Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-08-29
SEA COAST DEFENSES,
Atlantic Seaboard Can Look After
Itself Without BatfIeships

Itself Without Battleships.
The determination to send the bat
tleshlps of the North Atlantic fleet to
the Pacific coast, whence, even in the
gravest emergency, they could not re-
turn in less than two months, has led
to some anxious inquiry regarding the
security of the great cities along the
Atlantic in the possible event of attack
from an enemy's feet. The grave anxiety
which attended the departure of the At
lantic fleet for the Caribbean. in che
Spanish war, when it was feared that a
part of the Spanish navy was on the
high seas bound for the North Atlantic,
has not been forgotten, and there is some
disposition to question the wisdom of
move which might leave Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Washington, Charles
ton and other great centers without pro-
lection"
The conditions are, however, radically
different from those which obtained in
1898, and, according to the military ex-
perts, the cities and harbors of the At
lantic coast would be amply protected
from capture or bombardment by the
coast defenses, which have been so ex-
tensively improved in the last ten years.
OF course, the presence of a fleet along
the Atlantic coast in time of war would
be essential to prevent the landing of
an invading army at points not covered
by the coast defenses, but the harbors
and great cities would be entirely safe.
Only one weak spot remains, and plans
for its protection have been perfected, al
though the money necessary has not been
appropriated. The weak spot is the en-
trance to Chesapeake Bay. which is out
of range of the great disappearing guns
OF Fortress Monroe. In the opinion of
the National Coast Defense Board, with
the entrance as it now is, unfortifed q
hostile fleet, should it gain control of the
sea- can establish, without coming under
the fire of a single gun, a base on its
shores, pass in and out at pleasure, have
access to large stores of valuable supplies
of all kinds, and paralyze the great trunk
lines of railways crossing the head of
the bay
The entrance to Chesapeake Bay is IL
miles from Fortres. Monroe, while the
effective range of the big guns there
installed is only 10000 yards. To rem
edy this defect, it is proposed to con-
struct an artificial island, practically
midway between Capes Charles and Hen
ry, and to erect thereon a modern battery
of disappearing guns of the most effec-
tive character.
But in all the harbors of the Atlantic,
on which have been built large cities,
giant strides have been made in estab-
fishing effective coast defenses. A year
ago S12,750,0O0 had been expended on
the coast defenses of the country, most
Of this sum being used along the Atlantic
coast. Something over $50,OOO000 re-
mains to be spent to complete the defenses
in accordance with the present plans.
This year Congress has appropriated ST.
624,000 for the continuance of the work.
OF this sum, S150,000 has been set aside
for the construction Of a 14-inch gun for
the artificial island above referred to,
$4,000 is being expended for submarine
mines, $125,O0O for searchlights and
100000 for the establishment Of fire
control stations.
Under the present system every foot
of navigable water in the harbors is COW
cred by the powerful guns which have
been installed in the coast defenses. Ev-
cry channel is susceptible of being mined
according to plans already worked out,
the preliminary work, including the as
sembling of paraphernalia, having been
so carefully done that every harbor on
the Atlantic could be effectively mined on
4S hours notice.