The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-20
NATION POORLY PROTECTED
Puget Sound Would Re Easy
ark For Hostile Fleet.
WARMING SOUNDED II WASHINGTON
EXISTING CONDITIONS DUE TO
LACK OF MEN TO MAN
ARTILLERY.
WARNING SOUNDED At WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 90
| The United States has spent millions
of dollars constructing and installing
great guns for the defense Of its har-
bors. and now, through the failure of
congress to provide a sufficient force
of artillerymen the weapons cannot
be either properly cared for or used
to repel hostile forces.
The situation is regarded as so Sc
| rious that the president has determined
to call it to the attention Of congress
in his forthcoming annual message
and Secretary Taft will dwell upon it
in his annual report. A conference
will occur on Saturday between Brig.
Gen. Murray, chief Of artillery, and
Representative Hull Of Iowa, chairman
Of the military committee Of the house,
in regard to the enactment OF legisla-
ton during the coming session. which
will authorize the proper organization
and increase OF coast artillery.
In addition 1t is proposed to secure
adequate pay for technically skilled
enlisted men of the artillery, provision
for submarine mine defense, the sep
aration of coast and field artillery,
reorganization Of field artillery, and in
creased appropriations for target prac-
tice by both branches of this service.
Value of Artillery Unappreeiated
The Importance of preparing perfect
coast defense is only partially appre-
ciated by the country. 1t has been
we'll said that the function Of coast
defense is that of an advance guard,
rear guard, or line Of outposts, and
that it should be completely prepared
| in time of peace.
Blows are struck with suddenness
! under conditions Of modern warfare.
Japan's policy is in evidence of this
fact. The coast defenses should be
| ready to withstand a first attack and
cause the enemy to pause and pro-
! vide delay needed for preparation
| everywhere. Unfortunately the militia
cannot be expected to man coast bat
to them and in time of peace they are
| not willing to cooperate with the reg
ular coast artillery. The operation OF
coast defense guns is a matter requir-
ing technical skill and, Of course, a
great deal Of training. AS artillery.
men cannot be improvised it Is neces-
sary for the government to establish
and maintain an adequate artillery
force.
! Weakness in coast defense, the joint
army and navy board reported, would
be a serious military defect, laying the
coast open to direct attack and affect
ing the value Of the navy, which, un-
der such circumstances, might be
/ called upon to adopt a defensive rath-
er than an offensive role. The normal
| function Of the navy in time of war
is to take to the high seas and assume
the aggressive, and engage the enc
my's ships wherever they may be
| found.
Pacific Coast Poorly Protected.
If, however, coast defenses through
either lack of personnel or material
are inadequate to guarantee safety OF
populous commercial or strategic
coastwise centers, battleships would
be called upon to make good the def
cheney and the scope Of naval activity
would be curtailed to affect the pro-
gress Of the war and the success and
prestige Of national arms.
i War department officials point to
the Pacific coast and the Pacific de-
tendencies Of the United States as an
evidence of our unpreparedness and
the illustration is important In view
of the probability that the time will
come when the United States will
have to stand ready to defend it's po-
sition in the great western ocean.
The law now authorizes an artil-
lery force Of 1866 men and officers
This includes botn the field artillery
which numbers 4,012 and the coast
artillery, 14,153. Unfortunately the
work is hard and the pay in compari.
son so inadequate that it has proved
impossible to enlist the coast artillery
up to its full strength, and it does
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