Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
SEACOAST DEFENSES
GEN. GILLESPIE DESCRIBES THE
FoRTIFICATIoNs.
TWENTY Five Principal Harbors Are
Effectively Guarded-Approach
to Washington.

The annual report of General G. L. Giles
pie, chief of engineers of the United States
army presents a comprehensive view Of
the condition of Notifications throughout
the country. After giving a list of the
thirty-one points al which projects for per-
manent sea-coast defenses have been
adopted, the report says that the defense
of the Great Lakes and the st. Lawrence
is under consideration, and also that pro-
jects for defenses for Porto Rico, Hawaii,
Guam, Manila and Subg bay have been
approved. 1T is believed" the report con-
tinues, that the time has come when it
will be no longer possible to ignore the
question of the insular defenses. The Navy
Department is properly insistent that all
its important coaling stations should re-
ceive proper defensive protection to keep OF
predatory attacks from possible hostile
fleets"
According to the report the seacoast de-
lenses are now somewhat more than 90 per
cent completed; twenty-five of the principal
harbors of the United States have a sufh-
cient number of heavy guns and mortars
mounted to permit an effective defense
against naval attack, and during the past
two years considerable progress has been
made in the installation of adequate
rapid-fire armament. now the matter OF
first Importance. The existing projects.
comprise 1856 heavy guns, 1,294 rapid-hre
the engineering work is estimated a $50
100000, including what has been completed
as we'll as what remains to be done. Recon-
mendation is made that authority be given
for the resumption of the manufacture of
mortars, which, 1t is. claimed, are an effec-
tive defense within their range Up 10 the
present time provision has been made for
empla cling 331 heavy guns 4S3 rapid-fire
guns and $40 Pinch mortars. During the
past year the addition TO the completed ar
mament of the coast amounted to eight
Pinch guns. three S-inch guns, twenty
rapid-fire guns and thirty-four mortars. 1t
is intended to devote the appropriation of
last June to the construction of emplace-
ments for two Pinch guns, four 10-inch
guns, forty-four 6-inch guns and fifty-two
fifteen Founders. .A-
Defenses Of This City.
Regarding the defenses of Washington
Gen. Gillespie says: f<.s--,
cat the close of the fiscal year 1902 there
were completed emplacements for six 10
inch guns, three S-inch guns, two 4-inch
rapid-fire guns, two 6-inch guns on disap-
pearing carriages, two 5-inch guns on ball
anced-pillar mounts and eight Pinch NOR
tars. In addition there were under con-
struction emplacements for five 3-inch
rapid-fire guns on balanced-pillar mounts.
The latter are completed with the exception
of the platforms, which cannot be finished
until the mounts arrive.
THE four battery commanders stations
pertaining to the approved system OF fire
control are completed.
During the past fiscal year an electric
light and power plant was installed in the
S-inch battery and an electric-light outfit
placed in both the mortar battery and the
6-inch battery.
Necessary repairs were made to the bat
teries and buildings.
Some repairs to the wharf at Fort Foote,
with an allotment of $50 have been made
Other minor repairs to y. aarf and roadway
and to shore protection are needed
River and Harbor Work.
The report contains a complete resume Of
the river and harbor improvements for the
year, which are under the supervision Of
the Engineer Corps, but. owing to the fact
that no river and harbor bill will be passed
by Congress at it's next session, no esti-
mates are given. of the amounts necessary
to prosecute especial improvement projects.
There is however, an estimate in the lump
for money required, as follows: Under con-
tinuing contracts 1850. $3.50; under Cali
fornia debris commission, $4,000; preyen-
tion of deposits in New York harbor. $780,
700; enlargement Of Governors Island, New
York harbor. 100000 The Mississippi river
commission submits an estimate amounting
to 81, $50, 900. The appropriation of funds
required under these estimates will be
made, as usual, In alternate years, IN the
sundry civil appropriation bill.
During the past year the expenditures
amounted in the aggre gate to $14, 4n.52s.