unwinnable war against the Atlantic Ocean.

Benjamin Rego Sr., of Sea Cliffs in Warwick, last week applied for final Planning approval to build a 120-foot sea wall to support collapsing sea cliffs.

But developers know the gambit may not succeed.

"Our proposal will not stop erosion, but it is designed to slow the process,'' stated a letter to the Planning Department.

"Part of a very large overhang may still go because it would require massive buttresses to hold it.'' Although there is apparently "no great depth of water'', the base is fully exposed to the force of ocean erosion -- especially during hurricanes.

And rocks from previous collapses further weaken the limestone by smashing into the base.

If approval is granted, workmen will climb to the sandy base of the cliff during low tide.

In a "very low tech'' operation, workmen will place burlap bags full of concrete at the front of the overhang and then pipe concrete behind the restraining wall.

"The solution is to create a band of concrete in the tide zone, which is much more resistant to erosion,'' stated the letter.

"The work we plan will have no significant impact on the marine environment because the abrasive action which wears away the cliff also prevents any marine growth.'' TOURISM TOU