El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-03

The biggest gun ever built is the 16
inch monster that is now at a New Yor4A
fort. 1t carries a prOjectile weighing
full ton and can hand it out to an
enemy 21 miles away. At II miles it
can toss its 1000 pound ball as accu-
rately as a baseball player throws the
horsehide to a team mate II yards away.
This gun has been fired only a few
times
Coast Defence Respected.
Before the Spanish-American war it
was thought that the firing OF 10 shots
by coast defence gun was good days
work Since then their speed has been
increased to many times that much in a
single hour. After the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, when the new type Of coast de-
fence was in its infancy. there was
great secrecy. Even a well vouched for
American could not see the batteries at
Fortress Monroe.
Secretary Root had his attention call
ed 20 this precautionary rule.
VIII your mines and guns wOrk?"
lie queried
es.' was the ready response.
Then. why have any secrecy about
! them; why not let the world know how
strong they are?' he asked And since
then the world has known, and our
coast defences are respected in all the
imaginary wars which the armies and
navies of the world fight in their pro-
fessional journals.
HarbOr Mining.
The equipment of the coast defence
forts is one of the most remarkable
evidences of military progress in Amer
lea The immense searchlig hts which
reveal the enemy the minute he ap-
pears, even on the darkest nights, the
wireless telegraph stations that can
catch his messages, the system of fire
troll nh
enemy is determined, and the efficient
system Of mining that has been devel-
oped, all indicate the woe that Will be-
tide the hostile battle fleet that essays
to pass the line Of defence.
1t Is said that Uncle Sam has worked
out the best system of harbor mining
that exists in the world. Furthermore
every harbor from Maine to Washing
ton can be completely mined al a cost
of less than that required to build a
single batleship.
The moral effect of these mines in
time OF war cannot be overestima ted,
since no nation would care TO risk u
fleet in a thoroughly mined harbor. A
mine costing few hundred dollars may
destroy a battleshfp costing millions
Military and naval experts say that it
was the knowledge that her harbors
were amply protected that allowed Jap
an TO fear nothing from the Vladfvos-
tok squadron, and enabled the japanese
fleet 10 assume the offensive.
To Build Big Fort.
One Of the most remarkable steps to
be taken in perfecting the coast de
fences of the United States will be the
building OF an artificial island between
capes Charles and Henry at the mouth
of Chesapeake bay. On this island will
be planted a great fort to prevent any
fleet from sailing il while our own
might be elsewhere
More peculiar than this. however, is
the new Gibraltar, with which Honolulu
is now defended. The crater of a huge
extinct volcano has been pressed into
service as a natural fort, and galleries
are being cut into IL so as TO place all
war material out OF harms way. When
1t is completed II will be well nigh i'm
pregnable.
Militia Aids Regulars.
The question of manning the coast
defences has been serious one. Con-
gress will not allow even half of a war
footing for them. So the military au-
thorities have provided for the situation
by Inducing the seacOast states to con-
vert some OF their militia into coast
defenders.
These militia organizations meet for
two weeks In the year with the regulars
and watch them during the first half
Oh TIE bUEAhS the OtHcA AdAA liz
militia man the places with the regu-
lars by their side. The college men are
given charge of the fire control and
other positions of like Importance. and
it is said to be marvellous how quickly
the militiamen become expert
Certain paraphernalia is supplied TO
each militia organization so that its
members can practice the important du-
ties in their own armories during the
other 5O of the wear.
Invasion Remote.
The coast defences Of the United
States proper are now about three
fourths completed, and about onethird
of the work has been done in the insu-
lar possessions. ", hen those Of the
United States proper are finished the
chances of an invasion Of the country,
unless it be through Canada or Mexico,
will be decidedly remote.
When they are completed Boston and
New York will be about as safe from
the shells of an enemy as St. Louis or
Atlanta
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