New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-30
SEA COAST DEFENCES.
GENERAL WILSON ASKS FOR AN APPRO-
PRIATIoN OF S5.71a.OOO.

NJ
port asks Congress for an appropriation Of S57l5.
600 70 expended in the fiscal year for coast
offences He announces that the comprehensive
project for National defence is half completed.
with an expenditure Of Sz20o0000. extending over
-e-od Of ten years, and points out the economic
advantages OF finishing the work without further
delay After summarizing the history Of the mod
ern system which is being installed for the protec-
ton OF twenty-five principal harbors of the United
States since the adoption % the Endicott plan in
1856 he says:
OF the existing projects for the United States
many have from time 10 time been revised to keep
pace VIZ the changes IN ordnance ana 10 shps
have elapsed since the adopted scheme Of coast de
that the rapid fire gun was IN its infancy and
ships were characterized by their extremely heavy
crease in me resisting povers Of aTmor by means
lowed q material change in ship construction,
cessitatng corresponding changes in the details of
coast defences. In accordance with the recon-
Teengauons Of the Endieott Board the carrier de-
ebe number o. the heaviest guns at the more I'M
toward reduction IN cslibres OF heavy guns.
coupled with the adoption OF successful disap-
armorsd defences unnecessary up to the present
+ir7a ar5 ne rated states has t7us FAR NOT EN-
berked upon the construction OF srmored classmates
and turrets, which many European governments
stand committed for their land defences Although
rapid FIRE guns were proposed in the earlier prot
eccs. definite numbers or calbres were assigned
until 1856 since which time nearly all OF the carrier
visions. resulting in the Incorporation OF denlte
programme the rapid fire armament a reduc-
ton IN the number and calibre OF the heavy guns
eraI elimination OF armorad defences. These re-
visions have resulted in marked economies. with
sai6s or other causes may render desirable.
The inauguration Of the modern system OF sea
coast 6efences for the United States dates pFac-
tcaLy from the year 1890 when the first appTopTla-
ZION for constructing gun and mortar batteries
was made. II was not, however until Lne yea
rnsusurate with the magnitude OF the undertaking
tions Of more recent years and the war with Spain
the seacoast defences OF the United states are TO
~ aG11 bs ~ ~ ne tinted states have now
t-T Pls-L|IlS' L-zA - - -ro-+ars
mounted 70 permit OF an effective defence against
cradle progress has also been made toward the in
staIIation Of an adequate rapid IRE aTI1alnei'7
Considerable study has also been given 10 the SUP
- .Sasa $50 rossessors srrite measures for
tailed project for the defence Of san Juan, Porto
Rico, a. total estimated cost Of $4,000 has a.
ready been prepared and preliminary projects for
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, Hawaiian ISLANDS are re
commenced wheEever Congress aPpropriates the
Attention IS again invited 70 the urgent necessity
T.. an increase OF ne az lliery IN OF Ils SCI -
the troops was largely increased during the last
creased by the NUMBER Of batteries in progress Of
constructor ana soon 70 ne comPe{eo me Craz
Of the new batteries require for their proper main
the case OF the old type works, and which il is al
most impossible 10 realize from the small ayailable
force Of artillery scattered in small oetachments
over our extensive seaboard-
Exclusive Of the Notifications proposed and partly
completed for preventing an enemy's feet from en-
terirg Long Island Sound by its eastern entrance,
the protection Of New-York City from foreign at
tack constitutes The most expensive and elab-
crate system Of de5ences under Army control. Of
those covering the southern entrance. including the
establishments at Sandy Hook and on Staten Island
and Long Island. General Wilson says:
At the beginning Of the last fiscal year euplace-
rnents had been completed and turned over 10 the
gar-isous for the following guns and nortars which
hac been MOUNTED SlELeeh 1-1 IiF + pEgeH
i6-71c6S and i've S-incH guns On disappearing car
TfeS 5Be e3o c Fo sre ride oe Peh siege ho2sF
go o~A Z Inch r9ufd fra gTJr in -ar71orarv en-
e NJ one 6reJIr,s e l ba-Te-y FOR three
cynani guns with temporary Inagazzlnes; Two
age buildings for submarine mining materials were
The following ernplaceueuts were al the begin
ming OF the fiscal year either completed or nearly
on disappearing carriages two pinch guns en- bar
bette two tinch rapid IRE guns on pedestal mounts
been comPIeted armed ana turned over 70 the gar
During the last fiscal year the following add
tole- wore haS l pen -o!s tx IN - -.
completed and two under way, have been COM
been begun and are about half completed. Four
ezDIa2enSnts for SINGH guns on 6lsaPPear5ng ar
are ready for armament and two have been be
sn7Iacenerts for Pinch breechoading mortars
have been begun and base rings are now set. Four
e---Iz -e-eurs for 15-pouuder rapid fire guns. two
awaiting armament and two begun and ready for
base cylinders. Three finder stations and
one steel range finder tower have been completed
have been installed in OF con
Eg-u--u II q The fOrtncariOns. AI0tnents nave re-
Gently been made for construction Of TWO additional
emplaceUeErs for l5-pOUrder rapid IRE guns and OF
permanent retaining walls with hOmbprOofs for
Pneumatic 6ynau1ite gun battery Plans and esti-
mates are in preparation Tor Two erIpaceil Is or
Pinch guns disappearing carriages and for i've
range finder stations Condernna non proceedings
are II progress for the acquisition or Two ac1loIal
rIv- 81 q
reserva ion.
o. The eastern entrance 70 New-York in the
vicinity OF WilIeJs Point, he says:
A. me beginning Of the fiscal year empIacements
haz been completed and turned over 70 the garrl-
sons for the following guns and mortars, winch
were mounted. VIZ Two S-inch and four lO-inCh
guns on disappearing carriages and tWenty-four
Finch breech loading mortars- One erpl aceme1J
been completed and armed. this has since heea
turned over 70 the garrison
have since been completed and armed; four en-
placements for 5-iuch rapid fire guns, then IN prog
ress. have since been completed and are ready Ior
armament FOUR enplaceInenIs 1Qi 42-l1o1iIue!s
rapid fire guns have been completed, ana Two 81
them are armed Two additional ennplaceInsrlts Ior
5--rch rapid IRE guns have been begun, ana are N
process constructions mining CaseU1aIe, com
rlete1 during the preceding fiscal year was turned
over 70 the garrison during the last year. TWO
and completely one has been turned over TO the
garrison and the other IS now ready for transfer
The total armament already in fighting position
guarding Eew-Y0r6, therefore, includes forty L
finch rreechIoading uortars, fourteen 1--inch
rifles. twenty IO-inch rifles disappearing, seven
3 inch rapid fires. five 5-inch rapid fires, one =
inch siege hOwitzer and three dynamite guns
FILLED.