Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-02
CONGRESSMAN SAYS
CITY Is AT MERCY OF
FOREIGN INVADERS
Philadelphia Defenses Ut
terly Inadequate, Assert
]. Hampton Moore and
Peter E. Costello - Ma
tion Must Wake Up.


take place in Congress next winter be-
tween advocates OF the small army and
navy plan and the men who want great
increases IN the regular army and steps
taken TO insure the strengthening of the
National Guard throughout the United
States
So far as can be seen now, national de-
fense and the question Of adequate prep
aration will be the principal topic before
the noxt Congress. The European war
is responslble for this as we'll as the gem
erai awakening to the fact that the
United States might become involved in
a struggle WITH European powers.
Lined up on the side of adequate pre-
paredness will be the President OF the
United States. the Secretary OF War and
the Secretary Of the Navy Behind them,
and with the power to increase the size
of the army and navy, will be most of
the Congressman and Senators from the
Northern Coast States and q scattering
few from Southern States along the sea-
board.
This number will be augmented by
phalanx from the Pacific coast. whose
realization of the dangerous conditions of
the national defenses has been height
ened by the ever-present thought Of a
Japanese invasion.
Southern Democrats from the interior,
whose constituents have not reason to
from the seaboard. and the great body
OF the congressman and Senators from
the middle West are expected to show
an apathy In their attitude toward eff
forts to increase the military prepared
ness of the United States
But that the pressure of the advocates
OF preparedness will be effective there
seems no doubt. Philadelphia Congress-
men. besides those from New York, New
Jersey Delaware and the other seaboard
States will probably form a solid unit
to push the plan for adequate defenses
for the United States.
MR. MooRE's VIEWS.
Congressman j. Hampton Moore is one
of the Pennsylvanians who can be
counted upon to aid vigorously in OBJ
tanning a greater army and navy He
and a delegation of Congressman from
New Jersey and Delaware returned only
last Friday from trip down the. Della
ware River and bay with a view of learn
ing the true condition of defenses for
Philadelphia and Camden.
''Wc find that II we do not put up bar
riers against foreign competition we will
be swamped in our trade conditions" said
Congressman Moore. by the same token
II we do not put UP and maintain proper
defenses we may some day be overcome
in war. We do not lack patriotism or
spirit. but we grow indifferent to some of
our necessities because of our activities.
Take the fortifcations around Philadel-
phia. Why were they constructed? Old
Fort Mercer, on the Jersey side at what
Is now known as Red Bank. and Fort
Mifhin, on the Pennsylvania side. below
League Island were erected in the days
of Washington to protect Philadelphia,
which was then the first city of the
United States, against British invasion.
'"rho easy assurance that we are safe
A.. IL. IL. L..
land calls to mind the fact that the British
ships occupied this harbor In the days OF
Lord Howe and that he spent a somewhat
festive season in our midst that was
humiliating at least to the Father of His
Country in the trying days of Valley
Forge. In 1914 a British admiral sailed up
the Potomac River to Alexandria, which
is further inland than Philadelphia, and
marched over to the Capitol and burned 1t.
LAS matter of fact we are but slightly
better off relatively to protect ourselves
around Washington today than we were
in 1914
''On the Delaware River we have three
forts. one of them supposed to be ut
terly unfit for effective service against
the modern guns of an enemy's ship. be-
low New Castle. These forts constitute our
shield against foreign vessels that might
sail up the Delaware Bay and River, and
at the present time they are manned by
200 officers and men who are not sufi-
Client to keep the buildings. grounds.
guns and machinery free from rust and
deterioration.
LAND DEFENsEs WEAK.
'If an enemy should not see it to come
up the Delaware River but should land
troops, wiry, well-trained men, such as
fought In the Russo-Japanese war or
such as are now fighting In the European
war, 1t would be a serious question
rushing In behind any one of the Della
ware fortihcations and taking posses
sion OF them. Such an invasion would
mean that Philadelphia with its splendid
navy yard and its various arsenals rich
with Government stores and ammunition
would need immediate defense should
they not actually fall as prizes.
THE defenses OF the lower Delaware
while not enough so far as they go, and
insuffieiently manned as they are, would
have very little advantage in the way OF
reinforcements or supplies through the
Chesapeake and Delaware or the Della
ware and Raritan canals. The depth OF
water in each OF these streams is in
SUFFICIENT TO pass gunboats or subma-
rinea or supply boats, and yet the Chesa-
reake and Delaware Canal. which Is no
better now than II was when completed
IN 1879 was the means OF saving the
capital OF the nation atlthe call Of Presi-
dent Lincoln in 1861. for the railroad
bridges were burned and It was only by
bareing troops through the canal to the
Chesapeake Bay that they were able
to set to Annapolis and on to Washing
ton in time TO stop the Confederate In
vasion
what Philadelphia needs Is little
more assertveness with respect to It's
own welfare. IL the Philippines, which
have caused as much blood and treasure.
are worth large forces OF American troops
10 aid IN setting up the people IN busi-
ness, Philadelphia, New York and Balti-
more should not be overlooked II 5000
troops are taken away from us and es-
tablished IN the Hawaiian Islands, where
the population does not exceed that OF
single congressional district in Philadel-
phia, We ought not 10 be left In the care
Of 200. men who are not sufficient as II 10
10 keep our fortihcations on the Delaware
ln good repair
''If thousands Of men can be sent to in
terror forts thousands Of miles from the
coast line and millions OF dollars raised
out Of our own enterprises can be eN-
pended in Irrigation and reclamation
projects for a limited number Of people
Ne ought 10 have a sufficient allowance
in great centres Of population like those
surrounding Norfolk. Washington, Phila-
deiphla New York and Boston. not only
10 put our coast defenses In good order.
bnt 70 open up and improve our inland
waterways 80 that they viii be a boon In
tule Of peace ana q shield IN time OF