The times., 1899-05-04
OUR COAST DEFBNCES
BADLY DEMORALlZED
A Surprising Report Made by
Captain Crozier.
The Artillery Arm of the Service
Generally Inefficient.
Guns Rusted and Their Ranges Oh
structed by Buildings-The Drills
Almost Forgotten.

from the Department of the East a copy
of Capt. William Crozier's report on his
inspection of the fortifications on the
Der. The posts visited by Captain Cro-
zier were:
Fort Washington, Nd; Sheridan's Point,
Va; North Point, Nd; Battery Point.
Del; Fort Delaware. Delaware River;
Fort Mott, n. j.; Fort Hancock, n. J.;
Fort Wadsworth, N. Y; Fort Hamilton.
n. Y: Fort Schuyler. N. Y: Fort Totten.
n. Y. Fort Slocum, n. Y; Plum Island.
Long Island Sound; Dutch Island, r. l.;
Fort Adams. r. l.; Fort Warren, Mass;
Long Island Head, Mass; Fort Winthrop,
Mass; Portsmouth, n. H., and Portland
Head, Maine. He says:
81 have found in many cases that neither
officers nor men understood what parts OF
the guns and carriages should be cleaned
and well oiled, nor what was the proper
condition for bearing surfaces. nor where
the bearing surfaces were to be found; the
care OF the hydraulic cylinders of gun car
riages, with reference to the stuffing box
es. filling with oil and proper adjustment
of filling plugs. was found not to be un-
derstood or attentively looked after.
have many times had difficulty in getting
guns and especially carriages properly
cleaned for firing test; general instructions
and directions have not been sufficient; it
has been necessary to specify in detail
particular spots and surfaces, and to make
repeated examination and to reiterate di-
rectiors in order to get the work properly
done.
''Of course there have been differences
under different commanders in the char
acter of the care OF the armament, and
there have been a very few cases in which
the above criticism would not apply. In
some cases failure to take proper care of
the armament has resulted from lack OF
interest. but in most cases 1t has
been thorough lack of knowledge
natural disinclination on the part of
officers TO make thorough inspection of
the material when such inspection has in
voived in passing the head. arms, or por-
tions OF the body in narrow spaces where
contact with oil or dirt has been probable.
This disinclination is almost involuntary,
and its general existence suggests the de-
STABILITY of proper working uniform
for officers as well as for men of gun de-
tachments. Such uniform should be in
expensive, washable, and distinctive OF the
officer.
LifeIess Drills.
character of the drill by different COM
mands. but l found that in general 1t was
lacking in the smartness and life which
should characterize such military exer-
ciges. TIE officers seem TO be without
proper standards of performance, and al
most no attention is paid to rapidi.y OF
fire. most essential element of the sue
cessfui use OF modern batteries. When
II came 10 the actual firing of pieces. all
efforts at lively work were often ahan-
doned, and the character of the operations
had tendency to reduce to that of me-
chanicsl meneuvres.
The incidents induced a very trying
feeling OF helplessness on the part of the
officers charged With the conduct of firing.
The operation of pointing by means of the
use OF these base lines was generally sery
SLOW and tedious the time required being
such as TO destroy all efficiency in firing
except at a fixed object The commands
were generally without experience in the
operations required. and were generally
lacking the necessary number of officers
for such operations.
There has been thus far great neglect
of the subject OF the pointing of mortars.
perhaps the greatest of any feature Of the
coast defence. Some batteries which have
been completed fer years have been dur
ing the late war. and are now absolutely
unserviceabie because of inability to point
the mortars at a target. OF five mortar
batteries inspected during the summer,
found only two in such condition that the
mor.ars could be pointed. the other three
being unserviceable from lack of pointing
arrangements.
Mrny Difficulties.
I'm the establishment of a system of
coast defence the artillery arm of the SER
vice has labored under many disadvan-
tages There has been a lack of COM
petent instruction; the pamphlets, orders.
and other writings which have been is
sued for this purpose have not been suf-
ficient; in order to instill proper knowl-
edge personal instruction seems to be ab-
solutely necessary. In some cases
pamphlets have net been properly stud
led. and in one case knowledge of the
existence of cne Of the most important
cnes was disciaimed. although it was after
ward found upon casual search in the
executive ofice Of the command.
The necessities OF the recent war have
deprived the artillery branch CT the ser
vice CT a large number of its officers at
the very time when their presence has
been mcst necessary in getting the COM
mands into proper relations with the new
armament Drills have been held by non
commissioned officers, without the pres
ence Of an officer although from the fart
that there had been no previous course oi
drills and instructions under officers, il
was impossible that there could have been
any commissioned ofiicers capable CT
properly conducting the drills. or of in
structing men in the use and care OF the
material.
There was lack of efficient com
munication between the posts constituting
the artillery defences of many harbors. un-
der the command of designated officer
For lack of such means of communica-
lion II was impossible for the commander
TO exercise the supervision and perform
the inspections. and. IL may be added, ad-
minister the admonitions which are nee
essaTy to the maintenance of the efficiency
of the units OF the command
The defences of Philadelphia, for In
stance, consist of batteries at three yoints
viz. Delaware City on the Delaware side
Fort Delaware In the Delaware River and
Fort Mott on the New Jersey side. These
three posts are in command OF 4 major oi
artillery who is stationed at Delaware
City. He has no means OF transportation
except rowboat, with which it is often
impossible to get across the river. at this
point wide and often boisterous estuary
and under the best circumstances, transit
across and back cannot occupy less than
tYo-thirds OF day. Under these circum-
stances the batteries away from Delaware
City are left pretty much to themselves
Owing TO the scarcity of ammunition there
has been a great lack OF practice with the
new material. and in consequence this very
efficient means of becoming familiar there
with has been denied the officers and men
I'm places the batteries have been built
in such positions that the use of the guns
WATCH FOR TOWN.
CONGRESS HEIGHTS