New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-01
COAST DEFENCE NEEDS.
General Story Urges Com pletion
of Torpedo System.

Washington, Nov. 3o.-Brigadier General Story.
chief Of artillery OF the army In his annual re-
port to Lieutenant General Chanee dwells what
he regards the most urgent demands of the
coast defences. He says that the best and most
economical use OF the entire armament for the
coast requires complete relief to each nd
every element OF defence. and adds:
It is inconceivable that Congress. after appro-
leave this defence Ineffective for want of proper
organization to man and conduct IL
He says that II torpedoes used in co.opera-
ton with a proper armament, at Port Arthur
and Vladivostok, it is not probable that any enemy
however enterprising. would attempt to force their
lire OF defence. ITO secure at the present time"
he continues the greatest measure of national
safety the least cost the entire torpedo de-
fence OF our harbors should be made
complete. and he adds:
earnestly can, the immediate completion Of the
this defence is lamentably deficient, both in ma
ceTiS ana personne ;on We Were co sqHdeny
cure submarine mines in time to be Of service for
our harbor defence. The materials for such de-
would occupy many months; and only such as might
be on hand could be utilized for an early attack.
General Story further says that with com
pete material for torpedo defence it is practically
vaIueess without a trained personnel carefully in
structed how operate it, and that to-day the
country is substantially without such a force Only
four hundred men be assigned he says for a
service requiring about five thousand. 1t would be
unwise to attempt to provide n personnel for the
submarine defence from the present force of coast
artillery since there only one-half the number
Of officers and men required to man and serve the
armament already provided
General Story says a system OF fire action has
been developed in the coast artillery which as far
as ne can ascertain. is not equalled in the world.
but its accomplishment, he says. depends a
standard equipment. which is not completely in
stalled in any Of the harbors. and in many har-
bors means OF position finding have to be impro-
vised in order to conduct artillery practice.
The poor showing made by the Russian coast
artillery at Port Arthur against the Japanese fleet
has caused surprise" the report recites but the
explanation is that the artillery there. when the
ranges 1900 to 1900 metres. does not shoot
at all or shoots without results" The report adds:
1t would he impossible. IL we had our position
finding equipment completely installed. for hostile
vessels TO remain 10000 or l2cOo metres from
batteries of Finch guns or mortars for two or
ever 10 have say that even AZ this day most or
our fortified harbors not better supplied with
Port Arthur. If n to break out
would not have the trained force required to serve
are Vet one-half OF them would not be of much
more than many tons of inert metal
General Story believes the field artillery falls
fifteen batteries short OF the number tacticaly
needed for the present infantry. and cavalry or
rnnizat!ons There Is first class power he
saws which has systematically neglected Its
field artillery as the United States in his judy
nent the experience OF the Russo-Japanese war
hops the foreign practice OF having usually about
four guns TO one thousand men is better than the
one proposed for the United state. service.