The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26
COAST DEFENsEs.
Annual Report of Gen. John NJ. Will
son. Chief of Engineers


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The annual re-
port of Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson,
tchef of engineers, United States army, has
been made to the secretary of war In con-
sequence of the war with Spain that por-
lion of the report relating to Notifications
is most interesting. Upon this point General
Wilson says: During the fiscal year prof.
Gets for permanent seacoast defenses were
prepared and approved by the secretary of
war for Port Royal S. c.. Johns river
Florida; Tampa. Fla. and Sabine Pass,
Tex, making thirty localities in the United
States for which projects of permanent de-
lenses have thus far been approved under
the general scheme recommended in 1886 by
the Endcott board. At the close of the
fiscal year the construction of permanent
modern defensive works was in progress at
twenty-five localities. In consequence of the
war with Spain and the possibilities of hos
tile attacks upon our coasts, urgent and
pressing demands were made by senator's,
representatives and local business interests
for the immediate erection of sea coast bat
teries at numerous points not contemplated
in the general scheme of national defense.
III the absence of any available modern arm
ament the secretary of war directed the
Immediate construction of temporary bat
teries, mounting old-style armament and
siege guns for the defense of a number of
exposed localities, including some not en-
bEaced in the scheme of national defense.
The localities at which temporary batteries
were ordered were Bar Harbor, Me-: Ston-
ington. Bridgeport and New Haven, Conn;
Port Royal and Georgetown, S. c.: Bruins
wick and Darien Ga; mouth of st. Johns
river, St. Augustine, Miami and Tampa,
Fla, and Sabine Pass, Tex. In addition
10 the foregoing temporary batteries prep
arations were made against possible hostile
attacks by overhauling, cleaning and put
ting In serviceable condition the existing
armament and by temporarily mounting
within them additional guns at the follow
insy old-type works: Fort Knox, Fort Trun-
bull, Fort Monroe. Fort Macon, Fort
Pulaski, Fort clinch, Fors Morgan Fort
jackson and forts in San Francisco bay.
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 Porto Rico have amply
demonstrated the value of coast defenses.
including shore batteries and submarine
mines in resisting naval attacks. 1t may he
confidently asserted that the completion of
the projects upon which operations are now
in progress. viii practically insure the safe
ty of our principal harbors and seacoast
cities against any attacks from the seas.
One other important deduction may also
pe drawn from the results of the war. viz;
'rhe great value and efficiency of the rapid
lire gun. Il is gratifying TO report that not
only has considerable number of these
rapd-fire guns been mounted during the
year, but that provision has been made for
The manufacture and emplacing of large
additional number.
Existing projects for seacoast defenses
contemplate the emplacement of about five
hundred heavy guns of eight, ten. twelve
hundred rapd-lire guns of various calibers
and of about one thousand mortarS. These
figures are subject TO slight changes
minor revisOns are made and additional
localities included. The estimated approx
mate cost of the engineering work con-
nected with the installation OF this arma-
snent is $50, 900. 900.
since the Inauguration of the modern
coast defense system appropriations
amounting TO S19 no. 1873 have been made, and
there was allotted from the $50,O00000 defense
fund placed at the disposal OF the Pres-
dent 1888 900 for work under the engineers.
Provision has been made for mounting 2SS
heavy coast gurs. pa rapid-fire guns and
total projected armament of heavy guns,
SO per cent. OF the rapid-fire guns and 81
per cent. Of the mOrtars. This armament
IS disposed at Scvcnty-one localities i'm
twenty-nine harbors of the United States.
The estimates for the next year are: Gun
and mortar batteries. $.4l0000: purchase OF
land for Notifications. $4,000; protection.
preservation and repair of fortifcations.
300 O00. preparation of plans for fortiflca-
tioLs. 5000 sea walls and embellishments,
tile purchase Of submarine mines and neces-
eaf< appliances to operate them. for clos-
fsle the channels leading TO our principal
ss1apof8s, for needfu easements, cable sal