Gilpin observer., 1900-05-17
THE DRY TORTUGAs
TO PROTECT THE PROPOSED
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Hereafter This straxstio Point VIII BE
. Naval S,ation-Fort Jefferson to Be
Transformed Into u Powerful Naval
FORTRESS.

Inere is an old and still unsettled
controversy between navy and army
as to their respective relations to
coast defense, says the Army and
Navy Journal. 1t is contended on the
part of the navy that steam wars con-
firm the teaching of the sailing wars
respecting Notifications; that they
have never withstood determined at
tack from the sea; have never given
or restored command of the sea,
though they have sheltered beaten and
inferior fleets. The naval wars of 1870
and 1855 are cited to show what the
navy has accomplished in carrying on
war even from undefended bases, as
at Longeland and Kioje Bay, in the
Baltic, by the French Admiral Bouet-
Williaumez, at Margin; in the Caspian
sea by the English, during the Cri-
mean war, and by Nelson from the
anchorage of Madalena, off Sardinia
described by him as the best harbor
In the world
On the other hand, 1t is contended
that the navy has its own sphere of
action quite apart from the defense OF
ports and coaling stations, which be-
long to the army, and that the navy in
attempting to hold positions on land
will be hampered in following its le-
gitimate role, which must be essential
ly offensive. The true solution of the
difficulty is found in thorough CO.
operation between land and sea forces.
such as it is practically impossible to
obtain. Hence extreme advocates OF
the navy position go to the length of
insisting that all coast defense on land
or sea should be in the hands of the
navy.
The president has accepted the navy
view of this controversy. so far as to
transfer to its control the island of
Dry Tortugas, off the coast Of Florida,
In the Gulf of Mexico. The argument
for the transfer of this island to the
navy is well stated in communica-
tion from Admiral Bunce to Admiral
Bradford at the beginning of the war
with Spain. In this he said:
"Tortugas Is Important from a naval
rather than from a military point Of
view. Difference of opinion may al
ways be expected in such matters
when viewed from the standpoints
above stated, and necessarily so. as
the military (army) view is confined
to the consideration of the effect Of
! operations with which it is familiar.
The naval view is also influenced in
the same way. AS the forces to be
considered and for which defense is
to be provided on our coasts are naval.
the naval view is alone based upon
the knowledge of the power of the
attack and of the great Importance OF
stopping the enemy before he reaches
positions from which he can harass
the commercial or industrial interests
Of the country. The military view pro-
gides Notifications to defend a point
or locality; the naval seeks to receive
the attack at - points removed from
centers OF population and commercial
Importance. and there force the enc
my to expend his strength without dis
turbance to the vocations of the peo-
pie. The Notifications of New York,
for example, are, with one exception,
within the limits of the city itself. and
some OF them near Its geographical
center.
"The divergence of views, referred
to above, has in Europe. resulted in
cpnfiding the defense of the coasts OF
Germany entirely to the navy; in
France every gun covering the sea or
entrance channels is in charge OF the
navy. In England the transfer of all
sea-coast dcfenses is now under con-
sideration.
"The main argument for this Is that
the naval officer alone knows the pow
ers and defensive capabilities OF the
enemy to be met by these coast forti-
6cations, and therefore the defense is
more positive and direct than IL COM
manded by any one unfamiliar with
the sea and the handling and fighting
OF naval forces. A second Is that the
naval men must professionally know
the harbors and their approaches. the
influences OF the wind, weather, cur
rents and tides on naval movements.
and when the defense includes a naval
force. as 1t Is sure to do. the whole
will be under single control.
"In my opinion. II the army declines
to fortify and hold Tortugas. 1t should,
as a strategic necessity. be fortified.
manned and held by the naval forces
OF the North Atlantic station"
Thus Is established the first fortified
naval base under the exclusive control
of the United States navy. and pre-
cedent Is given which may have far
reaching results, the navy for the
first time assuming the responsible
| ity OF maintaining the land as well as
the naval defense OF coast fortifica-
tion. AT Fort jefferson, In the Tortu-
gas, are extensive fortilications. re-
qulring only modern ordnance to
transform them into powerful auxll-
iarles to the naval control OF the Gulf
OF Mexico. and thus of the projected
Isthmian canal.