The War.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 285, 7 May 1898, Page 3

The War.

(HT ELECTRIC TELI.CIKAJ'H - COrYKUJIIT). CUBAN AUTONOMY. Ne-vt York, May 5. General Blanco opened with greuf ceremony the Congress elected under tho scheme for granting autonomy to Cuba. He read a message from the Queen Regent of Spain, in which she urged the Cubans and Spaniards to unite in defence of their fatherland. This evoked great enthusiasm. UNITED STATES AND HAWAII. Washington, May 5. A strong majority of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs favour tho annexation of Hawaii. The leuding Republican Senators, however, advise President McKinley to accept Mr Dole's offer and not await action by Congress. THE AMERICAN FLEET. WASuiNGroN, May 5. Six of the fastest warships belonging to Admiral Sampson's squadron have called and coaled at Key West. They then sailed to unite with the squadron lying at Hampton Roads. The combined squadrons subsequently sailed from the roads together. They comprise four battleships, two armaured and three protected cruisers, and five fast scout ships. It is believed that their destination is Puerto Bico. The American warship Oregon, which recently arrived at Rio Janeiro, has again left, in company with the cruiser Marietta. America has purchased the steamer City of Pekin at Sau Francisco to convey coal and troops to Manila. THE CAPE VERDE SQUADRON. Madrid, May 5. The Spanish Cape Verde squadron has arrived at Cadiz. It will be joined by the armoured ship Pelayo and three cruisers before crossing the Atlantic. HAWAII AND AMERICA. Washington, May 5. Mr S. B. Dole, President of the Hawaiian Republic, has offered to transfer Hawaii to America for the purposes of tho war. He also offers to furnish coal and ammunition to the Americans. THE PHILIPPINES. Berlin, May 5. Berlin newspapers state that if England obtains the Philippine Islands Germany will claim Samoa. DISAFFECTION IN SPAIN. Madrid, May 4. Great excitement prevails at Madrid, accompanied by riots. Senor Sagasta's houso was surrounded by a mob, which shouted " Down with the Government!" Carlists are busy circulating revolutionary pamphlets. Valencia is in a state of siege. Riots have also occurred at Talavera. The war continues to be the all-absorb-ing topic of conversation, and its progress is being keenly watched by all. The following short article bearing on the war will, therefore, no doubt, be 'perused with interest by our realers : THE DEFENCE OF NEW YORK. The possibility of a Spanish attack upon >'ew York makes the question of the defence of that city of great interest. According to the New York Sun, NewYork is practically impregnable to an attack by sea, and there is not one chance in ten millions of an atcack by land. To begin with, New York is admirably situated for defence, as from the entrance of the harbour to the battery at the bead is twenty-one miles, and the outside range of the biggest guns in the Spanish fleet ia about eight miles. At the harbour entrance there are more ten and twelve-inch rifled guns than there are in the Spanish uavy, and of these a large number arc twelve-inch rifled cannon, capable of an elevation which gives them a range of twelve miles. Even if a hostile fleet could live for any time in the face of the fire from the batteries at the entrance, little damage would be done within the effective radius cf eight miles. If, however, a first-class Spanish cruiser were lying outside the harbour, off Coney Island, the radius within the range of her ten-inch guns would include Flatbush, Flatlands, New Utrecht, and perhaps some parts of Brooklyn. Such a contingency as this is guarded against by the twelve-inch guns on Sandy Hook, from which Coney Island is distant some eight miles, that is to say, within easy range. It will be seen, therefore, that no ships could lie there for many minutes if they succeeded in reaching the spot at all. These same guns on Sandy Hook also cover the four entrances to the harbour, and as long as they " remained active could sink the most heavily armed sh'p that attempted to pass through. In addition to the big guns, there are four mortar batteries, effective at a distance of between four und fiie miles. Each mortar throws a steel projectile, twelve inches in diameter, loaded with seventy or eighty pounds of explosives, and weighing about 800 pounds, and one of these falling on deck armour 4-j- inches thick would blow the ship to pieces. To take their guns and mortar batteries by assault would be practically impossible, as tho largest cannon are mounted on 40ft. of concrete, protected by tremendous banks of sand, and disappear with their own recoil, and are protected with a bomb proof cover, so that the chances of a gunner from a warsly'p hitting one of these guns are very small. The mortar batteries are further inland, and are sunk in deep pits. Just as important as the batten-s is the torpedo system. The tortuous entrances of the harbour are all laid with torpedoes, and at Plum Island, distant only a' mile and a-half from Coney Island, there are torpedoes enough to finish the work left undone by the big guns, should an • enemy make a stand at Coney Island. In the Lower Bay there i 3 not an anchorage not underlaid with torpedoes, ready to blow a vessel out of the water, though harmless unless fired from the shore by an electric current. All the sea approaches to the city having been disposed of, there remains the remote possibility of bombardment from the Long Island Sound. Here however, there are the same 12in disappearing guns reaching right across the Sound, and at its lower end are more big modern guus and an impassable combination of torpedoes and submarine mines. Besides these land defences there is also the navy. The Sun claims that there is no more possiJfeility of New York being made the victim of a hostile fleet than there is of an earthquake turning Manhattan upside down. • KEY WEST. From an American journal we give tli2 following particulars respecting Key West, which is certain to form an important point in the struggle between Spain and the United States :—lt is with a great deal of satisfaction to the public at large that the United States Government has, within the past year, commenced work ou the fortifications at Key West. Occupying the position it does, too much consideration caunot be given to our most southern city aa a

naval stratfgkPpoint. It is in fact, con sdered third in value The island of Key West, only six miles long by about two in width, is of great value to America, aDd occupies one of the most exposed positions on our whole coast line. Key West is now defended by old Fort Taylor, one of the ancient type of ft rts, and of no value in modern warfare. It is built of buck and stom, and projects out into the straits, connected with tho island by a eaiueway. The new fortifications are to consist of two sepaiate batteries, one to extend from Fort Taylor to the northeast about a quarter of a mile, and the other for a sl.orter distance, from Fort Taj lor to the north-west, entirely protecting the most southern portion of the island and the city of Key West. The construction of these batteries is to be of the greatest strength possible, and to withstand the attacks of the heaviest artillery known. The retainigg wall is 26ft. thick, and about 40ft. in height, built of granite rock set in concrete. The wall is to be protected on the outside by a saudbank extending from the top of the wall in a gradual slope downward to a distance of 55ft. from its base. • HAMPTON ROADS. Another important point on the Atlantic coast is what is known as Hampton Roads at the mouth of the James River. Last month the American naval authorities ordered the formation of a newsquadron of warships to be stationed there. Hampton Roads is said to be the best strategic point on the Atlantic coast. It is'alrr.ost centrally located and the ships from that point can reach any portion of the coast on short order. Resides, the second best navy yard in the country is there to fall back upon for repairs to the ships. There is plenty of best coal at Newport News, there is easy water to navigate, and finally the forts at Hampton Roads may serve as a base, of operations in case of need for protection. These are the considerations which, no doubt, animatjd the Navy Department in making the new order. PROTECTION OF RO /lON. A recent cable message stated that a warship had bein sent to protect Poston. The Boston Traveller of February '2sth sa y 3 : —" Boston is unprotected in case of war. A single Spanish warship could in a single day destroy the city. A United States warship should be stationed off the approaches to Boston Harbour. Experts say that here is where the real stand in defence of Roston Harbour would be made. It is absolutely necessary that the Navy Department send a battleship to protect the harbour,, especially outside Boston lightship. The nearest American warship to Boston is now in New York harbour, and Boston is practically defenceless, •notwithstanding the fact that there are powerful batteries scattered about inside the harbotr. The lightship is only eight miles from .the wharves, so that it is possible for a Spanish vessel to throw shells from outside and cause irreparable damage to property and a great loss of life. The batteries at Winthrop, situated about six or seven miles from Boston light, would only be able to protect the inner harbour. The mortars would throw shells about ou the outside without any definite range. Fort Warren and the guns thai are now being placed on the extreme end of Long Island would also protect the inner harbour to a great extent and prevent foreign vessels from running through the Narrows into President Roads. The guns at both places could be trained upon any vessel making such au attempt with great success. As far ts the inside harbour is concerned, Boston is in a faiily good condition to meet a fos, but the whole trouble will be experienced ia meeting battleships outside the light. The fact that the city is unprotected within ten miles of the wharves is giving business men in this city much concern. The average range of the Spanish warship guns is about ten mile?. One of her vessels by maneeuvering about could keep discharging shells with terrible effect upon the city of Boston. Some action should be taken immediately to have at least one war vessel on or around Boston or within a few hours' sail of the harbour. It is not impossible for a Spanish warship to make its appearance suddenly in the harbour. It could demand a nation's ransom from wialthy Boston." A NOVEL MEANS OF DEFENCE. According to the Chicago Tribune, a curious, sure, and deadly means of coast defence, which will prevent any foreign power from sending a warship up the Delaware river, will be constructed at Marcus Hook. The idea was suggested by Admiral Luce, and consists of flooding the river with petroleum from perforated pipes sunk below the water and setting the oil on fire as it rises to the surface, causing a sheet of flame to ascend many feet above the masts of the largest vessels afloat. No vessel could pass through it, as the iutense heat would bend and eat up the strongest iron plates made, and what remained would be blown to atoms by heat reaching the magazines. The idea is to erect powerhouses on the shores and force the oil by machinery through the pipes, and on the approach of the enemy to fire the oil as it drifts up or down the river or bay with the ebb or flow of the tide. The pipes can be laid in either deep or shoal water, and the oil can be forced with great rapidity out of the holes in the pipes, covering miles of water with a name. Torpedo boats, with their holds filled with oil, can be utilised for the same purpose, and under the cover of darkness many miles can be cavered with oil, and, after firing the petroleum on the sight of a hostile fleet, return to again go back on a similar errand.