The Monticellonian., 1916-03-02

foes. 1t seems to be admitted that we have big guns enough for the protec- tfon of harbors and cities, but that we haven't the ammunition to make the guns useful. In other words, con- gress has been authorizing plenty of money for guns, but has declined to authorize the money for the purchase of the ammunition which would mako the guns serviceable
 This is recognized as one of the most curious phases of the whole situ- ation. It takes a long while to make the ammunition for the big guns and it is urged by army and navy officers that what ought to have been done was to have ammunition making keep pace with gun making. As things are now, large mum ,er of our great coast-guarding cannon are serviceable simply as ornaments, and can never be seryiceable for anything else unless money is voted to buy food to put into their maws
 Wilson's Trip to the Capes.
 President Wilson has been looking over one of this country's greatest Notifications, the guard over the sea entrances to three great cities, one of which is the capital of the United States.
 When the president announced his intention of going to Fortress Monroe to have few days time in which to think on whom to appoint to succeed I in M aT h ais or retary of war, he had one other object in view, namely, the inspection of the defenses at Fortress Monroe and of the site of the proposed additional de- lenses at Cape Henry. He wanted to learn at first hand something about the big guns and the water approaches which they command
 There is one element in the prepar- edness plan upon which army officers and legislators fixed their minds prior to the great war in Europe and. of course therefore, prior to the time of the arousing of interest in this coun- try in the subject of quick preparation for defense About two years ago plans were laid to build a big fort at Cape Henry to help Fortress Mon- roe guard the entrance to Chesapeake bay and to the James river.
 Up the Chesapeake at it's farther most point lies Baltimore. Running into the Chesapeake about midway between the entrance and it's high point, is the Potomac river, and up the Potomac lies the city of Washington. Just back of the main entrance to the waters of Hampton Roads lies the city of Norfolk, and up the James river, which empties into the ocean near Nor folk, lies the city of Richmond. All of these cities must be guarded by the forts whose guns command the pas sageway between Cape Charles and Cape Henry.
 Really Two Forts There.
 In reality there are two forts at Old Point Comfort. There Is the old For tress Monroe built hundred or more years ago and which resembles to some extent the fortiications of the medieval period. There Is the mason ry fort with its embrasures through which poked the muzzles of now aati- quated smooth bore guns. and there is the moat fed by the waters of the bay and which was intended to em- barrass if not to stop land attack
 Today as a companion to the old fort Is new fortress, unlike 1t in all particulars. It Is modern and is equipped with the most modern high power rifles. Electrical and somewhat intricate machinery has taken the place of the old sponge and rammer staff which was used to charge the muzzle-loading smooth bores of the old time Range finders and new in- ventions for sighting have superseded the old system of aiming the smooth bores which, as a matter of fact, were pointed to a considerable extent as an ordinary rife is pointed
 The guns of Fortress Monroe can hurl projectiles across the entrance to Chesapeake bay as far as the shore waters of Cape Charles. Enemy yes sells in order to get into Chesapeake bay proper and to head toward Balti more and Washington must pass with in range of the Fortress Monroe guns. However, if fog is on, or if the ene- my's ships are willing to take chances, they could pass up into the Chesa- peake, hugging the Cape Charles shore and be in comparatively little danger of disaster from Monroe's guns.
 To Fortify Cape Henry.
 In order to make such a passage for the enemy's ships more hazardous batteries have been placed on what are called the Rip-raps which lie in the waters of Hampton Roads to the right of Fortress Monroe as one looks seaward. This makes two fortifica. tions In place and ready to defend the bay and river approaches. but these two have not been considered suffi- eient to meet all the possibilities in the case.
 Therefore it was that congress pro- vided the means some time ago for the purchase of land for fort on Cape Henry, the more southern of the two capes between which the channel into the Chesapeake and Hampton Roads runs from the ocean. This fort when it is completed will have the most modern guns and it seems likely that the government will place one or two of the 16-inch monsters on this newly-aequired land.
 All of Montanas county school su- perintendents are women.
 Modern methods of mining and