The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20
BY Major -. w. Foster
Artillery Corps, U. S. A.

,,,ns understand the Importance 20
rheun OF the passage OF the measuIS re
now before Congress entitleo a DLt1
10 reorganize and 70 increase t-e -.s.z -
states army" This bill does not ao-
eoIutelv assure these cities against
aesrr,,ctfon in case OF possible attack
ms st Is the first and most necessary
srep to this end. IT lays the tounoa-
ton OF an efficient system OF coast
defense by making the coast srtl.leIy
a separate branch. ana glVlne II a
more scientific character, ana py pro-
V-iding for an immediate increase IN
r,ersonuel where most vitality neeoeo-
IA connection with submarine oetense'
But are not our seacoast cities a.
ready protected by tortlhcAAOhs'
have seacoast fOrtihcations, ana BOoo
ones as far as they go, and they are
being added 70 on systemauc plan
according as appropriations become
available: but we need larger lorce
10 man the guns. At present We nave
hardly enough men TO Keep guns anu
ei17nlacements IN proper conollloh-
rrbese men are already overWorked,
ana have scant opportunity TO properly
1earn their service duties; and every
one knows that expert art4lerSneh
cannot be eXtempOrizeo IN inoLneHN
on the outbreak OF war. Genera Al
fhur Murray chief Of artillery, In eN-
nisininr the present bin before the
-sf1itsrv committee OF the House re-
III the bin now before you becomes
a law the coast artillery viii stlll nave
less than SO per cent OF one ieIleA Aoi
the guns and mortars already mount
cd and the mines to be placed IN the
United States alone. The necessity for
this initial measure is therefore ap-
,arent II we are to have anything Ike
adequate protection for our coasts.
TO INCREASE FORCE
AT the School Of Submarine Defense
las been developed an unsurpassed
submarine mining system, and lnstrOc-
lion has been given there 10 certain
selected artillery officers and enllsteo
men. so that Il only remains now TO
increase the force available Tor THIS
work TO give to il the efficiency Its
Importance demands, and thls the OH
in question provides Tor
Wars arise suddenly now ana are
carried on with dispatch, and DO we
ever ask ourselves what would De the
condition of affairs II this coast were
suddenly attacked by a hostile feet?
We have a navy unsurpassed In the
world for its size; but scattered war
vessels require time to concentrate
even when the point OF attack Is
known; and what would happen 10 our
coast cities in the meantime may be
state, bordering on terror, Of the peo-
r,le of the coast cities of New England
at the outbreak Of the Spanish war,
before the destination Of Cervera S
feet became knoWnt This with q weak
unready and unenterprising enemy. But
our next adversary viii be ready, war
like, bold and swift; and In thinking
of this who likes TO consider our pres
ent unprotected plght2
Let US not become so STEPPED IN COM
mercialism as TO be unmindful OF the
fact that wars viii arise in the fu-
ture as they have arisen in the past
They viii, though, be the less likely 10
reach our shores the reader we are
for them. Let the other nations come
10 believe that we are unprepareo for
war and what assurance have we that
our folly viii not bring war upon US
IN the midst Of our getting and spend
ing.
The Chambers OF Commerce OF San
Francisco and Oakland are, il is un-
derstOod, to consider the advisability OF
taking measures TO urge the passage
Of this bill, and the press OF the Pa
cifc Coast cities can perhaps render
aid by letting il be known how greatly
this matter affects the interests OF
these cities.
EXTRACTS SHOW NEEDS
Following are extracts from reports
letters, etc. bearing on the subject OF
the bill in question. This bill came
up for consideration at the last ses-
sion of Congress and passed the SEN
ate, and viii probably become a Law
during the present session.
The following is an extract from 9
letter sent by President Roosevelt tc
Congress on March last:
THE necessity for a complete and
adequate system Of coast defense is
greater today than twenty years ago
for the increased wealth OF the cOun-
try offers more tempting inducements
10 attack, and a hostile feet can reach
our coast in a much shorter period OF
time. The fact that we now have Z
navy does not in any wise diminish the
importance Of coast defenses; on tbs
contrary, that fact emphasizes theil
value and the necessity for their con-
structiOn. II is an accepted nava,
maxim that a navy can be used tC
strategic advantage only when acting
on the offensive, and il can be free tC
so operate only after our coast defense
81 reasonably secure and so recognized
by the country. II was due to the Sc.
curely defended condition OF the Jap
anese ports that the Japanese neei
was free 10 seek out and watch it,
proper Objective-the Russian fleet
without fear OF interruption or recall
10 guard it's home ports against raids
by the Nladivostok squadron This
one Of the most valuable lessons OF the
late war in the East, is worthy of seri.
Gus consideration by our country, with
its extensive coast line, its many i'm.
portant harbors, and its many wealthy
manufacturing coast cities The Sc.
curity and protection Of our interest.
require the completion Of the defense,
~ our coast, and the accompanying
piens merits and should receive tn,
generous support OF the Congress"
VIEWS OF GENERAL
Extracts from statement OF Briea.
dier General Arthur Murray, chief o.
artillery. before the House militar,
committee. IN explanation OF the bin
are as follows:
BY the act Of February ?, 1901. tn,
care and use OF submarine mines ant
torpedoes. which duties had been per
formed previously by the corps Of en-
Rineers. We're turned over to the ar.
tiilery In doing this no provision o,
any kind was made for supplying tn,
artillery with the necessary officers anC
men for this important work As :
consequence the Coast Artillery. not
withstanding Il has only sufficient
strength to man about One-third of tn.