Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-12

In spite of the fact that the great Mic
aragua canal has yet to be dug and that
the question of defending it or permitting
it to remain practically unprotected has
not yet been settled, the experts on ord
nance and Notifications of both war and
navy departments are already hard at
work preparing plans Of defense n a
will be given and submitted to congress
at the first favorable opportunity.
While these plans AVE not yet been
worked out in detail and will not De fully
prepared for several weeks, the outlines
of the scheme have been semi-officia.ly
announced, so that it is now possible for
students of military affairs to gain a
pretty good idea of the form Of defense
that has been decided upon by the gov
ernmental experts.
All the expert opinions that have yet
been given agree in one point, and that is
If the canal is to be fortified the defenses
must extend from end to the other. Not
only must the two entrances to the wa
terway be guarded to secure it against
purely naval attacks, out it's whole length
must be protected in order to offset any
attacks that might possibly be made by
landing parties.
OF course, in such an instance the ques-
ton of neutrality would enter in but that
would be a matter to be decided after the
war was over. and in the meantime the
opposing nation might obtain the great
est possible advantage over us by gaining
possession of the canal. AS the result, it
is agreed that if the canal is to be fnrtt-
fed at all it must be done thoroughly.
OF the two entrances to the canal the
western mouth is the one hat can be
most easily fortified, and it will be a
somewhat difficult problem to construct
suitable defenses at the eastern entrance.
At this point the land is low INC swampy
for several miles from the shore, and
the only hills that offer natural COM
handing sites are SO far inland that they
would be practically useless if a fleet
should it's work of lombard
ment a couple of miles out at sea.
Despite this, however, the problem is
one that can be solved.
The only way out of the difficulty will
be the construction of artificial founda-
lions at the proper position, and While
this work will cost an immense sum Of
money it can be accomplished without
much trouble. If it is decided to fortify
the canal, therefore, it can safely be said
that the eastern defense will be built
upon a firm foundation at the very end
of the swamp.
Here, it is more than probable, will be
placed some thirty-five guns, ten large
guns and some twenty-five rapid fire
pieces. Owing to the nature of the ground
at this point it is also quite probable that
a turret, to contain two 16-inch guns,
would be erected a short distance south
east of Greytown.
If these situations were taken it would
be possible for fire to be delivered upon
my anchorage held by the enemy, or
upon any waters hat he might choose to
occupy While in action. If to the north of
the entrance should be placed a battery
of eight l0-inch guns on disappearing
carriages, it would be possible for the
holders of the position to effectually
sweep the field in front, and. with the aid
of the guns from the turret, deliver a ter
rife cross fire upon any close approach Of
hostile vessels.
AS has already been stated, the defense
of the western mouth of the canal is a
less difficult problem. and can, naturally,
be accomplished at a much smaller ex-