The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
COAST GUARD TO
REPEL INVADERS
GENERAL WOOD SAYS FORTIFICA.
TONS ARE PRACTICALLY I'M
PREGNABLE.
NEED COAST MILITIA
HOSTILE FORCE WOULD ATTEMPT
TO LAND OUTSIDE OF BIG
GUN RANGE AND At
TACK CITIES.
By VICTOR ELLIOTT.

BY VICTOR ELLIOTT.
| WASHINGTON. d. G.. August a.
1T Is the opinion OF General Leonard
Wood and other army experts that
the coast fortifications of the United
States are absolutely impregnable.
On the other hand, it is argued
by General Wood that an invading
army might be able to attack an
American coast city by landing be-
yond the range OF the fortifications.
provided. of course, there were no
mobile army of prime fighting
strength to oppose the invaders.
| This Is one of the reasons why the
chief of staff and his associates are
urging Congress in season and out
/ for a stronger defensive force A
larger and better equipped army Is
necessary for the complete protection
of this country, it has been repeatedly
shown. and this is exactly what the
| war department. Is campaigning TO
get.
The coast Notifications are the
strongest in the world, General Wood
holds. He says they cannot be ST.
fenced even by the most powerful
fleet OF dreadnoughts ever assembled.
Their enormous guns can withstand
any attack. and their garrisons any
siege.
This position was taken before the
House committee on expenditures In
the war department. General Wood
points to the fort at the entrance to
New York harbor, to Fort Monroe
protecting Hampton Roads. TO the
forts on the New England, Gulf and
Pacific coast as being too strong for
any attacking fleet or any landing
force.
Land Outside of Range.
There IL the possibility that hostile
forces might be- landed outside the
range or the guns of these forttfica-
tons. This causes the army experts
concern, and prompts them to appeal
| over and over again TO Congress for
money TO strengthen the mobile army.
! The war department has worked
out plans for the defense OF all the
American seacoast cities but what
is now needed is the money to make
these plans effective in time of war
| or threatened war.
There is an actual plan In New
York harbor." says General Wood,
where YOU can send militia in case
of war TO cover possible land at
| tack, II has all been mapped out
even to indicating where water mains
the camps. We want militia or
ganization TO be known as the coast
guard. amounting TO about sto.o
men for the entire country, whose
| duty would be the defense OF the
coast and OF the fortiticaticns.
III we have no such force an enemy
could land on either side of New
York or Boston and walk into either
] city. They would not have to come
under range Of the great Notifications
al ALL"
| General Wood does not minimize
the immense importance OF the forts.
! On the other hand, he takes this view
| OF them;
| Take the City OF New York for in
stance. Without these defences at the
mouth and on the tanks OF the harbor.
fleet Of bsttleships or swirl cruisers
could come in and put the city under
| tribute. or destroy II, II they liked. We
can lay mines in any part of New York
| harbor. but we are really laying them
| only across the entrance. because ont
works at the mouth of the harbor are
so strong that We are confident that
no feet could possibly get through
The same thing applies. according to
General Wood. to Boston harbor the
! mouth Of the Chesapeake. the mouth
| OF the Mississippi River. and the har-
Dor OF San Francisco. The forts are
strnng sea5 s~>osssi iiot be ievelled By
any attacking force afioat. but before
they can offer adequate protection, they
/ napats he auprnsteGlo hy ansa axruss sssal,
shore that can move from one polnt
| to another as rapidly as the occasion
demands.
| Hit vitsis Of Country.
| An enemy 10 not going to walk into
| our traps he says, but they will of
| course land very near the vitais of the
| country. The theatre OF war on the
| Atlantic coast would be in the tmine-
I date vicinity Of our great cities. ON
the upper Atlantic II would be between
| Washington and Boston and on the
Southern coast it would be in the gulf
near the big cities, They will not land
IN remote places. because It gives US
| too much time to organize. They are
going to land near enough to hit us
| To make such force effective. as
| would be necessary to repulxe an in
vader's landing. the War Department
has recommended the merging Of
| large number OF army posts. This
| would serve to bring the force closer to-
cient. 1t 10 proposed by the Depart
ment that out Of the 100 army posts
now scattered throughout the country
half be abandoned.
In the old days when there were In !
dian troubles on the frontier large
number OF army posts were necessary
to protect the people. Now the Indians
are quiet. and II liz no longer necessary
to scatter the army force over SO wide
q reach Of territory.
The recent mobilization Of troops IN
Texas shows difiiculty OF moving a
large force. The 10000 men now IN
that State were drawn from more than
q score OF army posts. For the best
efficiency, the army experts declare.
these troops should have been In three
or four posts. They could then have
been assembled In Aesa tirna AnS nss.hss
much less expense.
The House committee has indicated
that II will assist the War Department
both in reducing expenses, and In Civ.
Ing greater sfnciency to the army.