New-York tribune., 1910-04-25
fFrom The Tribune Buresul

Washington. April %.
A WARM RECEPTION.-Under the d.
TectiOn OF the Secretary Cf War and The
more immediate supervision of General
Murray. chief OF the coast artillery, prepar-
ations are being made 20 give a warm re-
cepiion 20 any hostile feet which may IN
certake 10 approach the Panama Canal
either from the Atlantic or from the Pa
ciflc side. Plans for the fortifications are
complete. and await only the formal ap-
provai OF Secretary Dickinson before the
construction work begins II is deemed in
eNpedient to, make, public the exact nature
of the plans at present, but enough may be
disclosed 20 afford q comprehensive idea OF
the effectiveness OF the proposed fortifica-
tions The Pacific end Of the canal will be
protected by fortiacations placed on three
small islands on the coast OF Panama, and
by a further battery on the mainland The
Atlantic end will be protected by two forti-
fcations on the mainland one on either
side Of the entrance 10 the canal. These
forrihcstions viii be provided with an ample
number ~ l4-inch disappea ring rifles. as
was first announced in The Tribune. by an
abundance Of mortars and by smaller bat
teries OF G-inch rapid FIRE rifles These
fortihcations viii be manned by the coast
artillery corps. and VIII be wholly separat.
from the four thousand TO five thousand
troops divided among the field artillery.
cavalry and infantry, which 81 is proposed
10 maintain on the isthnus. even in time of
peace. and for which comfortable garrisons
VIII be provided on the higher ground along
the banks OF the canal
THE RECEPTION COMMITTEES. 49,
While no detailed description NAV be given
OF the reception committees which the mill
tary authorities are preparing 70 install. "a
accurate account of their performances can
be given. Assuming that a hostile feet WIS
approaching the Pacific end Of the canal
and steaming al the rate Of twelve nautical
miles an hour. during the time il was trav-
cling one nautical mile. or from eOO wards
10 ss7l Yards the heavy batteries firing
projectiles weighing 1860 pounds each
would throw G0.720 pounds Of steel aeains;
their sides. or with a raking fire along
their decks. and with the established rec
Crd Of efficiency OF the coast artillery. would
hit the unfortunate feet with not less than
-. 600 pounds Of steel. or about twenty-five
and one-half tons OF metal Meanwhile
the mortar batteries. firing az high angle
and dropping their l.000-pound projeotiles
on the decks Of the oncorning vessels. would
with their stsbl'shed percentage of pro-
fciency throw II 2. 600 pounds of steel. and
would place on deck not less than 4l.4s0
pounds Of steel, or about twenty and one
half tons more. Meanwhile the 6-inch rapie
fire guns would be- holding their fire await
ing the closer approach OF the enemy. when
anything that remained of the attacking
feet would be showered with the 106-pound
projectiles of the little spitfires
on .THE ATLANTIC.-Th reception
committee on the Atlantic end oE the canal
would receive an approaching fleet hardly
less royalty. AS soon ss the enemy came
within 5000 wards the reception would be
gin. and by the time il had come within
3.s71 wards 4e,4s0 pounds Of the heavier
prOjectiles would have been delivered, in
suring the placing on the vessels decks and
sides Of not less than 34.S60 pounds IF
steel. or approximately seventeen tons,
while the mortar batteries Mould hare
thrown $4,000 pounds OF steel and landed
upwards Of 1000 pounds, or approximately
twenty and one-half tons. quite sufficient 40
doubt TO check the onrush Of the enemy.
probably 10 send the entire fleet TO the DOT
tom. And again, the little 6-inch guns
would have been held in reserve TO finish
The work, were any left undone. while the
work done by the larger batteries could be