The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-11

RANGE FINDER
IS WANTED.
ImperatlVs|y Required for Our
Coast DofenCeS.
COL. FRANKS CLEAR REPORT.
Range and Position Finders Now In Use
Not Adapted 10 Low Level Forts.
PROPER DRILLS ARE NOT POSSIBLE.
Army Officers Report Against The Depression Range
FndsT Tagi PractOs COniI'Ion Of ln'
Dsfsnces Along hs Gaf Coast.

Washington, oct. l1.-CoL Royal l.
Frank has filed at the War Depart.
msi. his annual report a. commander
of the Department of the Cur Nhlch
has recently been consolidated with
the Department OF the East. lie calls
particular attention TO the condition OF
the coast defence and the absence OF
satisfactory drills. He says:
There are at this date xteen forti-
fed places along the coast line in this
department. with modern works and
armament completed or approaching
completion. AT some Of these works
drifting sand has been found 50 serious
an obstruction as greatly TO interfere
with the operation of guns and car
riages and renders their proper care and
preservation impossible. This can only
be remedied by cultlvating growth Of
grass suited TO such localities or OF
bushes and small trees. IL is in my
opinion. matter OF such Importance as
TO require the immediate attention OF
rhe proper department.. Magazines are
genaall reported in good condition ana
dry, especially those Of recent construc-
tion with double wall; others vary from
good 10 uEserviceable.
NO RANGE FINDERS.
"At none of the posts in this Depart
ment has any system of range and po-
sit.On finding or OF communication been
Installed ftttff this is tiofft-;
tory drills or instruction can be had at
any of them. The only range and posi-
tfon finders thus far adopted for SER
vice are OF the depression type. These
are we'll adapted 10 high sites where
ample protection can be given them
but for low sites, which characterize al
fortifications on the Atlantic and Gul
coasts south of the Delaware, the
must IL used, be mounted in towers 1
give them the necessary height. The
thus become not only the most conspic
uous objects in the surrounding land
scape. but IL Ia impossible to give ther
proper protection. To enable these In
-tl4sPeHsabie- -auxA iaF+es- Ia W wlthstaf%
the ordeal OF battle. they should, IL pos
sible. have as much protection as
given to the batteries. This Is especial
ly so in the case OF mo1tars. whic
form so large part OF the new arma
mert and the use OF VIII 'ch Is enltirel
dependent upon position finding.
''The Board Of the Regulation q
Coast Artillery Fire has perpared dri
regulations for coast artillery whic
have been published, but so far as I
known. no test or trial OF the system
and methods therein prescribed hav
been made TO determine their practica
Dirty under the condi;fnris OF actua
service. 1t seems inasvisable TO insta
untried methods OF fire control at ney
posts vet. until an improved system J
Installed. Instruction at spch post
must be tentative and complete.
"It Is understood that allotment
Rave been made 10 equip the post o
Fc~t WaHsworth. n. Y. as a typica
artillerv-fire command for the purpos
cs making such tests. In nv onluion I
IS very n~crt9nt that the hoard whi"l
pre~arsd the fr'll regulations sh0u'
make exhaustive te~-s of the method
rrescrihs1 IN them hcfcTe they az
ndrptod fer general use Attention 2
invited 10 the renort Cf the Trspe"t"r n
Artinrvv Nator Calcf. His remark
as II tho Importance ~ srb oql'br
r,~act'~e IN view Cf 'he necesSarilv linn
ited allowance OF service aUmunitiol