The garden of the Exhibition and the galleries that surround it are illuminated at night by the electric light.—L'Illustration.
OUR COAST DEFENSES.
General H.L. Abbott delivered a lecture before the Academy of Sciences in New York, on the evening of March 21, a summary of which is given by the Herald as follows:
According to General Abbott, the country needs for its coast defenses:
- Heavy guns;
- Armor-clad casemates;
- Disappearing gun carriages in earthworks;
- Heavy mortars;
- Submarine mines or fixed torpedoes; and
- Fish torpedoes.
The lecturer said that this nation may be attacked in four ways: First, by fleet and army combined, as in our revolutionary war; second, by blockading the entrances to all our ports; third, by bombardment of our seaport cities from a long distance; fourth, by a fleet forcing its way into our harbors, and making a direct attack or levying tribute on our people.
The first is not now greatly to be feared. We are too distant from great powers, and too strong on land.
The second should be met by the navy, and is, therefore, outside a discussion of coast defenses.