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1. The great centres of population and production. 
2. The navigation by long sea. 
3. The coasting service. 
It is assumed that the war fleet will give battle, protect navigation on the high 
seas, and destroy the enemy’s commerce. The coast defence must meet the other 
needs. For this purpose fixed defences will be required, such as mines and 
works of fortification; and also movable defences, such as floating batteries and 
torpedoes. With regard to armament, that of the artillery will consist of steel 
rifled pieces, comprising 12-inch mortars for plunging fire, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16- 
inch guns for direct fire, quick-firing guns and mitrailleuses. Preponderance will 
be given to plunging fire ; the total number of mortars provided being equal to 
that of all the guns of different calibres put together. The armament of a fortress 
will always consist of a number of mortars equal to or greater than that of all the 
other pieces put together, the mortars being from 50 to 75 per cent, and the heavy 
armour-plated guns from 10 to 20 per cent, of the whole. The remaining pieces 
would be placed en barbette, or mounted separately upon “ Eclipse ” carriages or 
upon elevators. 
The general plan of defence includes the protection from bombardment of im¬ 
portant points by the above-mentioned means, the creation of fortified harbours 
of refuge, and the organisation of an interior system of maritime communication, 
which could be utilised during hostilities. It is recommended that 27 places 
should be fortified, viz.: 18 on the coast of the Atlantic, 3 on that of the Pacific, 
5 on the Gulf of Mexico and 1 on the frontier of Canada. The armament pro¬ 
posed comprises about 1300 pieces of ordnance, 150 torpedoes and 6000 mines. 
The whole expense is estimated at 126,377,800 dollars (about £26,000,000). 
This plan of defence, although it has not yet been submitted for sanction by the 
Legislature, has already been carried out to some extent. 
By the “ Fivers and Harbors Act” of 1890, the number of national ports of 
refuge was to be raised as soon as possible to six. In accordance also with a 
Commission which sat in 1890, the Fivers and Harbors Act ” authorised the 
execution oPcertain works with a view to the completion of a “ second coast line ” 
or “ inland water route,” which was already partially in existence. The same 
Act provided for the formation of a ship canal between Buffalo, Chicago and 
Duluth, so as to furnish a sheltered line of communication throughout the chain 
of the great lakes, after the manner of the Welland Canal constructed by the 
English on the southern frontier of Canada. Steps were also taken to counter¬ 
balance the influence of England in the neighbourhood of Paget Sound. With 
this in view, money was voted to improve the water communication in that 
region generally, and especially to make a canal between Paget Sound and the 
Lakes Union and Samamish, a position recommended for the establishment of a 
naval station intended to counteract the English station of Esquimalt. 
Although these different improvements belong especially to the question of 
naval defence, they are important with regard to operations both by land and sea. 
In the marine department still greater strides have been made since the ap¬ 
pointment of the present Secretary, Mr. Tracy, who demanded the organisation of 
a fleet of 100 vessels, including 20 ships of the line, 60 cruisers and 20 coastguard 
ships, and who formed a Commission (the “ Board of Naval Policy ”), composed 
