-
| bling boat davits. and about these netting
| Is stretched when In action A torpedo
| striking the netting explodes at a distance
| OF fifteen or twenty feet from the vessel.
| doing but little II any damage. Col. Won
| Schelha's torpedo Is being very favor
| ably considered by the war department OF
the United States, and Is also attracting
attention In other countries. While dis
| posed to talk freely on general subjects
| connected with coast defense, the in
| ventor Is retlcent IN discussing his pet
| scheme. For some time past he has been
working on the preparation OF lecture
| on the development OF principles and
means adopted in modern coast defense
| Upon It's completion In the near future
J the lecture Will be delivered in this city.
To Defend seatfIe's Harbor.
! An interview with man OF such ex-
| pcrlence and erudition In coast defense is
/ Of particular interest at time when tho
| mutterings OF grim war are sounding
| across the country.
| THE plans for coast defense recently
| adopted by the bureau Of fortifcations and
ordnance are the best possible" he said
| yesterday. when seen in his private study
! al Mayor Humes' home. 1.-THE plans were
| adopted after comprehensive investlga-
| tlon by experts, who visited the fortifca-
| tlons OF Europe and carefully studied
there. Congress has made an appropria-
ton to carry out tho ideas thus obtained
I which. while not In my judgment sur
1 dcient. viii yet 20 great way in the
/ construction OF permanent fortincation-
but while money can buy the materials
! for such works and the labor. 1t cannot
/ purchase time. and IN an emergency we
should have 10 depend on tho erection oc
! provisional batteries. These would have
| the same conformation as the permanent
works of masonry. bat would 10 Of dirt.
| These provisional batteries could bs
/ thrown up on the point across the bay
/ and on other sm.uenccs IN commanding
! locations. searchlghts w0uld b. proyid-
ed TO prevent the entrance Of the enemy
! By night, and all the channels could be set
With submarine stationary torpedoes.
I which would be operated BY electricity
/ from stations ia sheltered places ths
/ shore. The great trouble would be 20 get
( guns. Swift launches would also be necea-
gary 70 patrol the harbor al night and
f1ta