Evening star., 1914-12-04
Kentucky Representative to
Speak for Administration
Regarding Coast Defenses.
CLASH RATED AS LIKELY
AFTER HOUSE CONVENES
Statements in Denial of Alleged
Weakness of U. S. on Army
and Navy Lines.

When the fight over the question OF
whether or not the United States is
well defended reaches Congress 1t will
be seen that the administration has
picked Representative SwaSar Sherley OF
Kentucky to combat the statements OF
the radicals, who believe the country
is going to the dogs because of its
weaknesses on army and navy lines.
This became better known today after
Representative Sherley had seen the
President and had outlined to him what
he, Mr.. Sherley would say in the way
of a safe and sane view of the arma-
ment situation before a Southern So
ciety dinner in New York city next
Wednesday evening.
1t is understood that Mr.. Sherley
has been making a deep study Of the
actual facts concerning the case, has
been talking to the heads of the army
and navy, and will absolutely contra
dict, and bear it out with proof. it is
claimed, some of the statements con-
cerning lack of strength which have
been made in the recent discussion fol-
lowing Representative Gardner's speech
October IA in the House of Represent
atives.
When the inevitable clash comes in the
AAoC
as the champion of the things which
have already been done for the army and
navy along certain lines. It is a personal
matter with him to some extent, as he
has been chairman of the subcommittee
which has spent millions upon millions
to fortify the coasts and the Panama
canal. and he said no later than today
that the forts themselves are as strong as
any in the world.
Has Never Sighted Essentials.
"The Notifications subcommittee since
have been chairman said Mr. Sher-
ley. in speaking of the matter today,
has never held back a single dollar on
essentials. 1t has appropriated every
dollar asked for guns and battle neces-
saries. We have not appropriated every
thing asked for, as we thought it best
to get the forts and the guns and the
ammunition, and then pay attention to
the frills.''
Representative Sherley is not of the
opinion that everything necessary for the
fortifications has been done. as there Is
much left in the way of perfecting
searchlight plants and better protection
in the way of lighter guns to cover
the mine fields in certain channels, but
he absolutely challenges the statements
which have been made recently that the
important fire-control systems of the
forts are not permanent.
THE idea of some officers is that
fire control system is not permanent
unless it is buried beneath the earth
and surrounded by enough concrete to
keep it from being damaged even if
enough dynamite to move the Culebra cut
was exploded on 1t.
Control System Explained.
A fire control system is the intricate
electric device by which a fort COM
mander has control Of the firing of all
the guns under his command. and they
are generally installed in several sets
so that destruction of one need not put
the fort out of business.
AS to the need for more men to man
the guns of the coast defenses, Repre-
sentative Sherley will not attempt to
dispute it. However. it is more than
likely he will call attention to the sew
eral coast states which have a national
guard. but no militia coast artillery
companies.
Il would like to see an investigation
of the strength of our army and navy
and FORTS" said Representative Sher-
ley, but / would prefer that it come
at the close of this coming session.
We have much to do at the opening
of the session. and it might be in
convenient to hold hearing now
These wild statements about the de-
fenselessness OF the country ought to
be met with actual proof.
Advantage With the Forts.
Il have heard it said that the guns
of the possible enemy's fleet have a
longer range than those of some Of
our forts-notably the Panama canal
forts. Suppose the fleet has this sup
posed advantage. The real advantage
lies with the fort always. The land
gunners have the advantage of ac-
curacy, the sea gunners have to hit
gun to put it out Of business-they
have to hit a wee bit Of a target miles
distant.
Does 1t never occur to any one that
naval officers are generally afraid of
forts. Isn't the English feet lying OF
German forts doing nothing? In the