The San Francisco call., 1897-08-28
More Men Are Needed at
the Coast Defense
Stations.
Special Board Appointed to
Consider the Necessities
of the Service.
TWenty-Eight Cities on the Atlantic
Gulf and Pacific Shores to Be
Pro eCted.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 27.-The
appointment of a special board by the
War Department 10 consider the dis
tributing of the present artillery force of
the army is a step of great Importance.
1t indicates that the extensive system of
coast defenses is now approaching a point
at which the artillery will have to be
largely Increased. This board will con-
vene in Washington on September l and
will at once begin an investigation OF the
subject, with view OF formulating a re-
port for submission to Congress early
next session.
At present the artillery branch is
scarcely large enough for the already
large garrisons op the seaboard, but with
the gradual mpletion of new defenses
the army will be unable to supply soldiers
for this duty from The artillery with the
present force. For years efforts have been
made to induce Congress 10 increase the
artillery by two regiments in order to
meet existing conditions, but without sue
cess.
The seacoast defenses will not neeessi-
tate an increase in the artillery, but will
lead to the esta blishment of many new
stations, some of which are certain to be-
come headquarters of regiments. The
board viii now determine just how many
artillerymen will be required at the new
Notifications for their protection the eX-
tent of the barracks accomm odations, the
water transportation needed in maintain
ing communication between the detached
batteries and the quantity of land re-
quired for the erection of entirely new
garrisons.
The army at present supports five regi-
ments OF artillery, with headquarters at
New York harbor Washington CITY, Fort
Mcpherson, Atlanta, San Francisco and
at Tacoma, with detached batteries at
some few of the interior posts. The coast
defense plan now being carried out in
cludes the defenses of twenty-eght cities
on the Atlantic, Gulf AMI Pacific coasts.
At many of these cities artillery troops
are already located, but the commands, as
a rule, are not as large as the authorities
deem necessary for the care of new de-
lenses At some cities, where no artillery
troops are located. entirely new posts will
be established and new details of troops
made.
On the Pacific batteries will be loca ed
at all points, except at San Francisco,
which are included in the Qualifications
plan. The importance and extent of the
artillery army will, therefore, be decided
ly increased by the com pietion of the
Notifications, and practically every city
on the >eaboard that is TO be defended will
in a few years have some artillery sta
toned there foT the protection of the new
batteries.
The board will probably make the most
exhaustive investigations of the needs of
the artillery branch yet undertaken, and
will unQuestionably urge that the present
strength be increased by the next Con-
gress to the extent of two regiments TO
meet the growing requirements of this
branch of the army. There is as yet no
immediate demand for the troops. None
of the new deienses are as vet com pleted,
and few will be under two years. En-
bankments are being constructed at many
of the ports in the Notifications plan and
ordnance is being manufactured at the
Governmen. and private factories as fast
as the engineers are ready for the instala.
ton OF guns, but at none of the defenses,
with the exception of tina: for the protec-
tion OF the National Capitol, will full gar
risons of artillery be required in less than
eighteen months at the outside.
The increase in the strength OF tlAe ar
tillery Will quicken promotion in this
branch and relieve the stagnation which
cred the most desirable arm Of the SER
vice by young West Pointers it is a con-
spicuous fact that advancement is slower
in it than in any of the others. This is
due in measure to the present organiza-
tion. First lieutenants have as a rule to
remain in the one grade from fifteen to
twenty-five years before becoming cap
tains. There ara now lIeutenants who
will never attain a higher rank, and
several have of late years retired from this
grade