The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
TARIrA AND THE TARIFF.
TO DEFEND NEW YORK CITY
Great Guns and Improved works. but Not
Enough Men.

Enough Men.
In looking toward the modern fortiica-
tions of New York harbor from the water
| little Is to be seen save the white stretches
Of beach, the green grass, and the foliage
OF shrubs and trees. With the works in
action, save for the fash and roar Of the
guns, the same impenetrable front would be
presented.
The loading and firing Of both mortars
and big guns are all done In the pits, as 10
\ the firing OF the mines, and probably the
only sign OF activity to be observed along
the line of destruction u the appearance OF
the runs above the parapets as the carriages
| automatically elevate them for firing.
The men who load and fire have not the
least idea at what they are shooting. Both
guns and men are surrounded by thick earth
works. The range says Hdrper's Weekly,
the elevation, the velocity % the wind
and the height of the tide are all mathe-
matically measured from q commanding
position in the rear OF the guns, where
everything in the field may be carefully
noted.
The gun crew serves the heavy ordnance
with the precision OF constant training.
| The gun is fired by the same discipline
and the steel proiectiles hurled at the
target miles away with a mathematical
certainty quite az deadly as though both
gun and target were fixed and immovable
and the range true to the smallest fraction
OF a yard.
So with the torpedo companies who work
| the mines. h electrical apparatus CON-
trolling the mine fields is set up in a bomb
proof building. In contact firing, when
the enemy's ship bumps the mines, indi-
Gators in front OF the officer at his post tell
him az plainly as though he could see il
himself the position Of the doomed ship.
| One lever thrown this way, another that.
! and the mine explodes in an instant
In observation firing, when the officer
| spies the incoming raider he tells by plot
ting the course Of the ship just when IL
comes over a mine or torpedo. Then two
movements of his hands and out in the
water under his observation high ex-
plosives throw a column OF water heavy
enough to break the back OF any ship so
unlucky as TO nave been over this ugly
! contrivance when somebody finger sought
the button. A hundred pounds OF high ex-
plosive in contact with the bottom will in
a second transform an $780, 900 battleship
into junk.
Such publicity Is given the six inch gun
practice in the avy that the sporting public
takes as much interest in the battleships'
shooting as in the pennant race OF the
National League.
Conoealirg strength is a worn out policy
to-day. When the present Secretary Of
to the ACCESSIBILITY OF showing our seacoast
defences at the last Worlds Fair for fear
some other Government would see them,
he asked.
they something We can be proud OFF"
The answers were in the affirmative.
~Show them, then" declared Mr.. Root.
-Concealment il only necessary II you are
doubtful as to the capabilities Of your ap-
paratus."
The artillery system will work and is
something OF which the country may be
Justly proud, but at present the heads OF
the War Department are struggling with a
shortage Of funds for supplying the ap-
paratus and a shortage Of men to care for
that which is supplied them.
so great have been the strides in both
! gun and mine work that the few men who
have been supplied are now well in hand,
and We may well boast Of an efficient artillery
organization 30 far as II goes. Both officers
and enlisted men Of the artillery are very
much underpaid.
Every announcement il offered to the
men who enter the service schools. but they
receive only regulation army pay. Some
enter at sIs or $40 a month, some at S2S,
and they all do a great deal Of studying in
addition TO eight hours work in the shops.
II at the end OF the hard course the ap-
plicant passes the examination which
qualities him for the long sought chevron
he will serve his enlistment out at t34 a
month and allowances. The Govern
ment may get five years service out OF a
bright capable man. but in general it does
not average more than that.
After some experience the sergeant will
leave the Government service and go to
some construction company who will give
him at least 500 a month. He will put
/ the benefit of his army training TO his own
use. Such, indeed, is the result Of a system
which will not pay its men full for value
received.
A ResIRned Advertiser.