The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-26
BRIG. GEN. WILSON'S REPORT.
A RECOUNT OF THE WORK OF SEA
COAST FORTIFICATIONS.

Total Expenditure on River md
HarbOr improvements for the Year
Ending June 30, $17 ,161, 799-COm-
pfetiOn of Projects Now in Hand
VIII Insure Safety From Hostile
Attacks by Sea--Estimates Submit
ted for Next Year Work Include
S32,5OO for the ChattahOOchee
River.
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 conse-
quence of the war with Spain that portion
Of the report relating to Notifications is
most interesting.
Upon this point Gen. Wilson says: Dur
ing the fiscal year projects for permanent
seacoast defenses were prepared, and APP
proved by the Secretary of War, for Port
Royal, SC, st. Johns river, Florida, Tam
pa Fla, and Sabine Pass, Tex, making
thirty localities In the United States for
which projects of permanent defenses have
thus far been approved under the general
scheme recommended in 1886 by the Endi-
colt board At the close Of the fiscal year
the construction of permanent modern de-
fensve work was In progress at twenty
five localities. In consequence Of the war
with Spain and the possibilities of hostile
attacks upon our coasts, urgent and press
ing demands were made by senator's, rep
resentatives and local business interests
for the immediate erection of seacoast bat
teries at numerous points not contemplate
ed In the general scheme for national de-
Tense In the absence of any available
modern armament, the Secretary of War
directed the immediate construction OF
temporary batteries, mounting old-style
armament and siege guns, for the defense
of a number CT exposed localities includ-
ing some which are embraced in the
scheme of national defense.
Among the localities at which tempo
rary batteries were ordered are Port Royal
and Georgetown, S. c.; Brunswick and
Darien, Ca; mouth of st. Johns river;
ST. Augustine, Miami and Tampa, Fla,
and Sabine Pass, Tex. In addition to the
foregoing temporary batteries, prepara-
tions were made against possible hostile
attacks by overhauling. cleaning and put
ting in servicea ole condition the existing
armament and by temporarily mounting
within them additional guns at the follow
ing old type works: Fort Knox, Fort Pop
ham, Fort Trumbull, Fort Monroe, Fort
Macon, Fort Pulaski, Fort Clinch, Fort
Morgan, Fort Jackson and forts in san
Francisco bay
while no hostile attacks were made on
our coasts during the war with Spain, the
operations of the American fleet on the
coast of Cuba and Porto Rico have amply
demonstrated the value of coast defenses,
including shore batteries and submarine
mines in resisting naval attacks. 1t may
be confidently asserted that the completion
of the projects on which operations are
now in progress will pract icaly insure the
cities against any attacks 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
fire gun. 1t is gratifying to report that
not only has a considerable number of
these rapid-fre guns been mounted during
the year, but that provision has been
made for the manufacture and empiacing
of a large additional number.
Existing projects for sea coast defenses
contemplate the emDlacement of about 800
heavy guns of 8, 10, y and 16-inch caliber.
of about 700 rapid-tire guns of various cal
ibers and of about 1000 mortars. The es-
timated approximate cost of the engineer
ing work connected with the installation
OF this armament Is $55,0O0,000.
Provision has been made for mount
ing 2sS heavy sea coast guns, 254 rapid-hre
guns, and 3l2 mortars, or about 81 per
cent OF the total projected armament of
heavy guns, 80 per cent. OF the rapid-dre
guns and 81 per cent. of the mortars This
armament is disposed at seventy-one To-
calities in twenty-nine harbors of the
United States.
During the past fiscal year title has
been obtained to sites required for sea
coast defenses. in accordance with APPROX.
ed plans at Port Royal, S. c., and Key
West, Fla.
The estimates for next year amount to
81 91R5oo. This includes torpedoes for har-
Dor defense"
Taking the important subject of river
and harbor Improvements, Gen. Wilson
says that experience has shown that the
system for providing funds for carrying
OF continually or completing certain works
has heretofore resulted materially In re-
ducing cost. He says significantly that If