New-York tribune., 1909-07-20
AND NAVY NOTES
Separate Bureau of Coast Defence
Suggested.
from The Tribune Bureau

Washington. July 19.
COMMODORE BEEHLER's PLAN.-CommodOre
". H. BeehIer Cretired). who Is in command Of the
naval station at Key West. Fla and has 70 his
credit since his the distinction OF plan
ming important uses for that long neglected estab-
lshment. has made some important recommended
tions the subject Of coast defence. Of which he
has been enthusiastic student He believes that
the cooperation Of the navy marine corps and
coast artillery makes necessary much closer rels-
tions between those branches Of the War and Navy
depar rtments He suggests a separate bureau OF
coast defence 20 take fun control OF the seaboard
fortihcations. He would have the bureau endowed
with all administrative authority the three
branches Of the service assigned to a. and advocates
personnel composed OF Officers and men belonging
tho army. navy and marine corps detached
IN coast defence and in navy coast defenders
This personnel he believes. should be under the
exclusive orders of the bureau while serving
in that capacity. He would give this bureau
horty in the assignment of forces in different dis
rlcs. and its operations would into considera-
tion the employment OF the coast artillery. the
naval vessels available for harbor defence and the
ma rines 70 act in conjunction with the military and
naval body. The idea is to have the bureau
posed OF chief df the artillery corps a rear
admiral Of the navy and the commandant Of the
marine corps
The districts Commodore Beehler recommends
should he In charge Of officers selected from the
coast artillery corps navy ma rine corps as the
character Of the fortihcations may determine. He
suggests that It would be desirable for a coast
artillery officer 10 command the defence dis
trIct of New York while a naval officer would COM
mand at Key West and control the Strait of Flor
ida and the Yuoatan Channel. and a marine officer
would be best suited command on the Isthmus
Panama.
Commodore BeehIer is Of the opinion tina: IT is a
waste of public money build elaborate fortihca-
tions anywhere the Atlantic Coast between Nor
folk and Miami. because enemy could ever ind
it to advantage TO attack port that coast.
especially If the Atlantic fleet should be able TO
attack him. The bases and their approaches must
be protected. and all other coast forthcatlcns
unnecessary in the scheme which has been out
lined by Commodore Beehler He asserts that the
old fortihCatiOns built To meet she needs OF the
time have outlived their usefulness and. with the
change of armament. the ports in Chesapeake Bay
and Delaware Bay longer exposed 70 an
attack by enemy's fleet. There is necessity
for any forthcat tons in the Gulf of Mexico or the
smaller bays The forts must he placed at the
entrances and approaches. The useless coast for
tihcations which -the government now possesses
Commodore Beehler would have sold turned over
the militia of the several states In .ghich they
located and the fortinoatons must be so
placed as to take the new needs into ccnsidera-
tion
The suggestion that the whole fertilization svs
TEN will have to be changed in many important
particulars Will probably create much discussion
among the naval military experts who have given
attention to the subject. II may lead to an
other coast defence board to ascertain what Is
tcatOns that regarded as important
According TO Commodore Beehler. many OF these
establishments need not be maintained while tho
expense for coast defence be put into the
principal establishments at the approaches and
entrances of the large bodies of water the coast
ORDERS IsSUED.-The following order, have
been Issued
ARMY.
Major PARKER ". WEST, l4th Cavalry to Washin.
retirement
General Hospital. Park - '"''e'
Captains GEORGE NJ. EKWURZEI. CARROLL n
BUCK. RODERIC p. CONNOR CFOPGE,
HEARD and ROGER BROOKE. Jr medical corn.'
10 Manila. examination for promotion. 'P''
Captain FRANK T. EDWARDS. artiIlery d,taiIsd
captain ROBERT H. c. KELToN. coast artillerTT
quartermaster. N'''''9''
Captain kEITON, remain
November 15. N''A
Captain LEROY T. HII.1.MAS ordnance departn.r+ 81.
signed principal assistant oriee chief % cps
nance. vice Captain HERMAN W. SCHULZ. ordnanc,
department. - -'Ni'Oe
Captain FRED H. GAII.UP field artillery from, n,,.
signed list. assigned sd Field ArtiIIsry $3.50
First Lieutenant GEORGE T TYLER nsaicsi r...s,.
from Plattshurg barracks TO San Francf.ec =,
sail August for Philippines -
Following hrs heut-nants from indicated 70
s; MAHIJoN ASHFORD, medical c,rr. Ecrt Nis~
ara: EDWARD q HUBER. medical co-rs Fort sIo
cum: RozIER c BAYLY THOMAS j IrApT
KERR and william i sAIEE5s. asaiesi az eorp. "a