Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05

tonight. with Fort Hunt acting on tn,
defensive and the supports from here con
shutting the attacking force.
After the return Of the troops to thei
quarters last night the officers who par
ticipated in the exercise were the guest,
OF Capt. Brooks. adjutant of the I'd Regi
ment. Refreshments were served II
abundance and the maneuver was dis
cussed. very pro and decidedly con. Tit
affair proved so enjoyable and the re
freshments were so appreciated after tn,
strenuous work in the woods and tn.
boats that a regular officer. serving a!
instructor. remarked:
'1f there is to be anything like this a
Fort Hunt tomorrow night I intend Il
get in. even If have to go to Washington
by boat and then go down by rail ant
walk into Fort Hunt from the Land side.
Transports Run Aground.
The power launches towing the trans
ports' last night all experienced trouble
by going aground in shoal water. The
guardsmen were then compelled to gel
out the oars and really work in order t.
proceed with the exercise.
The duty for the support organizations
here today was to go over the ground
covered last night and note just where
the mistakes If any were made and how
the defense might have been better exc
cuted The reserve companies had battle
peat the duty this evening. Heavy charges
Of blang ammunition are used. The sup
port companies are out this afternoon on
the water, familiarizfng themselves with
the boats preparatory to the attacA on
Fort Hunt this evening.
Reason for the Exercises.
Capt. William Mitchell or the Signal
Corps Of the army, assigned to duty here
as chief umpire OF the supports. by reason
of his tireless energy and enthusiasm and
devotion to the task allotted him. has
earned a high place in the esteem OF the
officers and men Of the guard. A lecture
delivered by him to the support officers
Is causing talk and was listened to
with the closest attention. as it made
plain a great many things that were OBJ
scure to the guardsmen
Capt. Mitchells topic was Duties of
Artillery Supports" AS a preliminary to
a consideration of the subject he directed
attention to the fact that in recent years.
mercial policy Of the United States has
grown more aggressive. Although the
comparative weakness of this country In
means Of sea transportation as compared
with some Of the other great commercial
nations has made 1t possible for them to
retain most Of their oversee commerce
without very active competition from the
United States, still. 1t was stated. 1t can
be plainly seen by them that when this
nation becomes possessed Of large mer-
chant marine 1t will be in a position to
compete In a much more active manner
In the markets of the world. This COM
mercfal activity, the speaker added. has
brought the United States into more close
commercial relations with other nations
than formerly. and as result has rem
dered more frequent clashes between the
United States and other powers.
No Longer Isolated.
T. 1.-THE growing foreign commerce of the
United States has already developed to
such an extent and our influence is so
great" Capt. Mitchell remarked, that We
are now regarded as one of the great
world powers. Under these circumstances
we cannot consider ourselves in a position
Of isolation. as formerly. when the danger
OF hostile invasion was remote. In fact,
the constant improvements in oversee
transportation are rendering an invasion
by a strong military power less difficult
as time goes on.
THE foregoing are. briefly, the consider
atoms that have induced our national leg
islature to give heed to the warnings of
successive administrations and make pro-
vision for our navy. and coast fortifica-
lions for our great harbors.
the coast forts which. however. is not adj
equate to man more than one-half the
forts within the limits of the United
States. Guns In coast forts are useless
without men behind them.
ITO provide for the deficiency in regular
coast artillery it is hoped that the various
coast states will organize coast artillery
units in their National Guard. which.
when Joined with the regular units will
provide one manning detail for the coast
forts. Such National Guard troops are
designated coast artillery reserves. and
as has been seen during our exercises at
this place. are for the purposes indicated
To provide the necessary coast artillery
about 5000 men. Assuming that this
number of men can be provided BY the
National Guard of the various states We
will then have the coast forts and the
navy for defense against attack by sea
at our harbors only.
Plans for National Defense.
Where our forts have been properly
completed 1t is believed that even without
the assistance of the navy our great
harbors can be successfully defended
against attacks by sea from hostile fleets,
as long as our forts remain intact If In
any way the enemy can destroy our
forts he can clear the harbors of mines
and other distractions and use the har-
of reducing the coast forts by an enemy
would be by landing troops near them
and attacking from the land side
THE annual mobilization of parts Of the
National Guard of the various coast
states is in pursuance Of general plans
for the national defense. 1t Is we'll. there
fore. for the Office and men of the Ma
tional Guard to bear in mind that the
work is being done with that object in
view"
Continuing. Capt. Mitchell explained
that the main duties of coast artillery
supports are to prevent small raiding
parties from landing near the fortif1ca-
lions under the cover of fog or night.
and destroying or damaging the arma-
ment. For defense against such ex-
petitions. 1t was added. the War Depart
ment plans to provide for coast guard.
the plan for the organization of which
is as follows:
As to the Coast Guard.
The coast guard will consist of complete
tactical and administrative units. and to
permit the assignment Of such units in
each case the ports to be defended are
grouped, where practicable. under tactical
division commands. This means that a
division of troops prescribed In field
service regulations will be assigned as
coast guard to given area.
The coast guard for a given area Is COM
manded by the coast guard division com
mander. and in general its duties are to
defend the areas adjacent to and back OF,
but outside of. the coast artillery forts or
districts. The coast guard. them in the
event Of war. would be assembled by divi-
sions at strategic points on the coast near
bors Of which are defended by coast forti-
flea tiOns These diyisiOns constituting the