New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-18
MONITORS FOR DEFENCE.
THEIR USEFUL NESS AND STRENGIh
SHOWN BY NAVAL OFFICER.
THE NAVY YARD OF LITTLE USE IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS
THE rRIBuNE's ARGUMENT sUs-
TANNED ny AN EXPERT.


TANNED BY AN EXPERT.
Rumors Of startling developments regaru'"s
the blowing up Of the battle-shp Maine "e'e
current 1T the Navy Yard yesterday afternoon
and back OF the disaster to the snip ana the
possibility OF international complications was the
question. What could the Navy Yard do toward
the defence OF New-Yorl in case of sudden at
tack by Spanish cruiser?'
The answer was practically nothing. Inc
reason for this was not far to seek The Gov
eminent has taken away from the chief port or
the country every vessel with a particle OF ilght
about her and the only United states vessels IN
commission at present under the controi OF the
Navy Yard officers are the tugs Nina ana Mar
keeta and the torpedo boat Stiletto. 1t was sus-
gested yesterday that the tugs could quickly
be equipped with torpedo dscharging OUTFITS
and with the Stiletto. make an attempt at stop
ping the passage OF hostile warship into the
harbor. but the chance Of their doing any En-
fectlve work would he small, as the excellence
OF modern rapid-hre. small-calibre guns woud
prevent their remaining anoat more than re"
minutes after they came within range.
While 1t was admitted that there was posi-
bIlity that the disaster to the Maine might have
been caused by an accident board the ship
the improba bty Of such an oco urrence was as
stoutly maintained Wednesday. although
the record of small troubles. which might easily
have become greater had they not been detected
in time was shown to he long
The question OF saving a part IL not the whole
Of the Names valuable equipment was one
which interested the Constructors Department,
and the information that the Merritt WreclIns
Company had been engaged to undertake the
task was taken showing that the Govern
ment did not expect an immediate declaration
Of war
In speaking OF the defences OF the port. an Off.
Ger whose information the subject Is ex-
tensive said: las far as the Navy Is concerned
New-York is defenceless. If remember rightly.
The Tribune has advocated the retention at
this station Of one or two Of the monitors. and
think. even with the knowledge that there are
likely to be a lot of premnaries before there
is anything hostile, the people Of the greatest
city the continent would feel much more at
II they knew that our old friends the Puri-
tan and the Terror were at the pitch of the
Hook ready for business. The power of these
heavily armored. low-lying vessels Is often lost
sight OF when people the stately white sides
and glittering brasswOrk and long black guns Of
the battle. ships. but they are the most formid-
able things anoat to-day That may seem a
points will show you what mean. or course
am not counting on war of attack. where an
ocean is to be crossed. We speaking of de-
fence.
The Puritan. for instance. is antiquated to
engines slow Of speed. and awkward to handle.
but nearly four tons Of metal from her I2-uch
guns can be planted in the space % the end of
this building at distance Of five miles. with
force sufficient to tear apart anything built -"
the high freeboarl plan. while over a range Of
ten miles their projectes would form a zone
OF danger which few foreign Warships could pass
through and be in condition to damage.
The mark they present for enemy's guns Is
50 ridiculously small compared with their fight
ing force that they seem TO me more valuable
than anything else the Government possesses
for herbor defence. In fact, they constitute an
almost impregnable floating gun platform. and
this time They might serve TO allay some OF
the fear caused by sensation mOngers. and give
people who easily excited a chance to re-
cover their senses
1.-The available force at the yard consists at
present Of 3OI marines In the barracks. about
fifty more on the Vermont. and enough sailors
on the receiving ship to furnish a crew for the
Dolphin when she is ready for sea. The repairs
the little dispatch boat so far advanced
that under emergency she could be foated
in about three weeks. and sent out in month.
Talk about the Chicago and the Atlanta being
OF Is FOLLY. The ships entirely disman-
tied and stripped Of their masts and machinery.
and are OF no more value naval factors than
any other floating hunks would be. The quick
est and most effective way Of perfecting the
naval defence OF New-York would be- to my
mind. In sending the Puritan and Terror here
as fast as they can come. and get the Amphitrite
here also. They OF use at sea. but they
would make impossible bar et the harbor
gates"