The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-10
GREELEY POINTS OUT DANGER
Ferts at Important Cities Nave no
Wire Cons M unication,

| Wire Cons M unicati0B,
! Washington, March s.-GeneraI Greeley,
| chief signal officer, has written the fol-
| lowing letter 10 the secretary OF war. who
| has forwarded it 20 Chairman Cannon
of the house committee on appropriations;
| ITO the Honorable Secretary % War.
''Sir:-The estimate of so 900 for cables
to connect electrically the Notifications in
the harbors OF New York, Boston and
Philadelphia, has been omitted from the
sundry civil bill as reported by the house
Of representatives. The chief signal off,
Ger would be dereict n his duty d!d he
not call the attention CT the secretary Of
war 10 the necessity OF urging upon the
senate such an appropriation. For seven
consecutive years the chief signal officer
has unavailingiy recommended the i'm
portance of this matter reciting the fact
that some Of our most important defenses
can only be reached by messenger.
1.-The destruction OF the military cables
between AlcantraZ. Angel Island and the
mainland long since left the Notifications
in San Francisco harbor isolated and en-
tirely unconnected electrically and Fort
Warren in Boston barbor, is also without
York harbor it is true that several posts
can communicate with each other over
circuitous commercial routes, but such
complicated methods, inadequate in peace
even, would inevitably break down in act
i've hostilities.
These estimates have been recommend
ed by both you and former secretaries Of
war, have been repeatedly urged as mill
tary necessities by the commanding gem
erals of the departments affected and
have been heartily approved by the gen.
erals of the army.
Never more than today have time and
cooperation been more potent elements of
strength, whether in the industries Of
peace or the art of war. In this busy
world the most acute minds of the century
are applying themselves to the develop
ment of speedy and increased communi-
cation, especially through electrical de-
vices, and the failure Of any country TO
utilize in this direction the highest invent
i've skill must materially lessen its chance
of success in war. In every other country
of the world the entire system of harbor
defenses for each port is connected cleo
trically, so that not only is inter-com-
munication and the transmission of orders
constantly maintained, but the fire control
and the direction of the defense rest upon
one master mind.
'It must seem hardly creditable TO
either business men or to experts that
congress, after authorizing a system Of
coast defenses to cost millions of dollars,
should for years refuse to connect the
military forts around the great cities o.
New York, Boston and San Francisco.
either electrically or telephonically. In
critical emergencies, such as arise in all
defenses, military operations at these
point would, under existing conditions. be
necessarily conducted without concert or
unison, thus needlessly jeopardiziRg lives
by the thousands and property TO the
value OF hundreds Of millions Of dollars.
1.-The present situation is parallel to that
which would exist If our great cities. after
spending tens of thousands of dollars in
thoroughly establishing a fire department,
should refuse to install Herewith an cleo
trio system and insist that alarms Of fire
should be sent either by messenger or by
nearest commercial telegraph lines.
Every respectfully,
(Signed) "a. W. GREELEY,
"Chief Signal Officer"