Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-10
General Murray, Chief 10 Artillery,
Advocates Joint MaRoeuvPes.
SEES NEED FOR TORPEDO CRAFT
Congress ahould Provide for Increase
In Smaller vessels-Polnts to Re-
eenta Ware in Advocacy of Quick
) Action to Protect Atlantic seaboard.

WASHINGTON ID. c., March g.
Acknowledgement Arthur Murray.
chief of artillery. is one of the strong
est advocates OF increased protection
for the Atlantic coast In view OF con-
tingencies which might arise with
foreign power. General Murray, by
systematic and untiring work, has
done much toward providing protec-
ton for seaport towns. He ID CRATE
ful to Congress for the appropriations
IL has allowed him, but agrees tina.
considerable extra work is needed.
Congress cannot fail to be inter
ested In the necessity of providing
protection for the Atlantic coast"
said General Murray, "and this neces-
sity Is now pointedly brought TO the
front by the absence OF the battleshlp
ileet. There Is no prospect of add.
tional heavy naval strength while the
fleet Ia elsewhere engaged, MS there
are few battleships under construc
tion and new hattleshps take acme
time TO build. Therefore In my opin-
ion IL the idea Is to bring immediate
increased strength to bear there might
be no better way than to add to the
efficiency OF tho Notifications and in
crease the number OF smaller vessels,
which can be built within q reasona-
bly, short time.
Urges More Torpedo Graft.
with a fleet OF torpedo boat de-
stroyers. torpedo boats and subma-
rines guarding the coast. and with ad-
ditional necessary improvements TO
the const artillery service, the de-
fence of every seaport town on the
Atlantic would be made more secure.
Ut would not be impossible to co
operate between the coast artillery
l,ans and the naval plans for defense
Joint drills and manoeuvres with the
coast defence in Wow could be profit
ably gone through to the mutual adj
vantage of each branch of the ser
vice.
4 have called attention In my an.
nual report to tho need OF boats for
artillery work exclusively. which
would be IN asset In working out
manoeuvres OF defence These boats
would render artillery practice posi-
BILE with targets that arc towed Mt
such rateins may be expected In nc
tion and would permit daily tracking
drill. especially Mt night with tho uso
OF searchlights. They would also pro,
vide means for drill In planting mines
and for other instruction in handling
and using submarine defence mate.
rial.
1--WE earnestly hope that these
l'oats will be provided MS. together
with other means of training our men
to meet an attacking fleet. In these
respects 1t can easily DO seen how
much joint manoeuvres might profit.
as the naval auxiliaries could indi 4.
cate the tactics to be followed by
ships In naval warfare"
The Value of Mines.
Through his work in submarine
mines General Murray has become
very much alive 10 the value of mines
and torpedoes. For this reason, per-
haps, he agrees with most authorities
I that torpedoes can be used with I'D
vantage by submarines and torpedo
craft and that under many conditions
they are q danger which an attacking
fleet would not care to risk.
Recent wars" General Murray has
said. "have shown clearly the value OF
submarine mines I'D an element of
harbor defence. Ii harbor Is dc .
Tended by an efficient system of mines
and the requisite guns for their pro-
lection against counter mining,
sweeping or other methods of remov-
ing them. It is not believed that any
enemy. however enterprising. will
ever attempt to enter harbor with
large ships. This conclusion has
been supported strongly by the ter.
ilble destruction wrought by subma-
rine minea at Port Arthur. Dalny and
Vladivostock."
General Murray believes that if the
number of torpedo boats and subma-
rines OF the Atlantic coast were suf-
ficient 70 aid materially in the de-
fence the coast would be- practically
inapproachable by any fleet.