The National tribune., 1907-02-14

lively lew Hleu were 1HCEedSeu. ouE
idea Is that an increase of pay for
few grades will hold all the men. and
the increased opportunities for promo
tion to these new grades would keep
other men from enlisting in the infan-
try at the conclusion of their service.
the infantry giving them more pay for
less work.
Notwithstanding this handicap, how
ever. which has existed for years, 1t is
going to increase the pay of the coast
artillery; and II 1t does not, the handi-
cap will continue. 1t is estimated that
1t will require 55,110 men to man the
coast guns which Secretary Taft has in
mind, and that 47.709 of these men will
be needed for guns on the coasts of the
United States. Gen. Murrays state
ment. above, regarding the strength of
the coast artillery, and the difficulty of
keeping men, shows that Secretary Taft
Is still long way from the realization
of his dream of a perfectly defended
coast line. The official figures compiled
by the Military Secretary. Gen. AIMS
worth, show that % per cent of artil>
lery privates re-enlist, and 43 per cent.
of infantry privates. The Engineer
Corps has 60 per cent, of re-enlistments,
and it also has better pay. So that
Congress is not only going about the
work of providing coast defenses in
very deliberate manner, but 1t is so
managing the Army pay roll as to dis
criminate against the fortifcations ser
vice. Its failure to provide adequate
pay for the men prevents re-enlist-
ments, and that prevents the War De-
partment from bringing the coast ar
tillery up to its authorized strength.
Big guns are of small use without men
to handle them
Minor Items.
The fortifications bill this session Of
Congress carries 100000 for the mod
ernizing of old emplacements The bill
as 1t passed the House carried ST00, 900
for fire control. which item the Senate
has increased to s1,200.000. There IS
an item of 100000 in the bill for
searchlights for the more important
harbors of the country. The House set
apart 100000 for the preservation of
fortifications for which no special sum
had been provided; the Senate increased
this to 100000. The Senate has
amended the bill by providing $4,000
for improving the sea wall at Fort
Moultrie, s453.0O0 for building sea
walls at Forts Pickens and McRee. Pen
sacola Harbor. s54.678 for repairs Of
the Pensacola batteries. s544.750 for
repairing the batteries at Mobile and
rebuilding the sea wall. and s139,S00
for rebuilding and Strengthening the
levees at Fort st. Philip. New Orleans.
The following items of more or less
importance are in the bill $1,000 for
the preparation of plans for fortifica-
tions, 1000 for tools and other nee
essary equipments for troops, 100000
for repairs of torpedo structures, S175,-
600 for the care of submarine mines,
100000 for machine automatic guns,
100000 for mountain, field and siege
cannon, s160,0O0 for ammunition for
these cannon, $4,000 for cannon for
coast defenses, 1926. 900 for ammuni-
ton for these cannon, $1,000 for in
struments for the proper testing of
guns, ammunition, etc, $350,00O for
ammunition for coast artillery practice,
100000 for the maintenance of mobile
artillery. $4,000 for ammunition for
field artillery practice, 100000 for the
alteration and maintenance of sea coast
artillery, 100000 for repairs at Fort
Pickens on account Of the storm of last
September, $3.50 for changing muzzle
leaders to breech leaders for salute
firing, s50,243 for the maintenance Of
the proving grounds at Sandy Hook
S1S,700 for per diem for officers sta
toned at Sandy Hook, $4,000 for re-
pairing railroad tracks leading into the
proving grounds. s250,000 for the pur-
chase of submarine mines with which
to close the channels of all the princi-
pal harbors of the country, $175,000l
for one torpedo planter on the Pacific
Coast. 100000 for fire control in the
Philippines, $4,000 for searchlights for
all important harbors Of the country,
100000 for the care of submarine
mines. 100000 for seacoast cannon,
$4,000 for ammunition for the same,
$205.440 for closing of the channels in
the insular possessions. and $25, 1000 for
nct6 fnl 1f .
Ordnance and Fertilization.
The House appropriated 100000 for
seacoast batteries in Hawaii and the
Philippines, and the Senate increased
this to 100000.
Provision is made for the repeal of
the old law under which the Governor
of any seacoast State may make a re-
QUESTION on the Government for $1,000
and a couple of mortars for the benefit |
of it's militia at the time of the annual
of the militia.
Plenty Of Torpedoes.
So far as submarine mines are con-
cerned, it is said that nearly all of the |
important harbors of the country are
now provided with them. The s25O,OO0
in the bill for this session, it is ex-
pected. will practically complete this |
feature of the coast defense.
There are now four torpedo planters |
on the Atlantic Coast, but none on the |
Pacific Coast, a defect which the bill |
this year seeks to correct by providing
for one planter for the Pacific Coast.
1t will be the purpose of this boat 10
patrol the coast, and plant torpedoesl
from time to time at such places as
may be agreed upon.
Nearly all of the principal harbors of
The country are now provided with ad-
equate searchlights, and the appropria-
lion in the bill this year is comparative
y small on that account.
Seacoast cannon are provided for in
The bill, and yet 1t is apparent that
here are not enough men in the coast |
to man those already in posi-
ton, and that there will not be until
here is a more liberal policy as to pay
adopted for the enlisted men in the ar-i
.illery arm of the service.
On the whole, the fortifcations of the
United States are not what they ought
% be. Congress, while adhering to the
Endicott scheme, has been so slow i'm
carrying 1t out that in part 1t has be-
come obsolete. There is an amendment
,f that scheme, known as the Taft
scheme. because prepared under Sec
'etary Taft's direction, which elimin-
ites the obsolete portions of the Endi-
'Ott scheme, and makes certain addi-
ions to it. to carry out which it will
cost $50.000.000. AS the result of the
work thus far done on fortifications.
here are defenses of various sorts at