The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1898-04-22

Of the rorpedoes-Couid Oner but
Slight Resistance TO Batteries Of
Cruisers-Lsrgest Gun Ever Made.
With the exception Of modern bat.
terry, provided with disappearing car
-iages, located at Willets Point, the
coast or military defenses Of New York,
says the Chicago Record, are antiquat-
sd and would offer but slight resistance
20 the batteries of modern cruisers
and battlcships. The submarine de-
lenses are said TO be in fairly good
condition and capable Of adequate re-
enforcement within forty eight hours.
These consist 81 a series Of fixed
torpedoes controlled 10y electrical ap-
paratus, and there are naval authorities
who assert that Of the frat signal OF
approaching danger tho harbor may
be placed In such u condition that II
would be disastrous for any warship
10 enter the harbor ON hostile errand.
These torpedoes, those in place aud
those for which preparations have
been made, contemplate more particu-
lsrly tho defense Of the Narrows, in q
line extending across the points
marked by Fort wadsworth on one
shore 10 Fort Hamilton on the other.
II IL also said that line Of torpedoes
could be readily placed in the channel
down 10 point opposite Coney island,
but at present the entrance 30 the har-
Dor il but indifierently protected. and
II Is believed that the modern cruiser
would not experience great difficulty
in forcing an entrance 60 the upper
bay, which is the anchorage Of tho
governments explosive. From this
point Governors, Bedloo's. Ellis
island aud tho navy yard would be
easily commanded 10y even the short
range guns Of fighting ship.
Fort wadsworth is the most power
ful Of the military defenses OF New
York. II il three.tier casemRte OF
granite ON the Staten Island shore OF
the Narrows. aud was once considered
q formidable work, but It's armament
Is old style, aud Il is questionable
whether the works themselves would
stand the strain Of tho reooil Of its
own guns. Fort Tompkins stands on
tho heights above, and along the
channel IL line Of water batteries.
With modern equipment triple fire,
water line and casemate and plunging,
could be converted on n hostile vessel
/ in the narrow channel, but II IL doubt.
| ful whether II could be effective In the
| face OF modern ordnance. which would
quickly silence the sntiquated shore
batteries.
On the Long Island shore. At the
Narrows, opposite Fort Wadsworth,
aud about a mile distant, Is Fort
Hamilton. Just OF shore, on an arti-
aoial island, stands Fort Lafayette.
built between 1912 and 1922. Fort
Wood IL a star.shaped work on Bed.
loe's Island, which was finished In
lsIl and mounted with seventy guns.
Il e. here where the statue Of lab
erty Enlightening the World" stands.
Across the entrance Of the East River
Is Fort Schuyler, the construction
having been begun In 1888. Cover
nor's Island, within 1000 feet OF the
Battery, has three old.fashionod aud
practically useless defenses-Fort Co.
lumbus, stsr-ahaped stone fort,
mounting 100 guns, which would fall
down II they were discharged, Castle
William and the South Battery.
Willot's Point, which was first forth
Hed In 1862. aud Is now the only mod
ern military defense. Ia close 10 the
entrance Of the East River from Long
Island Sound. II IL the headquarters
Of tho United States Battalion Of En-.
gineers, and with the possible eIoep.
ton Of some modern guns NJ the
Sandy Hook Proving Grounds would
be the only land defense OF any inn
portanoe.
For some years tho defense Of the
Rome- Shoals has been agitated, and
although tho construction Of the lArg'
eat gun ever attempted in the United
States Ia now under way aud intended
for use at this point, no very greaI
progress has been made, and in the
event OF war in the near future no re-
sistance could be- offered In the Lower
Bay unless Sandy Hook could be for
tlhed. The building OF the gun II
snow going on at the Bethlehem Iror
Works, Bethlehem, Penn. Wher
] cOmpleleh Nue hoN pAtot VI oiahhhN'
will exceed by 5.5i tons the monster
I2.centimeter (i764-inch) oalibr,
eoast-deiense gun exhibited by KrupI
at tho Worlds Fair. The Krupp gur
weighed 100. 40 tons, while the new
gun for the United States Government
will weigh 1876 tons. The weight Of {
shell for this gun Is estimated II
exceed 1900 pounds, with the ful
powder charge Of 1000 pounds.
Although the fact has not beel
officially announced, II Is general,
conceded in army ordnance circles tina
the new gun is destined for structur
on Romer Shoals. These shoals ar
located in the lower harbor, and ar
bare at extreme low water. They ad
nit OF q command over all the chan
nels leading into the port except th
Sound entrance Of the East River. Ii
connection with this gun II is pro
posed TO erect q series Of turrets o.
! the Romer Shoals mounted with sir
, toeninch guns, which would give
/, range at extreme elevation Of abou
: sixteen miles, or Ave miles seawar
beyond the Sandy Hook Lightship
. In revolving tuTret tho range woul