The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-09
CAPE HENRY'S GUNS
COST TWO MILLIONS
Eovernnaent Now Plans TO Spend &c.
100000 On Defenses At
II Fort.
NELSON'S TAUGHT BY EUROPE.
Qualifications At Virginia Capcs to Be
Couneed Upon AS Protection For
States Natural Land and Water
Resources.

IA The guns at Cape Henry will cost
more than one million. FIVE hundred
Thousand dollars, the great rifles on
yhear disappearing carriages. the
agiant mortars that send their huge
bombs paraboling through. the air for
Roll of death and dread destruction;
And this sta ggering sum Is q mere
Traction of the expense. made less in
ehe case at point where sand is pres
(ent In limitless quantity.
The emplacements and the plant In
fcluding q wharf for landing supplies
y connecting railway, an electric sys-
tem and the submarine defenses other
than materials will cost nearly three
milhons more: while quarters for Of
6cers, barracks for men, a machine
shop and it's equipment Will altogether
run somewhere beyond the mark of
y million and C. half
Six millions and more thus are
tounted as a minimum requisite. more
4s sure to be demanded, and most
Important part of the defense work
has not been mentioned. Prior 10 the
great war most elaborate scheme
tpf land defense had been planned for
Fort Monroe and Cape HenIy-sec-
pndary for subsidiary lines OF protec-
ton with eTnpla cements for many
guns, some OF them In position, a
scheme to make a rear attack on
either of these strongholds irnposst BILE
Of success hut events in Europe soon
demonstrated that military strategy
had become a new science, that de-
lenses hitherto regarded as irnpre&-
nable were powerless TO resist the
modern assaults
Into the vault OF things discarded
went these drawings and calculations
that had taken for their making so
much time and thought. Scarcely a
sestige Of what was in the mind Of
1.-THE engineer shows IN the new scheme
OF things which. until offensive war
fare takes another and important
stride will make the Virginia forts as
Bafe from land as they are to he from
Sea For these undertakings possibly
another half million will be needed.
aside from any sum required 10 Tur-
| nish mobile guns to mount and move
Ms the emergency arrives, So the total
ewells 10 six millions and a half as
Ahe irreductbIe minimum a suTn that
well might prompt the query--is II
worth it,
Entirely aside from the deplorahle
national fAm4liafton attendant upon
paying tribute. think for a moment
hf the monetary insurance given by
khese fortihoAtionx Remembering
Eamur, Aege. Brussels and Antwerp
hmong similar sufferers OF the great
WAR. who can think Of Norfolk. New
bort News, Richmond. Baltimore and
khe capital Of the United States and
VIGOROUSLY doubt the wisdom OF the
depending, ever IL national pride could
mot be taken into consideration,
Fort Monroe, Il Is true, has gums that
nre across the Chesapeake Bay and
amply guard the why to Hampton
Roads; but even on clear day the
low freeboard OF tattieship Is below
Tho horizon over the bay when hug
Ming the eastern limits Of the channel
way and In hazy weather no part OF
y werxhip can be distinguished By a
thatcher at the fort. Submarine mines
pre- undoubtedly a good defense: but
nt is automatic in naval warfare that
RnineA undefendcd by forts, are no
BARRIER to q superior naval force, that
once the supremacy OF a feet ie En-
kabiished It can take It's time destroy
ing mines by oounternines.
Another point, and to an extsnt a
66eterznin!nS one, which the Taft board
md others have used to emphasize tn Q
importance Of making this district i'm
pregnable. Ia that here. a. possibly no.
where else in the country. could an
Occupying force ana Ito own stub
gistence. Excepting meat alone, an
Alien army occupying the Norfolk
rural territory would need no food I'm
portA Fish In any quantity II present;
oyuters. CLAIMS, crabe are abundant,
four ana Ave crops Of vegetables are
produced annually. HAh the potato
crop OF the United eeaees comes from
NE UasAeen Shore Of Virginia. half
me lrnio md spinach OF the country
rovu In Norfolk County.