New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-18
I THE MILITARY DEFENCES OF THIS COUNTRY.
REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE ELAND SECURE FROM
FOREIGN ATTACK-INCREASE IN SEABOARD
FORTIFICATIONS And ARMAMENT.

military experts, seems to have been ONLY u,,,
considered or heard OF for the first eight wear,
of its existence. Indeed. before the war with
Spain (Which found us seriously unprepared IN
meet or resist coast attacks) the coast Defensive
work had proceeded so leisurely and so indir.r.
emily. from 1883 to 1896. that the total aopro-
priation required for construction of fortiaca.
lions according to Secretary Roots report 70
Congress In 1909 amounted for those e,9h,
years to only $S,321,OOO. or an average of abou,
$4,000 year: while from 1896 to 1903 the an,
propriations for fortihcations aggregated 500.
$4,000. OK an average Of s3.1I6.OOO a year. AN
increase Of more than sevenfold.
The appropriations for manufacturing gun,
and carriages for seacoast defences for ~.
eight years prior to 1895 were only SIS 1OOooo
(not including the unsuccessful dynamite gpn,
an average annual rate OF 81 O120OO. while ~.
appropriations for the last seven years wsr.
SA.193.OOO, or an annual average of S3456O0o
making an annual increase OF more than threa.
fold. Summing up and contrasting results WA
behold the amazing fact that of the SIS OOONe0
expended for this important national vorx
since the national scheme was adopted sixtesn
years ago. over S46.OOO.0OO have been appronr-
ated in the last seven years OF Republican al.
ministratio2- When 1t is remembered th,,
tho so-called "Endcott Board contemplated
and provided for work to cost over S1OO0o0-
coo. it will be seen that at the rate of Dsmo-
cratic progress prior to 1896 it would have "a.
Qured seventy years to complete the defence,
according % the accepted and approved schen.
whereas IL progress is continued at the rate
maintained since 1897 the defences should ba
completed within fourteen years.
1t needs no demonstration to show the re,a-
tive value and merit of the two policies q,
thoughtless foolish economy and wise Hheral,tv
for Indispensable self-protection as nation
ri yaxo 60.
and proper Notifications for It's empIacement
and service In emergency Involve long and
weary work 1t was easy task for a DEM
ocratic Secretary of War to approve defen-
siye scheme prepared by national scientists Of
high repute on scale OF estimated cost OF
S1O00O00O0 but the execution of that gigantic
scheme. demanded by every commercial in
terest and urged by patriotic principle. required
something more than mere nominal approval
It required the fidelity to perceive public duty
and the conscientious fortitude to perform it,
The sad plight In which the United States wa.
placed In 1895 Is so recent that need no bet
ter illustration Of neglected national duty prior
TO that period th1n the sudden act OF Congress
on the eve Of the Spanish war appropriatins
S50O0oOOO for national defences-a vast sum
intended for immediate use TO construct de-
fences. but which if judiciously expended,
would have required at least Ave years OF care
full outlay That splendid manifestation Of pa
trietic zeal on the part of Congress. so magnla-
Gently attested by it's unanimous vote leaving
TO the Republican President unfettered and un-
restricted freedom to expend the money as he
saw At formed an unparalleled record Of trust
In public official whose careful administra-
ton, however. preveneec the Misrepresentation
OF single dollar. and yet military observers
at home and abroad marvelIed over the episode
and the political conditions that had made 4
necessary to try TO do IN a day what natforal
duty and obligation had constantly and almost
vainIy appealed for IN the ten years previous
TINE REQUIRED FOR GOOD WORK.
To form some idea Of the time and cost OF
manufacture and construction OF coast defences
the coordinate working OF the two military de-
partments, ordnance and engineering. charged
with the duty of armament and fortifcatons
must be studied. First of all il is necessary TO
have the required implements and tools as we'll
as skilled workmen to shape the raw materials
into weapons and ammunition-a task IN itself
requiring eonsummate skill and perfected or
ganization. For example. although the big 70
inch guns constitute our heavy seacoast ord
nance and are generally regarded sufficiently
formidable weapons for all purposes of coast
defence. yet, IL to test our capacity for heavy
gun manufacture. the fertilization board in
1885 called for 16-inch calibre gun as a type
for future construction. This model. however.
duly constructed. designed TO fire pro-
jectne Weighing 24CO pounds. and under test
with charge Of 6fO pounds Of smokeless pow
der proved most satisfactory. and settled posi-
lively the question OF practical capacity Of our
big gun factories should 1t ever be desired to
employ guns of greater power than our present
powerful 12-inch type Some idea OF the time
required to construct seacosst guns may be had
from examining the estimated annual labor or
heavy gun factory. shown in making
completed guns of the heavier calhres. For ex-
ample. the reports show that UP TO June 80
1908 the years work on the 12-ineh breech-
loading rifle guns of different models was equiv
aIent to S.O7 guns only. OF course. the Water
vliet Arsenal. where all our heavy ordnance IS
constructed. keeps it's various gun shops all
more OF less busy IN the manufacture Of va
rious models and sizes Of seacoast guns. from .
inches to II inches In calibre. and 10 Demon
strate capacity. although work on gun begun
IN one year may be finished in another. careful
record is kept of the percentage of work done on
each gun each year. shown above or the
1.O25 available seacoast guns manufactured at
the watervliet Arsenal up to June 80. 1908. only
seventy-four were completed and issued to the
service during that fiscal year. and of the 4so
12-ineh rifles and mortars manufactured W 10
last year only four of the 12-inch rifles anu
thirty-six OF the Pinch mortars We're issued IN
1908
II not only takes much time but costs rucH
money to manufacture heavy ordnance. To az
ford some idea of the cost. the fact may be mem
toned that seacoast guns. varying IN size from
6 to II inches. cost from $4,000 TO $4,000 IRE
spective OF carriage mounting Most OF these
pto|o SfxaNneartQg