The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-26
TO DEFEND Our
COAST CITIES
Projected Defenses Are Now About
One-half Completed According
81. TO Army Report.
Estimate Of Expenses Of This Work
for Next Year Reaches
$1o,s66, 100.

Washington, Oct 26.-The annual
report Of General George L. Gillespie,
chief Of engineers, UnitedsState army,
for. the year ended June 80, 1903, deal
ing with Qualifications and river and
harbor., work, has been made pu bic.
He refers, first to the work sof COM
structing Notifications that has been
going On under the general scheme Of
the Fndicott4 boar D nd adds:ss s @
The degree of defense to be provided
for scoaling and other naval stations scat
tered all over the world, for the larger
tablished and for which appropriations
are asked Of congress by the navy de-
partment for the ports of Manila, Pearl
Harbor and Honolulu and for the lake
ports and the st. Lawrence river, should
be preferably determined by tribunal
similar to the Endicott board as recon- :
mended in my last annual report.
s@s Plans for lnsuIar Defense.
In the absence of legislation on the sub
ject Of insular defenses, a mixed board
OF engineers and artillery officers, or
ganized by authority Of the secretary OF
war, has already been practically cOnsd
ering and reported upon plans for the
emergency defense Of several of the most
| important harbors an the insular posses
| sions. Before these or any other plans
I are acted upon it might be we'll to invite
the cooperation of the navy by the as
| signment of a certain number of nava
officers upon new joint board Of army
and naval officers appointed to revise OF
enlarge the pr eliminary plans of defense
| heretofore prepared. 80. - =.
General Gillespie says that projects
for defenses of thirty-one localities
lrhave been approved and in addition
defenses of the great lakes and st
Lawrence river are under considera.
ton. He adds: ~" @,.-54"
| Projects for the defense of San Juan
Porto Rico; Pearl Harhor and Honolulu,
harbor, Hawaii; San Luis D,Apra, Guam
Manila bay and Subig bay have been ap
proved by the secretary of war, am
actual construction should begin there
the time has come when it will be N
longer possible to ignore the question o
! insular defenses. The navy department
is particularly insistent that all it's i'm
portant coaling stations should sreceiV
sufficient protection to keep off preda
.-:~ Sea Coast Defenses.
The sea coast defenses: of the Unite
States are now somewhat more than S
principal harbors of the United State
have sufficient number of heavy gun
and mortars mounted to permit ampl
defense against a naval attack, and tn
past three years have witressedsstlle in
stallation of a rapid fire:rarmament, nov
the matter. of first Importance.
At present there are provided 70
the defense of the United States 10
12-inch guns, 1873 10-inch guns, SO 8
. inch guns, 567 rapid fire guns, an
376 12-inch mortars. Regarding sub
marine mines the report says: -
With few, exceptions all harbors ar
now equipped with torpedo storehouse
cable tanks and serviceableM mining, cease
mates. Many of the. latter;sar not
the latest type and are complained of b
, the artillery as Insufficient IF" 4size.-A
,, funds become available they will he re
= placed by more convenient and cornmod
Gus classmates.
General Gillespie submits total .es
innate Of $10,366,100 for fertilization
for the fiscal year ending June 8
1905! <..=s 7 80 I
! River and Harbor Work. Il.
For the Improvement Of rivers an
harbors, General Gillespie submits tt
following general estimates for tt
next fiscal year: ~S# H., H. A
Under continuing contracts, $11
540,753; rivers and harbors general
$2O,748, 900; - examinations, = surve,
: and contingencies 100000; und
r California debris commission, $500
: prevention of deposits in New Yol
= harbor, $73,260; enlargement Of Go
;, ernor's island, New York, 100000
= Mississippi river commission r$2,545
= 900.