Show coast defense i washington D 0 jan 21 special reports more or less copious of the proceeding of tho coast defense convention now in progress at tampa florida will as a matter of course go from the english german russian spanish and other embassies in this city to their respective increases in the army and navy or in fortifications or popular complaint concerning unprotected coasts are among the particular things concerning which the ministers accredited to this country are espeut ed to report and it will not be surprising if they make the copt of the present opportunity I 1 in official circles here there is a pronounced feeling that the promoters of abo tampa conference haye been doing too much talking and that no good is likely to result from informing the european powers that new orleans is in a defenseless condition that lampa bay ia absolutely without protection and that seattle tacoma and the mouth of the columbia are all open to unresisting capture nobody imagines that any foreign power is itching for a chance to shake up uncle sam and consequently glad to pet from his own people information concerning hia vulnerable points but nevertheless the opinion prevails in a good many cir j cles that the florida movement and the statements it has evoked are not especially ally well timed |