The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-23
MUST HAVE GUNNERs
Else Money Spent on Fortifcations is
Wasted.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Haw-
ley, in reporting the bill for the increase
of the artillery arm OF the army two
regiments, said:
The speedy passage of this bill, or
its equivalent, appears to be an abso-
lutte necessity. The government, after
long and careful consideration by those
whose OfnceS and studies qualify them
to give the most valuable advice, has
entered upon the execution of a sySte-
matte and elaborate plan of coast de-
Tense.
The progress therein is indicated in
extracts from the annual report of Gen.
John M. Wilson, chief of engineers. Ex-
1Stlng contracts call for the emplace-
ment and mounting on or before June
80, 1898, now rapidly approaching, of 139
modern high power steel guns, ranging
in caliber from 8 to II inches; twelve of
inch caliber, four Founders and
two hundred and thirty-tWo II inch
mOrtars, a total of 3S7.
These are to be scattered, according
to the best judgment of the engineers
and ordnance officers, from Maine to
Puget Sound, having careful regard to
the relative Importance of the positions
to be defended. The great expenditure
Will be wasted treasure unless a suffi
cient number of artilIerymen, carefully
selected and thoroughly drilled, be as
signed to the care and use Of these
costly instruments of defense.
A careful estimate of the annual ad-
ditional expenditure required to main
TAIN the Two regiments Is S03U,U04- BUT
some months will expire before the reg
iments can be fully enlisted and or
ganized, and while the scale of the first
year, with its equipment, will be very
considerably greater than of average
subsequent years it is believed that
$450, 600, possibly less will suffice for
the fiscal year 1899. 1t is scarcely worth
While to enlarge upon the wisdom of
establishing the defenses of our very
extended coast. Successive congresses
have vigorously and literally asserted
it.
To this is added a number of reports,
including letter from Acting Secreta-
ry Meiklejohn and General Miles, the
latest being a letter from Gen. Miles,
written yesterday, in which he says:
MY Dear Senator: Referring to our
conversation this morning, I have the
honor to state that batteries have been
placed in position in new Notifications
at Portland Head, Maine; Growers
Cliff, Boston harbor; Fort Hancock, ap-
prOach to Philadelphia; approaches to
Washington; coast of North Carolina;
Charleston harbor; Mobile, Ala; Gal
weston, Tex; Fort Baker, CAL; Fort
Point, Cal, and Fort Stevens, Ore.
Batteries will also be placed within
a few months on new Notifications at
Great Diamond Lake, Portland, Me;
Fort Constitution; Portsmouth, n. H;
Long Island Head, Boston HarbOr;
Dutch Island, NarraganSett Bay, r.
l.; eastern entrance to Long Island
Sound, N Y; Delaware City, Del; ap-
proaches to Baltimore; approaches to
Washington; approaches to Savannah,
Ca: New Orleans; San Diego, Cal; en-
trance to Puget Sound, Wn., making
in all 26 new sea. coast fOrtificatiOnS for
the defense of the great cities of the
Atlantic, gulf and Pacific coasts, where
Notifications have been and are being
erected and where artillery is required
to protect and man these batteries"