Evening star., 1898-10-25
Annual Report Of the Chief Of En-
gineers.
MEASURES TO RESIST HOSTILE ATTACKS
Those That Were Taken During
the War With Spain.
ARMAMENT CONTEMPLATED

consequence Ol the war Will SpdlH tHdl
portion of the report relating to fortiica-
tions and other means of defense is most
interesting On this subject Gen. Wilson
says:
In consequence of the war with Spain and
the possibilities of hostile attacks upon our
coasts. urgent and pressing demands were
made by senator's, representatives and To-
cal business interests for the immediate
erection of seacoast batteries at numerous
points not contemplated in the general
scheme of national defense. When it is
considered that the aggregate length of the
coast of the United States, exclusive of
Alaska, is 5,715 miles, and that more than
700 towns and villages on this extensive
line can be attacked by ships drawing ten
feet or more of water, the practical inn
possibility of Immediately and adequately
defending every vulnerable point becomes
readily apparent Such an extensive de-
velopment of works is not contemplated or
necessary in national system of defense
which takes ccgniZance only of points i'm
portant by reason of their wealth and
population or of their strategical situation.
In the absence of any available modern
armament, the Secretary of War directed
the immediate construction of temporary
batteries, mounting old-style armament
and siege guns, for the defense of a num-
Der of exposed localities including some
which are embraced in the scheme of ma
t1onal defense.
Value of Coast Defeuses.
While no hostile attacks were made upon
ouI coasts during the war with Spain, the
operations of the American fleet on the
coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico have amply
demonstrated the value of coast defenses,
including shore batteries and submarine
mines, in resisting naval attacks. 1t may
be confidently asserted that the completion
Of the projects upon which operations are
now in progress will practically insure the
safety of our principal harbors and
coast cities against any attacks from the
sea. One other important deduction may
also be drawn from the results of the war,
viz, the great value and efficiency of the
rHpid-fire gun. 1t Is gratifying to report
that not only has a considerable number
of these rapid-fire guns been mounted dur
ing the year. but that provision has been
made for the manufacture and emplacing
OF Il large additional number.
EHIStIhg projects for SeacOaSt defenSeS
contemplate the emplacement of about 800
heavy guns of s, 10. y and l6 inches cal
lDer, of about 100 rapid-fire guns of various
calibers and of about 900 moltars. These
ngures are subject TO slight changes as
minor revisions are made and additional To-
calities included. The estimated approXi-
mate cost of the engineering work connect
ed with the installation of this armament
is 500. .nU0.OO0.
Provision has been made including the
deficiency act of July T. 1898, for mounting
2eS heavy SeacOaSt guns, 254 rapid-fire guns
and 81 mortars, or about 81 per cent of the
total projected armament of heavy guns,
SO per cent of the rapidfire guns and 81
per cent of the mortars. This armament
Is disposed a seventy localities in
tWeIlty-nine harbors of the United States.
When the diplomatic relations with Spain
began to assume a threatening character,
orders were given to push work with all
possible energy, and to mount every avail
able gun fast delivered. Operations
We're carried on with double, and in some
cases three, shifts of workmen, and were
pushed, regardless of weather and climate.
The extraordinary efforts made have re-
suited in a most gratifying progress, cs-
pecially in the number of guns mounted
and available for service as compared with
the previous fiscal year.
There were mounted during the year six
12-inch guns, fifty-two 10-inch gurs, thirty
S-inch guns. twenty-siX rapid-fire guns, and
seventy-one 12-inch mortars.
Care of the Batteries.
Nearly all of the guns and mortars
mounted at the close of tn. fiscal year had
been transferred to the artillery for
and care under the provisions of Army Reg
ulations, 1856 The care and service of this
modern armament has largely increased
the responsibilities devolving upon the ar
tlllery arm Of the service, and has devel-
Oped a defect in its organization which
calls for prompt remedy through legislation
by Congress. 1t is exceedingly desirable
that all operations connected with the SER
vice of the modern batteries be conducted
by men regularly enlisted and amenabe to
military discipline. and it is earnestly rec
commended that legislation be obtained pro-
vidng for the enlistment in each battery of
artillery of two or more machinist eiec-
tricians at a rate of pay which will secure
class of men capable of properly caring
for and operating the electric lgnt and
power plants of modern batteries.
In order to continue the work of con
Structing Seacoast defenseS in accordance
with approved projects, and to provide en-
placements for the guns and carriages for
which the chief of ordnance will submit
eS Inmates, an appropriation of $4,3O0,OOO
will be required, and this amount is re-
quested.
Under the terms of thu acts of September
-, 1885, and March 2, 1888, dynamite cat
teries were constructed, under the ordnance
department, in past years at San Francisco
harbor, California and at Sandy Hook, n.
Dynamite batteries have been ordered
and will be erected by the ordnance de-
partment al Port Royal harbor, S. c., and
Fishers Island, eastern entrance to Long
Island sound.
Submarine Mines.
During the past two years the CUES ton
of a revision of the torpedo system has
been under consideration by special
board of engineer officers number of i'm
proyements in the details of the materials
and in the operation of the system were rec
oIrmeHded after their superiority had been
demonstrated by practical trials at the
United States Engineer School at WiletS
Point. The lahors of this bGar1 had been
practically completed at the outbreak of
the war but unfortunately neither time
nor funds We're available for Immediately
replacing the old-style apparatus with the
new and lrlprcved, and it became neces-
sary to use the former to a large extent
in mining the various harbors of the coun
try for defense against attack during the
war AT, the outbreak of hostilitieS there
were on hand a considerable number Of
mine cases and limited quantity of oper-
ating apparatus, but no cable, explosives,
search lights or any of the multitude of
miscellaneous minor articles necde1 to
plant and operate the mines Steps were
Immediately taken to procure as rapidly
as possible all needed material, and for
placing in position at every important har-
Dor Il preliminary line of mines The to-
tai allotments from the appropriation for
National Defense made by the President
for the torpedo defenses of the country
aggregated sl,540,0O0. In addition, thu de-
ficiency act of May 4. 1898, appropriated
$50 900 for the purchase of material and
100000 for planting and maintaining the