The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-13
JERSEYS DEFENCES
State Authorities Taking
Steps to Protect the Coast
Cities and Towns.
NEW GUNS FOR SEA GIRT
Military officers confer in Trenton
over Plans 20 Mobilize
Troops.

Especial to "The Jersey City News.'l
TRENTON, April u. DISTRIBUTING
long ago the need of adequate projection
for the long line of coast in case of war,
the State military authorities began the
consideration OF plans for protecting the
weak spots. When the present Spanish
crisis came and prospects OF hostilities
grew strong, the work of carrying out
these plans came Intro consideration. and
the cooperation OF the War and Navy
Departments at Washington was enlist
ed. For several weeks, therefore,, intelli-
gent. systematic effort has been directed
toward the provision Of the needed pro
lection, and it is probable that a complete
system OF mines will be laid In the yul-
nerabie harbors all along the coast.
These ideas are not new, nor 1&ve the
State military authorities suddenly reaf-
lied the necessity 8f active preparations:
Several years ago they quietly secured
from the Legislature an act authorizing
State biologist Smock to employ q corps
Of engineers to make certain surveys and
prepare maps. These surveys were made
and maps were prepared, but in addition
meadow lands and studying the forma-
tons traeeable to the glacial epoch, the
State geologlst also gave much. Of his att
tenfion to the rivers, the harboTs, bays
and innunerable navigable inleis and the
Atlantic coast generally.
The result Of the work is that New
Jerseys military authorities are in pos
session of technical information. the value
of which cannOt at this time be over
estimated. Using the maps and surveys
of the corps of engineers as a basis the
military authorities, acting upon direct
suggestion from the Navy Department
at Washington, a few weeks ago, supple
mented their information witt more min
harbors and inlets. This work included
soundings of the waters. The object OF.
this was to ascertain positively whether
or not a foreign man-of-War could enter
any ip1et along the JpDr0fRcfPQ New J0f-
sey coast and create havoc In the inland
owns, cities and villages.
Adjutant General Stryker has present
ed to the naval authorities at Washing
ton accurate maps of the coast, with all
the necessary data concerning the IN
lets, bays and water ways. A cafeful IN
il is said, the work of planting mines
has already begun, although no one IN
authority cares to verify that report Tor
obvious reasons. II hostllities snouia
come, however, the work could proceed
with great dispatch.
The planting of the mines. however
viii not be the only means of coast de-
Tense. After an inspection last week OF
the old-fashioned mortar guns mounted
at Sea Girt. the State authorities urged
the Federal Government to snip mnaeTa
came Saturday tha his suggestion was
being considered favorably, and 1t is ex-
pected that when the new ordnance puf-
chased in Europe arrives on the New
Orleans or San Francisco the old NOR
lara Will be dismounted and In their
place modern ten-mile guns VIII pc
mounted. The New Jersey aainof tbs5
rapid-firing guns be placed at Egg aar-
Dor and several other points. Al ine
upper seashore resorts, inciudlng epfaus
! Lake. Como, Belmar. Ocean Grove, AS
bury Park and Long Branch, with tneir
millions of dollars worth OF pTopsily
| that would be at the mercy OF q Foreign
| war vessel, should one pass the SCOUTS
| and picket boats of the Government, ie
| above Sea Grit. With a battery OF mod
ern guns at Sea Girt. the naval men Pc
| resorts. The battery, they think. should
be supplemented by throwing the SIX
howitzer and Calling gun companies now
attached to the National Guard OF me
state into a battalion, and arming the
battalion with rapid-fire guns.
This work of guarding the coast would,
of course, extend southwark % Iape
| ity that an enemy would consider the
smaller resorts worth the expense ana
time of Smelling. The Naval Reserve, y
as a further protection, and the scores O
l~ife-saving stations on the seaboard wound
be used as signal stations.
General Plume, commanding the pivls-
/ ion National Guard, came to the capltal
| last night and was in consultation with
Adjutant General Striker and QuaTteFa
House. The object of the meeting was
to discuss the arrangements made lor ae-
tion upon the part OF the mllllafy aulHoF9-
ties Of the State in the event OF WAL ana
| the calling into service of the National
Guard. The officers say that complete
| arrangements have been made for the
| mobilization of the guard at Sea Girt,
/ where headquarters would be established,
Regarding the coast defenses neither
| Adjutant General Stryker nor General
| Plume would talk. They intimated that
| the Federal authorities had taken steps
10 protect the coast against an attacking
force but of their character and extent
they would say nothing, because they be-
lieved to do SO would be exceeding their
authority.
Evidence of the effect Of the war
scare on those persons who depend upon
the summer season at the shore for their
| income was shown this afternoon by the
| presence at the State House OF several
/ tradesmen and hotel keepers, who were
| anxious to know whether, il war came,
the towns along the shore would be In
danger OF attack by the enemy. They said
that there are 40, 900 men and women who
depend upon their earnings at the shore
| during the summer to keep them going
the remainder of the year, and 9 large
majority of them are disposed to make
no attempt to open hotels, cottages.
stores, etc. until they feel sure that they
will be safe, They were told by the
State House officials that there was little
| proba bility of their business being at
fected materially by the differences now
existing between this country and Spain.