The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-10-09

st. Louis,-Although the systematic
fertilization of the seacoasts OF the
United States was not begun untll
about ten years ago, American mill
ltarv EXPERTS are convinced that, 80
far as those portions OF the defensive
works already completed are con-
cerned. the United States is better
eouipped for resisting a foreign in
vader than any nation in the world
Besides the most modern types OF Tor
ltifications, disappearing and rapid-lire
guns. and submarine apparatus. the
most effective explosives. and the
most perfect system for ascertaining,
| Mating and communicating the ex'
lact position and range OF approach
ling vessels, there Is one important
Feature in our fixed armament that
lis absolutely unique, no other coun'
TRY having yet been far'sighted
enough to adopt 1t.
This Is the coast-defense mortar.
which is mounted in peculiar KIND
of fertilization known as a mortar,
nit. consisting of circular pit l1neo
with a cement wall, and banked III
with earth so as to form an immense
mound. In some cases the concrete
lie twenty or thirty feet thick anu inc
lembankment may extend to ads
ltance of more than hundred feet on
1.-THE most exposed side. The entrance
lis hidden behind clump OF bushes
Tor in some other way, and within the
Iearthworks, on the least exposed sac
There are cement.lined passages leau
ing from the exterior to the interior
land giving access to the magazine
rooms and store rooms, and the tele
phone and telautograph booth wher'
Communication Is maintained with su
lperior officers and the range fndlht
Tor observation stations. All heces
sary apartments are subterraneaii am
provided with thick cement walls
THE observation or range fnulhg sta
tion is usually at distance from tw'
to three lies from the battery.
While field mortars proved very OF
Elective i'm the Civil war, and have
lshown their efficiency In other mil
ltary operations in various parts o
1.-The world, the cooast defense mortar!
have never yet been thoroughly test
ed In actual warfare.
While Tn gun, proper, Is cannon
fused for firing directly at the hostli'
works. ships or men, the mortar u
one that throws its projectiles II
such n manner that they will desccn'
lupon the enemy from above; I'M
howitzer, which Is used ONLY as a lici'
piece. being capable of being USED 10
both purposes. The length oil IN
most modern guns Is about nifty Time
as great as the caliber or interior q
amcter: while the howitzer Is exceed
lingy short in proportion to its caltbei
and the mortar much shorter still.
The mortar constitutes a kind q
laerial mine, dropping large qlanlltlc
Of explosives from above. Submarln
mines can be cut out by the invadin
ships: they are frequently defective
and when they are in good workin
ordcr they are liable TO do injury I
the fleet with which they are intende
, TO cooperate. as has 80 frequent
lhappened in the RussoJapanese wal
The mortar. on the contrary. is SUR
T" safe and effective. n Is altogothc
lbcyond the rnrmy's reach; for the ~
lsition that IL occupies, cannot De i
Gated. and II is impossible for u TO D
ldlslodged by the guns from a nee
ID las a shin cannot use a mortar, an
the nit o. 80 constructed a. 10 be Al
lsoluiely impregnablo 10 direct hr'
b In actual warfare the mO-.ars ar
Hired. either by pits or batteries. eiths
flour. eight 0r sixteen being ~
lcharged al the same time IN targ'
. luractice q single mortar acting alpn
p has attained 20 an accuracy ~ thiri
Iper cent 0f hits a. a distance ~ ovf
III POO wards range. with target mo
J. ling ubIiuueiv across thn line ~ %
iaf rate 81 from eigif ~ Twelve mllf
an hour
, Each mortar OFT DEL manned bT -
p. ic1muauv. which D. divided into foi
2 gun defarhmrnfa pnr Tor each mo
p tar an ammunition detachment
|ranee dpfarhuiaaf and q reserve ID
r gnnrral command o. vested in ~ -
p |uIafanrri uHIrrr The gun drfac
n mrnf fur mDrrar consists ~ Ei
; commander and gunner. uro a.
nfsf rrnfs- frrIfd officer. and %
.r-.ra-f-s 10 nash ~ ubDm rfrfa
b inruif-- fs assigned EuuDHrs one
= Ifurr rrrrs+fu rhr frrarf drsI a
T. a. -hH Iradirz f-r and sir ff5fs' ifu
o. fHr f.Ifrafirr farslL anFfr and fif
p -fr f-rrfs-sfnr detail rhrisH hrrF Or
q ~ ers fhs required bprlzolfal fir'