The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-11
DEFENsEs FOR NEW HAVEN.

Petition for Appropriation for that
Purpose to Be Presented to President
Mckinley.
The Chamber of Commerce has de-
cided to send Henry c. Rowe as a rep
resentative of the Chamber to Wash
ington to urge the appropriation of
money sufficient to provide coast de-
fences for New Haven, The resolution
providing for the appointment of a
committee of one to present the matter
to President Mckinley was offered by
Mr.. Rowe. Speaking of the resolution,
Mr.. Rowe said that in the event of war
being declared tomorrow 1t would be a
possibility that by April l New Haven
would be in ruins, there being nothing
to prevent even an unprotected gun
boat or cruiser from destroying New
Haven. He said that in a fog hostile
vessels could easily pass the defenses
at the eastern end of the sound. He
thinks that New Haven needs land de-
lenses with mortar batteries and dis
appearing guns. The petition which
will be presented to the president gives
the following reasons why New Haven
would be one of the first places on the
coast to be attacked in case of war:
1t is the site of extensive manufac-
tories of firearms and ammunition, one
of them, at least, being of worldwide
Importance.
The commerce of New Haven ranks
second among the cities of New Eng
land, and is nearly twice as much as
that of any other city in New England
except Boston.
| New Haven is the most important
railroad center in New England ex-
cepting Boston; the three direct rail
| roads between New York and Boston
! converging at this city.
| The buildings and wealth of New Ha-
ven which could be destroyed, or laid
under contribution are of twice as
much value as those of any other city
on Long Island sound.
| New Haven is of great strategic i'm
portance, not only because it is the
principal harbor between New York
and New London, q distance of 12t
miles, but because a hostile force hold
ing New Haven would cut the direct
railroad communication between New
York city and all of eastern Connec-
ticut and Massachusetts.
New Haven is as present wholly I'm.
defended and not only any battleship
but even an unprotected cruiser or CUR
| boat could destroy the city.
Additional reasons why New Haver
needs land Notifications are given a:
follows:
The United States navy, in case o.
war, could not be spared to defend oul
coast cities, as it will be needed for TIL,
4 protection of our commerce and TO
aggressive operations.
If the navy We're divided among TIN
coast cities, a superior hostile nav,
force could attack the divisions of ou
navy separately and destroy them IL
detail
Adequate defenses for New Ha
ven harbor could be established ant
| maintained on land and for from one
twentieth to one-thirtieth as much ex
pense as the same degree of defens
could be established and maintained il
the form of naval force,
While the defense at the east end o
of Long Island sound are very import
ant and valuable, no defenses on thos
islands could prevent the passage o
hostile vessels in fogs such as are fire
quent in that locality during a consid
cradle portion of the year.
Mr.. Rowe will probably start TO
Washington tomorrow and it is prob
able that he will be accompanied by
representative of the city to be ap
pointed by the mayor and a representa-
tive of the harbor commission.