The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-04-27

into position. When II is fred the re-
coil throws 1t back and down into the
pit There 1t is loaded, driven up into
place again and fred. Thus the opera
ton is repeated until the enemy Is at
the bottom Of the sea or flag OF truce
flies at the masthead. Most Of these
guns now In use are Of twelve inch
bore. They can begin pouring steel
into an enemy that is ten miles or more
away, and at FIVE miles they have fire.
quently registered 100 hits out Of 100
shots, most Of them being so accurately
aimed that they would go through a
hatch without disfiguring the paint on
the sides. Two Of these guns are plac-
ed In a single pit, and together they
can keep shot in the air nearly all
the time, their combined capacity being
a shot every fifteen seconds.
1850 POUND PRoJEcTILEs
1t was found that the twelve inch
high powered guns are too short lived
for economical use. A gun with
larger projectile and little less speed
will do practically the same damage
when 1t hits, and the injury by melting
the rifiing out Of the bore is very much
less. The fourteen inch guns carry
projectiles weighing 1000 pounds and
are fully as effective as the higher pow
cred twelve inch guns.
After the Spanish-American war.
when the new type Of coast defense
was in its infancy, there was great
secrecy. Even a well vouched for
American could not see the batteries
of Fort Monroe. Secretary Root had
his attention called to this precaution-
airy rule. "Will your mines and guns
work." he asked. EYES," 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 defenses are re-
spected In all the imaginary wars
which the armies and navies of the
world fight In their professional jour-
nails. ~
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 at cost
less than that required to build a sin
gle battleship. The moral effect of
these mines in time Of war cannot be
since no nation would
care to risk a feet in a thoroughly
mined harbor. A mine costing n few
hundred dollars may destroy battle
ship costing millions. Military and ma
val experts say that 1t was the knowl-
edge that her harbors were amply pro-
tected that allowed japan to fear moth
ing from the Vladivostok squadron and
enabled the japanese feet to assume
the offensive.
AN ARTIFICIAL ISLAND
One of the most remarkable steps to
be taken In perfecting the coast de-
lenses of the United States is the build
ing Of an artificial island between
Capes Charles and Henry, at the mouth
of Chesapeake bay. On this island is
to be planted great fort to prevent
any feet from sailing In while our own
might be elsewhere. More peculiar
than this, however, is the new Gibral-
tar with which Honolulu is now de-
Tended. The crater of huge extinct
volcano has been pressed into service
as natural fort, and galleries are be-
ing cut into It so as to place all war
material out Of harms way.
The coast defenses of the United
States proper and in the insuIar pos
sessions are practically completed In
the United States proper the chances
Of an invasion Of the country. unless
II be through Canada or Mexico, are
decidedly remote. Boston and New
York are almost as safe from the shells
Of an enemy AZ st. Louis or Atlanta.