Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-03-22


cessor watched with some misgivings
the successors cabinet making en-
deavors, but it is to be doubted il Mr..
Roosevelt said, as he is reported to
have said "A cabinet like mine does
not seem to be good enough for him
and it may be that in a few weeks
policies like mine will not be good
enough for him..
Want a Third Fort.
The refusal of the house of repre-
sentatives to Incorporates in the
fertilization bill the appropriation
of $150.000 for site %or a
coast defense on Cape Henry was a
sharp disappointment to most of the
good Virginians In the house. to q
good many army officers and .unques-
tionably to the entire population Of
the tide-water section of the Old Do
minion.
Fort Monroe today has the safety OF
several American cities in its keep
ing. 1t is the outpost defense of
Washington and Baltimore. and with
Fort Wool 1t stands as. sentinel
keeping watch over Norfolk and Rich
mond. The army men and the Vir-
ginians think that a third sentinel
should be posted. but congressman
have taken issue with them. Across
the mingling waters of Chesapeake
bay and the ocean lies Cape Charles,
whose rough coast is visible on clear
days to the gunners on Monroe's par
apets, but II what has been said by
supposed experts is true, no projectile
which the big guns of the fort can
hurl ever is likely to prove effective
against battleships steaming into the
channel close under the Charles pro-
montory to make the run up the wa
tiers leading to the capital.
The forts at Cape Henry southwark
across the entrance to the inland wa
tiers, army men seem to think, would
nearly perfect the system of defense,
but the proposal for Cape Henry
fertilization is only one of several
plans which have been made from
time to time to complete the defenses
of the harbor, bay and river
Hints at Selfish Interest.
There was a plan first to build a fort
on Cape Charles itself, but later this
was changed in favor Of plan to
plant big guns on a half submerged
island midway Of the entrance to the
Chesapeake. This plan was consid-
cred by congress several years ago,
and there were hints that some selfish
interests were connected with it. but
no one ever made direct charge, and
there never was any proof advanced
of what were but whispered insinua-
tons.
1t seems to be the full belief OF
many army officers that one day an ad.
ditional fertilization in the vicinity
of the Virginia capes will be author.
lied by congress. AS things are now
1t is said that foreign fleet with a
pilot deserving the name on board
the leading ship. could slip into the
Chesapeake under cover of a haze
while the shore artillerymen, no mat
ter how watchful, would know nothing
Of the movement until there was nc
target to fire at, but the broad wakes
of the invading vessels.
Fort Monroe Is said to be a bull
wark of defense in Itself. but t seems
even to the layman that the picture
drawn by some of the congressman oil
capital laid waste by the guns oil
foreign feet, or by troops which had
secured landing back of the present
Notifications, is drawn with a free
hand guided by a freer imagination
If vessels should succeed in getting by
Fort Monroe they would have a hard
time getting up the Potomac river, for
below Washington the Potomac's
channel is safe-guarded.
Make an Easy Target.
| Pictures also have been drawn oil
the demolition of Richmond and Nor
| folk by hostile guns. It would seem
that the Virginia capital and its sea
port might be able to rest in conf
dence that no foe can come up the wa
ter to their troubling. The main ship
channel at the mouth of the James
is within easy great gun range OF the
parapets of Fort Monroe. and the gun
ner who could not hit SO fair and con
| fronting mark as battleship or q
cruiser at double the distance would
be discredited after one pushing OF
the electric button, and his place
would be taken instantly by a man
able to drive every projectile home
for the army is not worthless, there
are many such men In the artillery
ranks.
II the marksmen at Fort Monroe
should happen to fail in their cunning
there is perhaps little chance that
their brother artillerymen at Fort
Wool would fail in theirs. for the en-.
envy that would attempt to force a
passage OF the James would almost
brush the muzzles Of the smaller forts
guns. Artillerymen have occasional
chances to test their skill. A govern.
ment tug tows red triangular pyra.
mids made of cloth stretched on a
framework OF wood across the line Of
fire, while the men at the big rifles
peg away at the targets drawn
through the fire zone at a ten knot
gait. In order to make a hit 1t Is
not necessary ito HIT" for II It Is
found that the shot has Nude itself
effective" In space fore and aft OF
the target. not greater than that
which would have been covered by the
battleship, hit is credited.