The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-25

GQui pxucub ana InAlHJ8uAuCe OF the
armed forces necessary to repel in
vasion. If these sections were held,
thev would supply the means for re-
covering whatever else might be eyac-
uated. II these sections were lost, all
would be lost. Such q section is the
Atlantic seaboard, from Penobscot
Bay to the Cape Fear River, and
thence westward to the lakes and
mountains. Adjacent to this seaboard
are all, save one, of the larger naya!
yards OF the country, the most i'm
portant private shipyards. the seat of
government, the naval gun works. the
headquarters OF the general board
and of the general staff, the principal
depots and stores. majority of the
powder manufactures of the United
Ssates' the pennsylvania steel plants.
.he pest railroads for mobilization ana
me largest units of the present ma
uohal guard and of any citizen army
likely hereafter to be created, The
occupation of this section by an en-
envy would leave our armies without
equipment, our gunners without suf-
ncieht ordnance or ammunition, our
navy without an adequate Atlantic
odse ana our country almost without
nope OF driving out the enemy
No seaboard City More Secure.
y. In this area OF essential defense.
few citizens are more secure and none
so completely meets the requirements
Tor naval armor- plate plant than
does Richmond. 1t has a Ieep-water
chdhnel TO the natural base for naval
building and reftting: ii is close to
the proving grounds. and it enjoys
other Industrial and geological advan-
tases explained in detail in the brief
already fled with the honorable, the
secretary OF the Navy At the same
1ime, richmond lies l05 miles inland
from Chesa peake Bay. and will short
~ he defended not only by Fortress
Monroe. but by the new forts to be
constructed at Cape Henry. In addi-
ton, the channel of the James River
Is readily INSTRUCTED and can be SO
mined as to be Impossible of naviga
ton by even the iightest craft. Cou-
pied with the river line are natural
land ana water defenses. guarding the
city on its southern, It's eastern and
its northern approaches Upon the
strength OF these Richmond feels 1t
need not dwell. since the city was sue
defended for eleven months
against combined naval and field at
tack. through the efforts or an arinv
less than half. as large as the be-
leaeuering forces. commanded as the
latter were by the ablest OF Federal
generals and by one of the most skill
full Of Federal admirais
10. Richmond wishes particularly
to direct the attention OF the honor
abIe. the Secretary of the Navy. to the
fact that the military principle which
the general hoard Oft The navy. has
followed IN It's recommendation was
adopted by the Army War College
prior to the enactment OF the pre-
paredness legislation of the sixty
fourth Congress Included i'm that
legislation arc appropriations which
will greatly increase the reach ami
hghting strength OF the navy viii
make the Chesapeake Bay the gre n
base OF The navy and viii. at the same
time. render Its approaches as l11-
preguahlc as military science can de-
wise. These measures emphasize
Eichmond,s view that the area in
which II occupies peculiarly safe
and strategic position 70 regarded ~
Congress and its advisers as essential
TO the national defense. Before an
armor- plate plant can Ne constructed
and IN operation. this area Will pre-
suma bly, be far more defensible II an
at the time The Army War College laid
down the military principle IN qnes-
ton Present strategic problems will
aave been solved by the Introduction
Of compulsory military service. la
such q development. the nasty and
unwtse location of the armor pla 9
plant at distance from the sc board
and from the proving GROUNDS would
involve ar added cost Of production.
long and expensive delays N tho test
ing and transportation of plates ana
the sacrifices of advantages 10 bG
gained safely and promptly by locat-
Ing the plant at Richmond.
saved 10y New Defense Plan.
"a II the national defense proposed
by the general hoard OF the navy and
endorsed by Congress be adequate,
Richmond stands in no danger OF cap
ture by ar enemy If this defense
be inadequate. and II Richmond be
enda ngerei. the Atlantic eaboard will
already have been overrun and de-
fenseiess nation will have no use for
a naval armor- plate plant In view
of these facts Richmond feels tusti-
fed in respectfully requesting the
aonora bic. the Secretary of the Navy,
again TO refer the location of the
plant to the general board OF the navy
aud to ask that body whether the
completed present program Of ma
tional defense will change tie mill
tary principle OF Sc ptemher II. 1915.
or whether. after all that has been
hoped and all that viii have been
expended. the cities Of the Atlantic
seahoard will still be 80 liable tt cap
tlre as Ia render nnSfe the govern
ment works located therein. This re-
quest granted, and the suffsc(ency OF
the new defensive measures to the
safety Of the Atlantic seaboard de
teVinihed, Eichmond believes it's ia
Norabie freight rates. its proximity to
raw material. It's labor supply and its
unusual geological formation Will