New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Mitchell Cites Army Officers
To Uphold His Accusation
Repeats Assertion That in Opposing Fort Bill Senator
Appeared To Be Working for Germany, Whether
That Was Motive Not

the immediate necessity Of the con
struction Of the Rockaway fort.
The letter was dated February Is and
read in part:
"My dear Senator: | am sending you
herewith confidential memorandum
which ! prepared for Senator Wads-
worth. showing the exact status of the
case. This status was only arrived ut
after prolonged negotiations between
the Civ Of New York, the Rockaway
Reach and Pacific Corporation Ga sub
sidiarv company of the Southern Pa
cifc RailroadJ and the agent of the
United States employed for that pur-
pose. Mr. William Tod Wilcox.
while II may be considered that the
necessities Of the United states may
have been somewhat taken advantage
Of 20 end long and difficult contro-
versv between the Rockaway Beach
and Pacific Corporation and the City
Of New York, yet the fact remains that
the agreement arrived al is one which
is advantageous TO the United states
and to tn, City Of New York and gives
the United States an opportunity to
obtain quickly and reasonably the land
at Rockaway Beach much needed Tor
additional fortifcations required for
the protection OF the southern entrance
TO New York Harbor. The money Tor
the construction of batteries IS on
hand and work can be done as soon
as title passes 20 the United states.
This work has been delayed already
too long for the best interests OF our
country. and we are extremely anxious
TO push it through. Anything you can
do to assist the United States IN get
ting this troublesome matter pushed
TO a conclusion will be very highly sp-
preciated."
Colonel Abbots Letter
In support of his contention that the
real work on the proposed fertilization
had not begun, the Mayor included the
letter from Colonel Frederic Y. Abbot,
in which it was pointed out that the
fertilization i'm question would consist
of very heavy, long range ordnance,
emplaced for the purpose of covering
water areas beyond the reach OF any
of our present guns" The 'etter also
stated that, without eXaggeratlon,
much of the city below Fourteenth
Street would be exposed to such bonn
bardment at the present time" without
such guns.
Colonel Abbot declared that the gov
eminent had been ready to begin filling
of the land and the construction OF
foundations ever since February 10
He pointed out that work could not
begin until the title had passed and
subsequently approved by the Attor-
ncy General of the United States.
Work Done Only Temporary
Colonel Abbot said that some tenn
porary work had been done on the
Rockaway Point. authorized under the
Federal statutes, which permits the
President to order such work IN emer-
gcncv. with the consent Of the prop
erty owners. He explained, however
that the armament and equipment so
installed is only an emergency prep
aration against attacks by compare
lively unImportant naval units. ana
has no bearing at all upon the pro-
lection of the lower part of New York
CITY against distant bombardment.
MAYOR Mitchell declared in cOnclu-
sion that flibuster might take one
form with an O'Gorman in the SEN
ate of the United States and another
form with a Wagner in the Senate OF
the state. but whether tilibuster take
the form of disloyal obstruction Of
fered to the President in his effort 20
protect American lives, rights and
commerce. or whether it take the form
of petty political obstruction to the
establishment of a great necessary
fort to protect the City Of New York.
il operates against the interests OF the
United States and in the interests OF
her enemies" 49,,
"A national peril, the scope of which
no words can measure, is approaching
week by week, day by day, hour by
hour. TO prepare at once against this
peril is the national necessity. the
great necessity, the only necessity
worth discussing.
IL charge that any man who OBJ
structs by a week. day, an hour, the
construction of defences against that
peril is working, not in the interest OF
the United States. but IN the interest
of the enemies of the United States