New-York tribune., 1906-12-12
TO % per thousand compared with 6.75 for the
previous rear and is the six-year period 1898 to

TO s2s per thousand. compared with 60 for Or the
previous and is for the sx-year Peiiou 1873 10
''V' NEED OF COAST DEFENcEs.
As stated In my last annual report the develop
rnent thai had taken place in arms and munitions
OF called for revision in the general plan
of our seacoast defenees which were being CON
structed in pursuance of the recommendations OF
the Endicott Board OF 1856.
in the United states that should be defended and
sories necessary 10 complete the defence of our
5000 miles OF coast line. the estimated cost Of
in NE insular possessions that require defence for
strategic reasons are given. including naval
these ports 4 is estimated that additieeal appro-
making the total cost. exclusive of additional land
The more important recommendations of the
board concerning particular places those which
peake Bay the entrance to Long Island Sornd.
is to-day as It always has been of the very frst
Importance With the entrance II is now, unfor-
board should it gain control Of the sea tan es
6a6sh Without Sa at coming under the fire of single
pleasure nave access to large quantities of valuable
railway lines crossing the head of the bay" For
this reason the board has considered the defence of
the entrance to Chesapeake Bay TO require imme-
The Importance of the fortihcatlons at the en-
trance to Long Island Sound is due. of course, to
The fact that they constitute the first and chief line
from that direction: that they will prevent the occu-
patton by hostile fleet OF Gardeners Bay or other
tect various manufacturing towns established along
the the sound including. among others. New London.
ready been 3 mounted at the At nee to Long Island
defence Is provided for by the board,
From the report of the National Coast Defence
. Ssnss a ss'sn
secondgThe estimated cost to complete the de-
Gd afa'eS ssa Of the m SO 2ses @ States including ammunition
Third-The estimated cost of defences for insuIar
q
Fourth-The estimated cost of defences for the
fon fRTancs n 8 80 9 fhe M Panama Canal including ammun
.. The he o2nRste9 portion Of the coast defence sxstsm
II is ali important that a sufficient personnel be
also TO enable the highly scientific training neces-
sary TO operate this plant to be given to this per
of the defence system may be obtained in time of
pleted defences 54 officers and Il Ss enlisted men
are neSessaIy For this work 5li officers and Ial5S
work we Of @ 9b Of bfttefs Gp the de-
ands. has continued during the last year, The
forcation act of 1906 appropriated $4,000 for bat
ing applied accordinsiy The final selection of bat.
tTy neqUres % H very eaPeI be stay ana no aSSaai
TSe 1 estimates Of the War Department for the
eeasS for o. the Of Bat
Manila Bay Philippine Islands sIs5sooO: subig
Bay, Philippine Islands $4,000; Honolulu and Pearl
s2500OO For arming these batteries, including the
OF guns fire control % M q 6 ana nd
has been asked for.
1t seems to me the general policy should be 30 do
away with the small tarmy) posts as rapidly pos
sble and TO concentrate the army as far prac-
iicfle in regimental and brigade posts, care being
taken utilize in every possible way those posts
of construction. and especially those which
hY their location capable of being expanded
into resimental brigade posts wit Iout too great
The posts which recommend for enlargement TO
brigade posts Fort D. A. Russell. Wyo, Fort
Leavenworth, Kans.. Fort Riley, Kans-. and Fort
Sam Houston, Tex.
ARTILLERY CORPS NEEDS.
As now cor stituted under the act Of February 2,
1901 the artillery Corps embraces two distinct
Of the service while these two dissi.nlar branches
have hardly anything in cCmmoa between them
Cept the of artillery. nevertheless their
organization requires an Interchange of their
radically differing duties among the commissioned
personnel. a system that IS illogical and wastefui
this relation is demanded fy the good OF the
service In the interest of the personnel. On
the contrary, a severenCe of the relation would be
greatly the benefit of both.
Provision for separating the field artillery from
the coast artillery and giving 1t a regimertal
in the personnel of the field artillery necessary
bring it up TO the requirements OF modern condi-
lions. and provisions for an Increase of about five
thousand men for the coast artillery. so adjusted
bring both branches to the highest state of
efficiency and at the time conduce 20 the
most economical and adequate care and protection
of all the guns and accessories of seacoast
expended, included in bill introduced at the
last session Of Congress (H. r. 1734O. The en-
actment Of this measure into law at the present
session is strongly recommended.