Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-08

which every foreign government with
military information corps has had
in its possession for long time. Why
is it said that a foe can smash our
cities so easily? Because, army men
say. there is only two hours supply
of ammunition for our seacoast de-
Tense guns, 1t is held in fact that it is
only two hours supply of ammunition
TO one-half the big guns guarding our
ports of entrance.
There is one curious feature which
stands out from all the facts which
have been presented to congress con-
corning our need or lack of need of
preparation for defense from possible
foes. It seems to be admitted that we
have big guns enough for the protec-
tion 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 make
the guns serviceable.
This is recognized as one of the
most curious phases of tho whole situ-
alton. 1t takes 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. a large mum ,er o. our great
coast guarding cannon are serviceable
simply as ornaments. and can never
be serviceable for anything else unless
money is voted to buy food TO put into
their mlws
Wilson's Trip to the capes.
President Wilson has been looking
over one of this couItry'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
Lindley NJ Garrison, his former sec
rotary 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 fhov 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 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 its farther
most point lies Baltimore. Running
into the Chesapeake about midway
between the entrance and its 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 a hundred or more
years ago and which resembles to
some extent the Notifications of the
medieval period. There is the mason
ry fort with it's embrasures through
which poked the muzZles of now asti-
quated smooth bore guns, and there
is the moat fed by the waters Of the
bay and which was intended to en-
barrass IL not to stop a land attack.
Today as a companion to the old
fort is a new fortress. unlike 1t in all
particulars. II 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 hammer
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 proiectiles 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 enc
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 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
seward. This makes two fortifica-